Birthday Prep....2 weeks to go!

OMG! I can't believe Tyne's birthday is just 2 weeks away now!

I felt like I was doing well and had most things under control...now I'm not so sure!

As discussed last time, I have some of his party decorations, his invitations, and his birthday cake things all sorted.

So what's new since then?

Well this week I FINALLY got around to giving out invitations!

I'm hoping people will be able to make it, but I know that at least my parents and Tyne's aunty & 3 cousins are definitely going!

We've also invited 5 other children that Tyne knows locally, 2 of my friends, and Tyne's cousins Grandmother as he sees quite a lot of her.

It's a shame that we live so far away from the rest of my family as it makes me sad that Tyne won't get to celebrate his birthday with them :(

So...what else has been done?!

Birthday Presents

Of course, our mind has mainly been filled with birthday gift ideas lately and I'm pleased to say that we were rather organised and have had most of Tyne's birthday gifts all ready and waiting since early January!

We have picked up one or two additions recently, but we are now all finished and just need to get wrapping!

His "Main" gift from us is the Little Tikes 3-in-1 Trike

I really can't wait to see what he makes of this! I so wanted to give it to him early when we've been for days out at the seaside as I think he'll just love being pushed around in it for a change from his pram, but I've managed to resist! (After giving him the rocking horse AND the Vtech Sleepytime bear that were supposed to be a birthday gifts about 8 weeks ago! Whoops!)

He also has this Worlds Apart Ball Pit filled with balls all ready to greet him in the living room on his birthday morning!

He will also be greeted by this FAB Foldable Rocket Playtent from www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk/

I think he'll just love having his own little hideout place, I plan on putting his books and some cushions in here so he can have a little private den! 

I think the rocket design is so cute, and it was SO easy to assemble - it folds away to just 30x30cm too making it really easy to store!

Available HERE for the bargain price of £25.00 (*Recommended from 3 years +)

As well as his "Main" presents, we also wanted to give Tyne a selection of smaller gifts...and I knew I wanted cars and a garage to be among them as he loves playing with the toy cars he got at Christmas!

We chose the Fisher-Price Little People Racing Ramps Garage as I think he'll enjoy sending the cars down the ramp!

Another firm favourite from Tyne's Christmas toys was his Mega Bloks, so I wanted to buy him some more to add to it - I fell in love with the little Knight & Dragon figures in this set as soon as I saw it!

This "Very Hungry Caterpillar" puzzle is super cute, and I know Tyne will really enjoy it - he currently only has one puzzle but its one of his favourite things to play with! 

This wooden peg puzzle is really high quality and the illustration is gorgeous

Available from Rainbow Designs

The Dancing Winnie The Pooh from Tomy is perfect for Tyne as he dances along with the children and sings cute little songs! Tyne will be so amused by this!

Of course I also bought Tyne a couple of story books to add to his ever growing collection....I plan to buy him books for every gift-giving occasion! This time around, I chose:

The Gruffalo - he already has the board book touch & feel version but that doesn't contain the actual story, so I wanted him to have the proper one! Mostly because I want it!

And, to accompany the jigsaw puzzle, of course I had to buy the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Thank You Cards

Well, the Thank You cards are all ready and waiting to go courtesy of the fabulous Paper Shaker!

PIC HERE

Their website is so easy to use - you simply select the category you're looking for and edit until you are happy with the design.

I started with a Baby Boy card template and edited it until I was satisfied that it looked like a nice Thank You Card - it took me no longer than 3 or 4 minutes to upload my chosen photograph and complete the process, and the cards arrived just a few days later.

The service was exceptional, and I will certainly use Paper Shaker again for future personalised cards and invitations.

To check them out, please go to www.paper-shaker.com

ENTERTAINMENT

This week also saw the arrival of our Party Guest - Peppa Pig!

I bought this costume a few years ago when I was running a children's party business, as we would regularly host Peppa Pig parties and do appearances...so when I started planning Tyne's party I knew we just had to have Peppa there!

The costume had been in storage at my parents house, but they brought it for us when they came to visit last week so Peppa is now here - just waiting for the party!

I have also ordered this fabulous "1" pinata from Party Pieces...

For the rest of the entertainment, we'll be decorating teddy bear shaped biscuits....Playing Pass The Parcel....and Having a mini disco (basically playing some pop music with some disco lights on!) with a bubble machine!

Outfits

Tyne's outfit for his party arrived last week....I'm really pleased with it as I thought I would struggle to find exactly what I wanted since my style/taste can be quite difficult to satisfy!

I personally find high street boys clothing all very samey, and I think a birthday outfit - especially your FIRST birthday - should be special!

It annoys me that girls get beautiful frilly dresses to wear for their special days, but boys are still left in the usual trousers or jeans and a shirt - I wanted something very "stand out" - something different to what he wears on just any old day!

Luckily for me, I discovered ChicoLico Kidswear Boutique who specialise in Spanishwear which I have always just LOVED for babies - their clothing is so beautiful and has such lovely detailing!

I picked out this beautiful baby blue romper/shorts set which was £25.00

Now I just need to get some baby blue shoes to go with it!

I have also ordered an "outfit" for his Cake Smash which we'll be doing in the morning, before his party!

This was £17.00 and I have ordered it from Cake Smash Props on Facebook so I'm looking forward to it arriving soon!

Of course, both of these outfits are things he can't really wear for the rest of the day - his outfit will be reserved purely for his party and the cake smash outfit will be well and truly destroyed after the cake smash photos I'm sure - so I needed a more casual but still celebratory outfit too!

Luckily for me, Blade & Rose stepped in by sending us a pair of their GORGEOUS Birthday leggings to try out!

The leggings are quite simply stunning quality, and a perfect fit! 

They will make the perfect comfortable outfit for Tyne for the duration of his birthday without compromising on style for the many photos we'll be snapping throughout the day!

Blade & Rose stock these leggings in pink too, and cater for ages 1, 2 and 3 as well as offering other non-birthday related designs.

I think these are a great buy for just £10.00!

Available from Blade and Rose HERE

What's Left To Do?

*Buy an outfit for myself to wear!

*Buy a white sheet for a backdrop for the cake smash pics

*Buy a cake to use for the cake smash

*Order Tyne's birthday card

*Buy party bag fillers

*Buy prizes for party games

*Buy biscuit ingredients and decorations

*Buy wrapping paper

*Make sure we have batteries for the camera!

*Sort out party music

*Sort out party food

*Buy filler for Pinata

*Print out photos to make 12 month banner

So that's it! My to do list isn't looking TOO bad I guess....eeeek not long to go!

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March Super Sparkler Advertiser: Box Of Hugs

That awkward moment when you need to buy a present for someone and they already possess everything they could want or need. With 7 girls and 3 men in our immediate family, it's safe to say we have been there. That constant battle of choosing something you want to get them before someone else picks it and then having to resort to the usual pants, socks and smellies. It becomes quite tiresome.

After searching for 60 presents for our Mums upcoming 60th birthday (yes, we did take on a massive challenge. Considering she says she needs nothing and She's definitely not a clue giver.) we started struggling after jewellery, trinkets, photo frames and the usual bits and bobs. Until we started to focus on what she loves more than anything, which is her family. We got to thinking about when we were children and our Mum (and dad obvs.) were our lives. We had no other distractions, no one else to rely on but them and as we've grown older we've realised it works both ways and that we can give back.

That's when we thought of Box Of Hugs. Something small, that can be carried around, a trinket, a memento, a keepsake a small box of comfort for those times when someone might need a little pick me up, or to remind them your there for them. You might not have the person there beside you, but it's nice to know they care. And let's be honest, who doesn't like hugs.

A Box Of Hugs isn't just for mums, it can be for that friend who lives far away. A niece or nephew who's having a bit of bother at school. Your dad who's just your dad and you don't tell him you love him enough. Your brother who's off to university, who acts cool but you know he could benefit from a hug. Your nana who's a bit anxious about a hospital appointment coming up, although you wish you could give her a big hug you can't. That's where we at Box Of Hugs can help. Even though you can't see them, those imaginary hugs make a difference. Plus you can keep them FOREVER.

Each box is unique to you, you choose the colour of the box, the ribbon and the crystals. We do the rest. The only the other thing you need to do is give it a big hug (so the hug can be locked inside) and pass it on to that special person.

To take a look at the range or order your own, please visit & like Box Of Hugs on Facebook

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March's Top Supermarket Picks!

Each month I like to give a breakdown on my current favourite items on the supermarket shelves, here is what I consider to be the best buys right now!

HUGGIES® Little Swimmers® are something we recently tried out when taking Tyne swimming, and I can honestly say that they will now be a staple purchase on future supermarket trips!

They are designed for babies to wear during swimming (obviously!), they do the basic job of a nappy (keeping everything contained to avoid any embarrasing incidents in the pool!) but they don't swell up when baby goes into the water.

Tyne found them comfortable to wear and had total freedom of movement, splashing and kicking his legs around with complete ease - he also was easily popped in and out of his swimming ring which demonstrated to me that the nappies hadn't enlarged much in the water.

The nappies feature a "Finding Nemo" disney design which is very cute, and they are really easy to get on.

I would highly recommend them for swimming trips with little ones!

Available from all major supermarkets such as  Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, etc  - RRP £5.90

I'm currently trying to eat a bit healthier but I am very partial to a packet of crisps while watching TV - so Sunbites have been a lifesaver for me this month!

They pack all the flavour and crunch of regular crisps, but at 30% less fat!

Sunbites are available in five mouth-watering flavours; Sun-Ripened Sweet Chili, Sour Cream and Cracked Black Pepper, Oven Roasted Onion & Rosemary, Cheddar and Caramelised Onion, and Lightly Sea Salted.

They contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and provide more than a third of the suggested daily amount of wholegrain. 

Pick up a six-pack multipack of 25g Sunbites in the crisp aisle of leading supermarkets (RRP £1.79) or a single serve 28g pack in leading supermarket and convenience stores (RRP £0.50).

Everybody wants that perfect pearly white smile ready for the summer, and Beverly Hills Formula has been a real help for me!

Perfect White and Perfect White Sensitive Formula both help protect and maintain that all important smile by combatting bad breath, tartar build up, stains and debris to help prevent gum disease. 

Enriched with key ingredients such as advanced Hydrated Silica which offers high performance whitening enhancement that polishes teeth, whilst the stain dissolvent agent Pentasodium Triphosphate prevents food particles from settling on your teeth.

Perfect White also provides a protective coating of Tetrasodium Pyrophosate, which is an extra stain removal anti-tartar ingredient and Triclosan which kills plaque-forming bacteria. 

Whether you have sensitive teeth, suffer from bad breath or tartar build up, Beverly Hills Formula have a product to suit you!

 Perfect White and Perfect White Sensitive toothpastes offer professional tooth whitening results; leaving your teeth lighter, whiter, and brighter for longer - they also offer a Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied with the results.

Beverly Hills Perfect White & Sensitive 75ml RRP: £3.99 Available from Superdrug.

The Mighty 4 line complements Plum's comprehensive and award-winning line of organic baby food meal pouches, breakfast cereals and tots’ range. There are three delicious flavour combinations in the range that toddlers will love to eat in a format they enjoy too.

·         Blackberry, quinoa, carrot and Greek-style yogurt (12m+)

·         Sweet potato, blueberry, millet and Greek-style yogurt (12m+)

·         Kale, strawberry, amaranth and Greek-style yogurt (12m+)

Tyne is a big fan of the range, and loves to eat them as his afternoon snack straight from the pouch - I like knowing that he's getting more goodness than from his usual little yoghurt pots!

The Mighty 4 range is priced at RRP £1.19 per 100g pouch. The products will be rolled out in Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Boots, Waitrose, Ocado and Morrisons between January and April 2014.

Artisan crisp maker Burts Chips is crunching its way into 2013 in style, with a brand new look that’s set to see snack enthusiasts throughout the country stocking up on its delicious, crunchy, thick-cut potato chips. 

 The new packets also feature a series of free-from badges, so you can be reassured that these moreish snacks contain no artificial flavourings, colourings, MSG or gluten.

Not only do Burts Chips look a little different, they’ve also been given a flavour upgrade, following a series of crisp tasting panels that took place throughout the country in 2012. Its much-loved traditional range now includes Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Malted Vinegar, Sea Salt & Crushed Peppercorns, Vintage Cheddar & Spring Onion and the newly named Thai Sweet Chilli. The upgraded flavours have just been named best on the market by consumers!

Burts Chips are available from Tescos, Waitrose as well as various delis and farm shops in 40g (RRP 69p) and 150g (RRP £1.89) bags.

 Fruyo from Total combines exceptionally thick, creamy fat-free TOTAL Greek yoghurt, with refreshing real-fruit pieces

Available in 6 different flavours - blueberry, strawberry and zesty lemon, along with peach, cherry, and vanilla and containing no preservatives, colourings or artificial sweeteners  - these are a slimmers dream!

Fruyo is available in Sainsbury’s, Nisa, Wholefoods, Booths, Waitrose and Ocado and at £1.09 RRP – it doesn’t break the bank, either. 

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Dressing The Baby: The February Edition

Yes I do realise its now March, apologies I am slightly late with February's Dressing The Baby but it's a short month - I just didn't have time to fit it in!

So let's take a look at some of my favourite outfit's that Tyne wore in February!

Of course February is the month of love, and I just couldn't resist ordering Tyne a special little Valentines Day vest to wear on February 14th!

We didn't go anywhere for anybody to see it which was a bit of a shame now that I think about it, but at least I'll always have the photos to embarrass him with when he's older!

I ordered the vest from Ebay.

 This little outfit was something really different for Tyne - I've never put him in jade green before but I fancied something a bit different.

I have to admit that I've never been a fan of very bright colours on babies and I'm still not crazy about them now, but it was nice for a change!

I do love the "Catch me if you can" slogan on the tshirt - very appropriate now that he is crawling faster than the speed of light!

The skinny jeans were from Mamas & Papas and were reduced to £5.00 in their sale, and the t shirt was from Miniclub @ Boots.

I have already reviewed this Baba & Boo Owl top HERE but Tyne has worn it a lot this month so I had to include it in my monthly round up too!

It's just so comfortable for him, and looks super cute!

Available from www.babaandboo.com for £12.95

This is one of our comfy, everyday sort of outfits at the moment - A long sleeved t shirt (This "It's not easy being this cute" one is from Asda I think), with nice super-soft cords (These are from Next) and paired with some cute dribble bibs.

He has been wearing his Mocc-ons a lot lately, I find them ideal as he currently has an obsession with pulling off his socks and his little feet get so cold - but these are FAR more difficult for him to yank off, which helps to keep me that bit saner!

Mocc-ons come in lots of gorgeous designs including Sneaker look, Ballerina Pump and loads more - prices start at around £9.00.

For more details and to find your nearest stockist, please visit Sock-Ons

COMPETITION

If you like the adorable little Mocc-Ons that Tyne has been wearing this month and fancy winning a pair, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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"You Might Be 20 Weeks Pregnant...Come back in 4 weeks"

Yes, that's what I was told last week while laying on the Dr's examination table.

I have been dieting strictly for a month now - I didn't have a single takeaway in February, no fast food, no fried food, cut out sugar in my drinks, dramatically reduced chocolate and crisps - and at the end of the month, I had GAINED 6 lbs.

This was the first indicator to me that something was wrong. There's just no way that - given the change in my eating habits - a weight gain could be normal.

I then started really looking at my body in the mirror and I noticed how dramatically it has changed - I haven't been thin since my thyroid disease first developed at 18, I gained weight rapidly then - but I have always been somewhere around a 14 or 16 and comfortable with it. I'm tall, and I don't suit being thinner than a size 14.

After I had Tyne, my stomach went flatter and I felt reasonably ok apart from the saggy tummy fold you're left with immediately after a c-section.

But now, standing and looking at myself in the mirror, I realised that my middle area has really changed since he was born.

My "tummy" now seems to start from directly under my boobs - like a very round, pregnant belly - and it's very hard to the touch. It feels swollen - it's not wobbly and jelly-like as you would expect a fat tummy to be - it's very very hard.

So I decided that something was wrong and that I should pay yet another visit to the Dr.

Baring in mind that I am already regularly seeing the Dr as she is running endless blood tests on me and trying to diagnose whether or not I have fibromyalgia, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

I am also seeing her about my worsening and recurrent panic attacks, and am awaiting CBT sessions starting at the end of March.

So having yet another problem to see her about didn't feel great - I worry that she'll think I'm a hypochondriac.

But I went in and I told her about the weight gain, and the hard enlarged abdomen, and how depressing it was - I basically wanted her to check incase something was inflamed (I had gallbladder issues in pregnancy which has never been investigated since, so I wondered if it could be that) and if not, I wanted them to help me to lose weight as doing it on my own wasn't working.

She weighed me and agreed that I'd gained weight since they had last seen me. She then asked me to pop up on the table while she had a feel around my stomach.

She asked me if I had any pregnancy symptoms, so I said no.

She then told me the following:

"There's definitely a mass in your stomach. I can't tell what it is though. If it's a pregnancy, it's more than 20 weeks...."

I was, of course, dumbfounded from this point on.

She asked me to get down and then started talking about how she would need to book me in for a scan, and we wouldnt know what it was until then - but that it would be up to FOUR weeks before the scan date.

I was shocked.

First of all - how can a Doctor not be sure if a person is more than 20 weeks pregnant or not?!

And second of all - how could I just be left to wait a month to find out?!

The Dr was very unhelpful when I voiced my concerns.

I told her that I doubted very much that I could be pregnant, as I am on the pill and given how ill I have been lately there hasn't been much of that thing that makes a baby going on!

She simply shrugged and told me that all we could do is wait and see what the mass is when the scan is available.

I asked about pregnancy testing to rule it out - she said that pregnancy tests past 20 weeks wouldn't show anything as the pregnancy hormone has decreased by then.

So...I was left to walk out wondering whether I was pregnant by some immaculate conception which I doubted, or what else the mass that resembled a 20 week+ fetus could be.

Over the weekend I decided to go back to see a different Dr on Monday and ask for a second opinion.

Unfortunately, she was not much more helpful.

She also examined me, told me she doubted pregnancy but couldn't rule it out, but that yes there was a "fullness" there and she suspected an ovarian cyst but couldn't be sure.

She told me she would refer me for an "urgent" ultrasound scan - but I had to wait 2 days to be able to call and book it! Some urgency!

So 2 days past and I called to book....to be told that the very earliest they could fit me in is in 9 days time!

So here I am...in limbo.

I am now 7 days away from the scan date.

I personally know I'm not pregnant - I've had no symptoms and as I say, it would be an almost immaculate conception if I were! - so instead I've been left to worry endlessly about what on earth this thing in my stomach is, and what will happen once they've FINALLY looked at it.

Certainly NOT an ideal situation for someone already suffering with excessive panic attacks - this has certainly made them much worse.

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