My Little Pony Bedding from Character World

There was one morning this week when I went into the girls room and it was a total and utter tip - clothes everywhere, hairbands, books, single pieces of jigsaws, empty water bottles and a pile of discarded sheets from the hot weather. So this morning I asked the girls to tidy up and gave them an incentive - a brand new set of bedding from Character World featuring their favourite My Little Pony Characters; Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Pinky Pie.

Character World make full bedroom textile sets for children in a range of favourite character themes including My Little Pony, Marvel, Care Bears, Lego, Minecraft, Trolls, Shopkins and many more. At present, if you buy a set of Character World Kids Bedding from Tesco you could be in with a chance to win a 4 star all-inclusive holiday to Majorca with Ice Lolly holidays. The competition closes on the 31st July.

Lara and Holly's bedroom looks fab now. Both bunks are fitted out with a My Little Pony duvet cover and pillowcase. Each girl has a My Little Pony cushion as well so that they can snuggle up when they are reading or watching TV; on one side is the face of Rainbow Dash and the other, Twilight Sparkle. To complete the set, Lara and Holly each have a fleece blanket which they've chosen to settle under in preference to a duvet in this hot weather as it is lighter and easier to shake off.

While the My Little Pony duvet cover is largely pink, the big bold bright colours of the ponies fit in well with our Rainbow-themed bedroom (Rainbow dash has always been popular in our house) and we love the big chunky colours on the cushions as they make a big statement.

Lara and Holly have already found a few good uses for their blankets - to cover over their unsightly pile of clothes, cover over their shoes, to protect their bedding from cat hair and to roll up and support their head when they're reading. I think Holly also plans to use her blanket for a teddy bear's picnic later today.

You can find curtains, cushions, beanbags and bedding in the Character World range online - look out for them in Tesco and Argos. My girls are super-happy with their new My Little Pony bedding and I bet they ask for these covers to be put back on again straight away after every time we wash them.

Disclosure: Character World sent the girls a duvet cover and cushion each in return for sharing news of the competition. All thoughts expressed in this post are our own.

#Win - See Babe, The Sheep-Pig live on stage in 2017

Happy new year people! I'm celebrating the start of 2017 by offering you the chance to see Babe, The Sheep-Pig live on stage in 2017.

Adapted from Dick King-Smith’s much-loved children’s novel which inspired the Oscar-winning 1995 film, Babe, The Sheep-Pig is arriving on stage in 2017 in a major UK Tour. Featuring stunning puppetry, an original score and an utterly charming ‘baa-ber sheep’ quartet, it tells the story of the lovable Babe in a heart-warming tale of friendship, adventure and bravery.

Photo credit: David Montieth-Hodge

Mellow Mummy is giving you the chance to win a family ticket to see the production at the venue of your choice, included the opportunity to meet Babe and the cast after the performance!

To enter all you have to do is to leave me a comment below with the name of the farmyard animal that the small person in your life most likes to see. You'll find more ways to enter in the raflecopter below. The competition will close on the 17th January.

Photo credit: David Montieth-Hodge

To see where Babe, The Sheep-Pig will be performing, visit www.BabeThePigLive.com. There are venues all over the UK from now until mid-September so there are lots of chances to see the show.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The promoter is: Mellow Mummy
2. Entry is via a blog comment and registration through a rafflecopter widget.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via www.mellowmummy.co.uk
5. Closing date for entry is 17th January 2017. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7. The rules of the competition and the prize for each winner are as follows: a family theatre ticket for 4 or 5 people to see Babe, The Sheep Pig
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
9. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
10. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
11. Winners will be drawn at random by Mellow Mummy.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
13. The winner will be asked by the promoter to provide their name, postal address and mobile contact number which will be passed on to the prize supplier.
14. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
17. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

#Win Masha and the Bear - Holiday on Ice! on DVD

Masha and the Bear, Holiday on Ice is a new festive DVD with lots of wintery fun.  It has been a while since Lara and Holly had watched any Masha and Bear and gosh, they were so excited to watch this new DVD. Masha and her friend Bear hold so much fascination because of Masha's cheeky tricks and the intriguing, almost-silent slapstick comedy throughout.

If you've never seen Masha and the Bear before, let me explain...Masha is a little girl who randomly appeared in the wood and made the gentle Bear (a retired circus act) her friend.  Masha is a little bit like Holly...very demanding and with absolutely no fear! Bear does his best to look after her even when she gets up to some naughty tricks and overly-adventurous antics.

In this new seasonal wintery DVD you'll find lots of wintery and festive episodes.

• Holiday on Ice, 
• One, Two, Three! Light the Christmas Tree, 
• Picture Perfect, 
• Tracks of Unknown Animals, Watch Out!,
• First Day of School, 
• No Tresspassing, 
• The Snow Maiden 
• and The Wolf and the Fox. 

We enjoyed the title episode most - in Holiday on Ice Masha is determined to master ice skating.  Having literally just got in through the door from trying to teach Holly how to roller-skate, I can tell you that Holly and Masha really are like two peas in a pod! Bear and his lady friend do their very best to try and keep Masha out of trouble down on the frozen lake and she picks it up in the end.

The new DVD features lots of snow (the girls enjoyed the episode which features creepy snow tracks from forest animals). Holly is starting to get into a Christmassy mood now so she also enjoyed the Christmas Tree episode in which bear gets really excited about Christmas but Masha seems to wreak havoc and the tree burns down! The end of the episode is lovely though; Masha and Bear put everything right and there is even a visit from Father Christmas. This episode is packed full of laugh-out-loud slapstick moments that the girls loved.

If you have a Masha and Bear fan then I'd highly recommend this as a festive DVD.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Masha and the Bear - Holiday on Ice, all you have to do is to leave me a comment below to tell me your favourite winter activity. The competition closes on the 10th December.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The promoter is: Mellow Mummy
2. Entry is via a blog comment and a valid email address must be supplied when logging into the commenting mechanism. Entries with only facebook or twitter account details will not be deemed valid.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via www.mellowmummy.co.uk
5. Closing date for entry is 10th December 2016. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7. The rules of the competition and the prize for each winner are as follows: one DVD copy of Masha and the Bear
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
9. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
10. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
11. Winners will be drawn at random by Mellow Mummy.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
13. The winner will be asked by the promoter to provide their name, postal address and mobile contact number which will be passed on to the prize supplier.
14. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
17. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

#Win - Win a family ticket to see Tall Stories' The Gruffalo Live!

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood...

Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the party mad Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?

Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!

The Gruffalo is playing at the Lyric Theatre until 8 January 2017.  For more information and to book your tickets (from £14.50) call 0330 333 4812 or visit gruffalolive.com.  Running time 55 minutes (no interval).

To be in with e chance of winning a family ticket (four tickets with a maximum of two adults) to see the Gruffalo that the Lyric Theatre, all you have to do is to leave me a comment below by the 17th October and let me know which your favourite Julia Donaldson character is. The tickets are valid for Saturday performances at 10am up until the 30 November.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The promoter is: Mellow Mummy
2. Entry is via a blog comment and a valid email address must be supplied when logging into the commenting mechanism. Entries with only facebook or twitter account details will not be deemed valid.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via www.mellowmummy.co.uk
5. Closing date for entry is 17th October 2016. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7. The rules of the competition and the prize for each winner are as follows: One winner will receive a family ticket (four tickets, maximum two adults) to see The Gruffalo at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Valid for Saturday performances at 10am until 30 November, subject to availability. No cash alternative available. Travel and Accommodation not included.
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
9. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
10. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
11. Winners will be drawn at random by Mellow Mummy.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 2 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 2 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner as the tickets are time sensitive.
13. The winner will be asked by the promoter to provide their name, postal address and mobile contact number which will be passed on to the prize supplier.
14. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
17. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

30% discount for Letts revision guides & your chance to #win £50 of Letts books

Are you ready for the new school year to start? With school uniforms and shoes to fit and new routines to think about, finding the time to choose the best books to buy may not always be a priority but new books can be a great way of starting off the school year as you mean to go on.

There are lots of great educational books to choose from and Letts has some engaging and motivating learning books to help your child get back into a learning frame of mind after the long summer holiday. All of their books support the national curriculum so that you know they are reinforcing what your child is being taught at school, whether they are in foundation, KS1, KS2 or beyond.

You can visit the Letts website to browse their range of books by age group. What’s more they are offering a 30% discount on all books until 30 September 2016 when you use code BACK30 at www.lettsrevision.co.uk.

Would you like to win a bundle of Letts books tailored to your child age this Back to School? I have £50 worth of books to giveaway.  To enter, all you have to do is to answer the question below and leave me a blog comment before the end of the 4th September.

Question: Give an example of a prime number!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The promoter is: Mellow Mummy
2. Entry is via a blog comment and a valid email address must be supplied when logging into the commenting mechanism. Entries with only facebook or twitter account details will not be deemed valid.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via www.mellowmummy.co.uk
5. Closing date for entry is 4th September 2016. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7. The rules of the competition and the prize for each winner are as follows: £50 worth of age- appropriate Letts books.
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
9. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
10. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
11. Winners will be drawn at random by Mellow Mummy.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
13. The winner will be asked by the promoter to provide their name, postal address and mobile contact number which will be passed on to the prize supplier.
14. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
17. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

#Win the Wet Head game from Zing #WetHeadChallenge

Are you ready for some water filled fun this summer? Brilliant for the hot weather, Wet Head is a roulette game that soaks losers with water following a nerve-racking quiz or truth-or-dare game. Leading YouTubers’ have been taking the Wet Head Challenge and we will be youtubing our family challenges too!

I've got a Wet Head game pack to give away to one lucky Mellow Mummy reader so that you can share the fun this summer.

Take your chances with Zing’s new water roulette game, Wet Head! Grab some friends and family, fill the Wet Head with water, strap yourself in and give it a spin.

Ready for a twist? Players have the option to play with the included spinner or download the free Wet Head Challenge app and ask each other trivia questions. You can dream up lots of different ways to challenge your own family and friends by setting challenges or questions of your own! Any way you play, you might just get soaked!

The Wet Head Challenge app, available on iOS and Android, includes fun trivia questions and a special recording feature. The record feature allows players to capture every drenching moment and share their videos on YouTube or social media. Use #WetHeadChallenge to join in on the splash of fun and to see what others are posting! Will you be the next Wet Head?

Wet Head comes with one hat, eight pins and a spinner. It is available to buy now for a RRP of £19.99 and is suitable for ages 4 and over.

To be in with a chance of winning a Wet Head game pack from Zing, all you have to do is to leave me a comment below with an idea for a challenge or question you would set for your family.  The competition closes on the 24th June.

Oilatum Daily Junior Review and Competition

Earlier this year we reviewed the Oilatum Daily Junior moisturising body lotion - a thick lotion that both moisturises and acts as a barrier against further drying.  The lotion is suitable for babies, children and of course, adults with sensitive skin.  Building on the success of the body lotion, Oilatum have now launched a full range of children's bathtime and skincare products for sensitive skin - the Oilatum Daily Junior range.

The Oilatum Daily Junior range includes Shampoo, Head to Toe Wash, Bath Foam and the original moisturising body lotion.  Bathtimes really are a struggle in our house for my two girls who really want to use all the brightly coloured shampoos and body washes they see in the supermarket but when we are tempted, both girls suffer a lot with blotchy dry skin.  For this reason, we always prefer to use bathtime cleansing products designed specifically for sensitive dry skin and this new range of Oilatum Daily Junior products is well suited to our needs.

The Oilatum Daily Junior range is not free from all of the chemicals that are commonly associated with irritated skin - in fact the use of mineral oils in their products is one of the things that they boast because these can act as a barrier against other irritants and prevent drying of the skin through things such as central heating or air conditioning.  We have found the Oilatum Daily Junior products to work well for us - I like the Soothe & Protect Junior Bath Foam best.

To celebrate the launch of the new Oilatum Daily Junior range, I'm giving away a beautiful Oilatum Daily Junior Bathtime Kit for baby and you.  In the kit you will find everything you need to keep your tiny person's skin soft and pampered as well as a relaxing treat for you.  The kit includes:-

A luxury hooded baby towel

A baby bath thermometer

A complete set of Oilatum Daily Junior skincare products

A selection of Sassy Baby bath toys
A gorgeous soft animal blankie

A gently scented candle to add a little relaxing touch for you and baby

To be in with a chance of winning this kit, all you need to do is to leave a comment below with a baby bathtime tip that you would share with other new parents.  The competition closes on the 25th January.

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. There is no cash alternative.
2. The competition is open to UK and Ireland residents only.
3. Only one comment entry per person. Multiple, automated or bulk entries will result in immediate disqualification
4. The winners will be contacted by email.
5. Entries will only be deemed valid if a valid email address is provided when commenting - people who just log into intensedebate with their facebook account will not qualify for entry because it is too difficult for me to contact the winners
6. The winners will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11:59pm on 25th January 2015.
7. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
8. The winner's names will be published on this site

How Clean Is Your Baby's Blanket?

If, like my littlest, your child has a favourite blanket or comforter toy then you will know how hard it is to get a baby or toddler to part with it!  But, every so often I do need to tear Holly away from her favourite 'bear bear' or even her favourite cot bedding so that I can put it through the wash.  Research by Dettol has shown that with more and more parents washing clothes and bedding at lower temperatures to save energy and money, many items in the wash can still harbour bacteria even after washing.

Dettol have launched their Anti-Bacterial Laundry Cleanser which is a laundry disinfectant that you add to the fabric conditioner drawer of your washing machine.  Designed for use on a washing cycle as low as 30 degrees, this laundry cleanser helps to eliminate bacteria and can kill 99.9% of bacteria.

In Dettol's research they found that many baby blankies carried bacteria after washing.  Dettol have teamed up with TV doctor Pixie McKenna who is a mum herself to provide some tips for new parents on how to avoid the "bacteria soup" that can form in your washing machine when you have to deal with all sorts of icky baby things each day!

1. Add a laundry cleanser to your wash (although it isn't recommended for cloth nappies)
2. Clean your machine on a high temperature cycle and a wipe-over with anti-bacterial surface cleaner at least once a month
3. Avoid cross-contamination of towels and bedding if anyone in your house is unwell.

As the resident cleaning expert(!) you can often read my reviews of cleaning products over on familypanelreviews.co.uk and on my sister site, www.familytech.co.uk.  Recent reviews include the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball vacuum cleaner and the Karcher Steam Cleaner.  Read my reviews for cleaning tips and vacuum cleaner repairs.

 

A Card for Father Christmas

This weekend Lara and Holly has a bit of a Christmas crafts-fest. The girls were making cards for Father Christmas to enter into the Furniture Choice Christmas Card Competition.

Lara used almost every piece of craft material available to her to make her masterpiece (on the left).  Her card features a self-portrait (complete with belly button... it is the details that matter), a pom-pom, lots of stickers made by her Grandma and a sprinkling of cut-out snowflakes that she stamped herself with a hole punch.  For reasons I can't quite explain, Lara's card also featuresd a lot of gold glitter glue, apparently in the shape of the letter G because Father Christmas will 'never believe' that she can write a 'g' in script?!?!

The card on the right is from Holly to Santa.  Holly loved using the glue stick for sticking on anything that came near her.  Lara felt it was very important that their names were written on the outside of the car as well as the inside so that Father Christmas and Rudolph would know who made each card... so Lara wrote her little sister's name on!

Tomorrow night the two cards for Father Christmas will sit on top of our side board along with our home-made personalised plate and all of the trimmings that will butter Santa up to convince him to leave the girls lots of wonderful Christmas presents.

You still have 24 hours to get your entry into the Furniture Choice Christmas card competition.  Merry Christmas everyone!

The Snowman and the Snowdog Review and Giveaway

The Snowman and the Snowdog is released today on DVD and Blu Ray.  If you missed it's first screening in the run up to Christmas last year then you missed something really magical and now is your chance to experience this short animated movie which continues the classic Snowman tale.

The main feature on the disc is 23 minutes long but there are lots of additional features to enjoy.  The 23 minute movie is very true in style to the original Snowman animation but with slightly brighter colours, the hand-drawn style flickers in and out an gives the Snowman, the Snowdog and their friends a gentle softness that makes it a really enjoyable watch.  The movie is more or less silent but with atmospheric music and the occasional sound or voice to add specific effect.

The story starts on quite a sad tone, Billy and his Mum have to move house and then they lose their family pet.  Billy discovers a box full of snowman kit under the floorboards and, next time it snows, he builds a snowman, and with a spare bit of snow he also makes a dog to look like his old friend.  Then the magic does its work.

When the Snowman and the Snowdog come to life they take Billy to compete in a race at the North Pole.  At the end of the night, Billy goes home to bed and wakes the next morning to find a surprise.

The Snowman and the Snowdog is a really magical story that will almost certainly become a classic part of Christmas.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of the Snowman and the Snowdog on DVD, just leave me a comment below to tell me what Christmassy animation most gets you in the festive mood?  The competition will close on the 18th November.

  

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. There is no cash alternative.
2. The competition is open to UK and Ireland residents only.
3. Only one comment entry per person. Multiple, automated or bulk entries will result in immediate disqualification
4. The winners will be contacted by email.
5. Entries will only be deemed valid if a valid email address is provided when commenting - people who just log into intensedebate with their facebook account will not qualify for entry because it is too difficult for me to contact the winners
6. The winners will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11:59pm on 18th November.
7. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
8. The winner's names will be published on this site

Win Copies of Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook

Last month I reviewed Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook by Zainab Jagot Ahmed (you can read my review here). Today I have two copies of the book to give away to two lucky Mellow Mummy readers.

Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook is available exclusively electronically - you can get it for various different e-reader devices including Kindle.  Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook is the perfect cookbook for people looking to find inspiring ideas for baby foods or for people who love Indian food themselves but are a bit wary of feeding them to their baby. It would make a great gift for new parents and you can buy it on Amazon, Waterstones or Kobo books as a gift from just £3.99.

If you would like to discover the yummy, healthy and inspiring Indian recipes in Zainab's book, leave me a comment below to let me know what your favourite indian dish is (or indeed your baby's favourite!) by the 26th December.  You can gain an extra entry by liking Zainab's facebook page and then leaving me a separate comment to tell you've done so.

You can find out more about Zainab and her cookbook at www.ZainabJagotAhmed.com and on facebook.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND WAS WON BY CAROLINA J. AND SARAH

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. The competition is open to UK residents only.
2. Only one comment per person. Multiple, automated or bulk entries will result in immediate disqualification
3. The winner will be contacted by email.
4. Entries will only be deemed valid if a valid email address is provided when commenting - people who just log into intensedebate with their facebook account will not qualify for entry because it is too difficult for me to contact the winners
5. The winner must respond to their winning email within 24 hours or else a new winner will be drawn - this is due to the limited dates available for the show once the competition is closed.
6. The winner will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11:59pm on 26th December
7. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
8. The winner's name will be published on this site

Cantaloop Nursing Bra Review

For me, the number one priority when choosing a nursing bra is comfort. The Cantaloop nursing bra is quite simply the most comfortable I have ever tried and, because of the soft, stretchy knitted fabric that it is made from it is incredibly flexible and adjusts to me as my shape changes.

And it does change! Now that I am very very slowly transferring Holly over from boob to bottle, my breasts swell and then 'deflate' during the day. Holly is eating a lot of solids so it can be a long time between feeds and when I am wearing some of my more rigid nursing bras, they get tight and uncomfortable towards the end of the day. The Cantaloop bra does not - in fact I can barely feel it at all.

My Cantaloop bra is pretty different to any other I have tried. Instead of straps to hold the drop cups, instead the breast is supported by a sort of 'o' of stretchy fabric and then the whole of the front cup drops down. At first it felt a bit weird, like my boobs were poking out of two peeky holes!!! But now I understand that actually it is that fabric underneath that is providing a really good support for me during the day.

Cantaloop pride themselves on the fact that, because their bra's are so stretchy, they only need to make 4 sizes to suit all women and that you don't even need to see a professional fitter, you just consult their size chart and can order in the knowledge that the stretch is bound to accommodate you. This also means that you can wear the same bra at the end of pregnancy and then into motherhood without worrying about your change in shape.

I found the clips on the drop-cups to take a little getting used to as they are different to most. At first I found it hard to undo the clips with one hand but I've had a bit of practice now and can manage just fine.

Cantaloop nursing bras are available in bigger Boots stores and online at Boots.com and Amazon - they cost around £24 which I feel is a bargain.  This bra is definitely the most comfortable I have tried yet; no itchy seams and no uncomfy underwires.

Infacol Anti-Colic Baby Massage Techniques

My previous post on Baby Massage has proved to be the most popular blog post I have ever written!  And so today I am happy to be able to share some more tips for baby massage - The Infacol Anti-Colic Massage Techniques from midwife Nikki Khan which include a few massage movements specifically designed to reduce colic.  Infacol also have 6 cuddly plush moo-moos to give away so read on for how you could win one!

Before you start...

• Make sure area is safe, free from draughts and at room temperature (18°C, 65°F)
• Do not massage baby straight after a feed. Maintain eye contact and touch for safety and reassurance.
• Use a small amount of unscented oil, such as grape seed oil or sunflower oil, warming it between hands before using it on babies skin.
• Stop massaging if baby starts to cry or seems unwell. Read the following tips thoroughly, to carry out an enjoyable and loving massage for the baby.

Face
Using the tips of two fingers or thumbs massage both sides of the face simultaneously using a small amount of oil. Use finger to stroke from baby’s forehead toward the hairline

Chest
Place hands with palms facing down on the chest. Open hands until thumbs touch (‘open book’). Stroke outward around the ribs and under the arms. Next place hand diagonally on baby’s chest and stroke up, over the shoulder. Repeat on the other shoulder. (Repeat five times)



Arms
Start at the top of the arm, sliding your hand gently down the arm to the wrist. As one hand reaches the baby’s wrist, start the motion again with the other hand. (Repeat five times)

Hands
Stroke the back of the hand, starting at wrist and down each finger in turn. Then repeat on the palm of the hand and at each fingertip roll it gently between your fingers. (Repeat five times)

Back
With baby on their front, use the ‘open book’ technique to stroke down below the arms onto the ribs. Repeat stroking up over shoulders. (Repeat five times)




Anti-colic Massage

Scooping Sand
With cupped hands, use a downward motion on the tummy starting from under the ribs to the lower abdomen. (Repeat three times)

Cycling
A technique to stimulate the release of trapped gas. With baby lying on back, bring each knee up to the opposite side of the abdomen in turn. (Repeat three times)



Tiger in the Tree
Support baby’s weight by laying them along your arm facing downwards with head by your elbow. Hold the top of baby’s leg firmly with one hand. Using your free hand gently massage the abdomen in a clockwise direction. (Repeat three times)



Legs
See Arms section!

Feet
Using your forefinger, push gently across the heel and then at base of ties. Stroke sole of the foot from heel up to toes.

To be in with a chance of winning one of the 6 cuddly plush moo-moos from Infacol, just leave me a comment below to let me know what your experiences of baby massage are, if any.  The competition will close on the 23rd December.

Infacol is for the treatment of infant colic. Contains simeticone, always read the label.

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. The competition is open to UK residents only.
2. Only one comment per person. Multiple, automated or bulk entries will result in immediate disqualification
3. The winner will be contacted by email.
4. Entries will only be deemed valid if a valid email address is provided when commenting - people who just log into intensedebate with their facebook account will not qualify for entry because it is too difficult for me to contact the winners
5. The winners will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11.59pm on 23rd December
6. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
7. The winners names will be published on this site

The "I Made This" Meme Competition

This meme was inspired by my ex-boss! In an emotive conversation on the day that he left the company he asked me what the future held for me. I explained that I really enjoy the job that I do. As a software engineer, even if I don't write code very often any more, I still get great pleasure out of the "I Made This" feeling. That feeling when you see someone, or hear of someone using something you designed and created while they sit there blissfully ignorant of the time and effort that you put in. The "I Made This" feeling makes me proud.

It always has done. In the days when I wanted to be a media tycoon I clearly remember the "I Made This" feeling being the driver in everything that I did. I remember a work experience placement that I did at CBBC Newsround in White City; I wrote a series of trivia questions and a short news piece about Gary Barlow for the Newsround Ceefax pages. When I got home that evening I showed my Mum the pages on our own television and thought about the people all over Britain who would be doing the same; it gave me a warm glowy feeling to know, "I Made This".

Software development gives me that same glow. OK so the software I write these days is used by people in darkened rooms to catch naughty criminals but I still know that that the world is a better place because of what I do on a daily basis and that feels fabulous.

I Made This!

And with parenthood comes the ultimate "I Made This" feeling. Every day that I look at my two girls I can't truely believe that I was (at least in part) responsible for making them who they are. Those beautiful blue eyes and golden locks always give me the "I Made This" feeling and it is further boosted with every milestone they reach. Holly's first laugh, the first time Lara wrote her own name, the first time she swam across the pool without me. This is the "I Made This" feeling at its best.

And so it comes to the tag. Maybe you are proud of the blog you write.  Maybe there was a special moment when your children made you think, "I Made This". Perhaps you decorated a room or created a work of art, perhaps something you grew or cooked made you feel awesome. Tell me about your "I Made This" moment.  You don't need to wait for the tag before you can enter but, to start the ball rolling I'm going to tag a few of my most loyal followers and blogging friends...

Susan Mann
Muslim Mummy
Romanian Mum
Transatlantic Blonde
All Baby Advice
Boo, Roo and Tigger Too
Me, The Man and Baby
Brink of Bedlam
The Lazy Girl's Guide to Life
Mummy Matters

And, as an added incentive to get involved in the meme I'm offering a £50 Amazon voucher to the person who best encapsulates the "I Made This" feeling in their blog post. From all the entries to the "I Made This" linky on the 15th October, my celebrity judge, Heather Young from Young & Younger and Growing Spaces will choose the blog post which she feels best offers creative style, originality and relevance and which is able to put a big smile on her face.

And that's not all you've got to be excited about. No! For every blogger you tag or let know about the competition who then choses to enter the meme competition you get another chance to win. I am offering a £25 voucher as a thank you if the winning meme was written by someone you referred so even if you don't win the main prize you still have a chance of winning if you tag lots of other bloggers!

When you enter your blog post into the linky below, don't forget to mention in the post that it is an entry into the Mellow Mummy "I Made This" meme competition with a link back to this page so that other people know about the competition too (alternatively you can use the badge code below). Also don't forget to mention if someone tagged you or told you about the prize. And finally, HAVE FUN thinking about what gives you the "I Made This" feeling.

<div align="center">

<a href="http://www.mellowmummy.co.uk/2012/09/imadethis.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mellow Mummy I Made This Meme" border="0" src="http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab256/yourjumbly/tomato.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. The competition is open to all bloggers BUT the prize will only be offered as Amazon vouchers for amazon.co.uk in GBP..
2. Only one blog post entry per person. You may tag as many people as you like to enter the competition.
3. The winner will be contacted by twitter, facebook or email through details found on their blog or through the email left in the linky.
4. The winner will be judged on creative style, originality and relevance from all blog entries received by 11.59pm on 15th October.
5. If the winner mentions in their blog post that they were tagged by another blogger, the referrer will also win a prize. Only one referrer will win even if the winner was tagged by multiple people.
6. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
7. The winner's names will be published on this site

Samsung Baby Monitor SEW-3035 Review and Giveaway

The Samsung SEW-3035 is a wireless video monitoring system ideal for use as a wireless video baby monitor. It has a very smart looking remote camera that you place in the nursery and a hand-held parental unit (about the size of a large smartphone) with a 3.5 inch video screen to receive the images of your baby.

A little over 18 months ago I reviewed the precursor to this video monitor (the SEW-3030) and I am really glad to see that some of the feedback I gave at the time has been taken on board by Samsung. The SEW-3035 is a big improvement on the old monitoring system.

The Samsung wireless video monitoring system is an advanced piece of kit. Not only does it allow you to see and hear your baby upto 100m away but it also allows you to record the images directly onto Micro SD card (see a very sleepy Holly below!). You can connect the parent unit directly to your TV or computer using the AV output and USB connectors to allow you to either download the video images or to play them directly on a larger screen.

The Samsung monitoring system also allows you to connect it to your computer and use the camera via Skype (or other video applications) so that you can use it as a remote monitoring system. You can even connect another 3 cameras to one video unit (I know that one of my readers did this with their SEW-3030 successfully so that they could monitor more than one child at once).

I found the menu system and buttons on the parent unit very intuitive to use - I didn't even need to read the instructions, it just all felt natural. Using the shaped button on the front of the unit moved the menu options left/right/up/down and pressing the central button selected the different options.

I found the image quality to be EXTREMELY crisp, the best I have seen yet on my family tech travels and I was glad to see that the colour during daylight hours was less washed out than in the old model. I was also glad to see the back of the tinkly honky tonkely lullabies (there are no lullabies on the new version) and the sound quality was marginally improved although still nowhere near as crisp and reliable as the image quality.

There is a talkback feature on the SEW 3035 that I used a couple of times successfully to calm Holly back to sleep and there is also a sleep mode which allows you to switch off the screen of the monitor (perhaps to reduce light emitted while you sleep, or to save battery power), it takes some configuration to get the sleep mode to kick back in when it hears noise coming from the nursery though and I still think this is an area for improvement by Samsung.

My only real disappointment with the Samsung SEW 3035 is the temperature sensor. It seems like such a good idea that you can set an alarm to sound if the room goes below or above your chosen range of temperature but I actually had to set it to alert me about 4-6 degrees hotter than it really was in the room because it claimed that our nursery was a steady 28 degrees (errr, it isn't). I remember this being a problem last time too but once you have altered the alarm settings it isn't too much of a problem.

At around £149.99 I think that the SEW 3035 is a good value wireless video baby monitor considering how much tech it packs into a tiny little package!

To celebrate the launch of the SEW 3035 by Samsung, I have 5 Samsung baby blankets to give away. If you would like to win a snuggly baby blanket then leave me a comment below before the 7th september to let me know what your favourite bit of baby tech is or was - perhaps a baby monitor you loved or a kitchen gadget you couldn't have lived without or even a favourite techy baby toy.

Disclosure: I loaned the video monitor for the purposes of my review.

 

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

1. The competition is open to UK residents only.
2. Only one comment entry per person. Multiple, automated or bulk entries will result in immediate disqualification
3. The winner will be contacted by email.
4. Entries will only be deemed valid if a valid email address is provided when commenting - people who just log into intensedebate with their facebook account will not qualify for entry because it is too difficult for me to contact the winners
5. The winner will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11.59pm on 7th September.
6. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
7. The winner's names will be published on this site

WIN a Swedish Changing Bag by Willvin

Click here to win.