Xander's First Swim!

As mentioned in my last post a couple of weeks ago we took Xander swimming for the first time!

We are off on holiday in a few days time (to visit relatives in Spain) and whilst there we hope to go swimming several times and so wanted to get Xander a bit familiar with the concept of swimming so it wasn't a completely new experience.

We opted to take Xander to a swimming pool called Coral Reef in Bracknell. It is not our nearest pool but we had been informed by other parents it was a good place to take little ones. If you live anywhere near we wholeheartedly recommend it as a place to take kids swimming! It was a fantastic experience from start to finish!

Xander absolutely loved swimming! He was a complete dare devil! Loving the water cannons and splashing mummy and daddy! We was amazed by the way the kicking in the water came natural to him! He adored the experience completely and was clearly disappointed to get out!

Below is a little review of all the features Coral Reef in Bracknell had to offer. Please note I was not paid in anyway for these comments. They are simply observations of a family day out that I felt were worthy of a share:

- you have to pay for parking but if you use the swimming facilities you get this refunded back at the desk.
- the prices were very reasonable. There is a parent and baby/toddler loyalty scheme where if you visit 5 times you get the 6th time free! You just pick up a card and get it stamped.
- there were several family changing rooms. In them was a changing unit and also a seat that you can strap your little one too whilst you are changing. (a couple of them also had playpens)
- swimming aids (rings and armbands) are provided free of charge to use and there are plenty of them)
- during the week in term time the pool is for young children only.
- the temperature of the pool is lovely! Pretty much bath temperature! Which meant we stayed much longer than anticipated!
- there is a lot of areas specifically for babies and toddlers! Shallow areas with toys and slides for them to play with!
- a lovely feature was they have their own photographer there. Like most public pools you are not able to take your own photographs but if you're anything like me I love photographing everything Xander does and definitely wanted his first swim documented! The professional photographer took some great photos which we viewed and purchased on the way out!

So to finish off this post I leave you with a family pic of Xander's first swimming experience!

REVIEW: Baker Days Gift Cakes

I was bumbling around on twitter and came across the wonderful team at Baker Days. I started following them and shortly after they contacted me and asked if I'd like to review one of their cakes! Well, that's an offer you can't refuse. I instantly accepted

The offer to review a cake couldn't come at a better time as I was in the midst of planning my son Xander's christening. I had already ordered the main christening cake but had the complication of three guests as well as myself requiring a gluten free diet. Not a problem for Baker Days - they offer gluten free sponge occasion cakes in two different sizes! They also offer a whole range of other types of cake, in a range of sizes which all sound yum!

I was sent a letterbox cake (which. serves 3-4 people) As the name suggests it is sent via post and comes packaged in a tin to protect the cake straight through yours (of gift recipient) letterbox!

The ordering process is really quite simple. There's a whole range of designs and styles of cake to choose from. You can upload photos and your own wording to personalise cakes or simply choose a standard design. There's also another service on offer. A service which I think is simply fantastic - the opportunity to have a cake designed completely from scratch to ensure a perfect fit to your party theme!! This design service is FREE if the design can be done within an hour or theres a small charge if additional times required. I opted to have a cake designed. As Xander's christening reception was a mad hatter tea party theme I requested a cake along these lines. I sent the christening invite for additional inspiration and was delighted with the final result!

The cake fitted in perfectly with the rest of the reception buffet and my celiac guests were delighted that they could have a piece of gluten free cake! The cake provided us with four reasonable sized portions, was deliciously moist and really very tasty!

I wholeheartedly recommend Bakers Days. I love the idea that you can send the gift of cake! That the cake can be personalised to suit the occasion and the cake looks so beautifully presented in the gift tin, with gift card, balloons and party blower that anyone that receives a Baker Days cake as a gift will definitely feel special and loved!

I received this item for free for the purpose of this review. All views expressed are my own.

Ideal Cases (ipad case) Review

I was lucky enough to receive an iPad from my hubby for Christmas (I must have been a good girl!!) I was concerned that It would easily get damaged and was keen to get a case for it to keep it in tip top condition. So I was utterly delighted when Ideal Cases gave me the opportunity to design my own cover as part of fuelmyblog campaign!!

Ideal Cases has a really fun website where you can create cases for mobiles, tablets and e-readers!! you can create something really plain and simple (if thats your thing) You can create a case with photographs using a whole range of templates provided for you or if you're feeling super creative you can completely freestyle and deign your own from scratch!!!

Never being one to shy away from a challenge I decided to create my own design and this is the final result:

Being a crafty person I really enjoyed the creative process!! It was very similar to digital scrapbooking. You can use photos, doodles, images, patterns, text or clip-art or a combination to create your own unique design!! The whole process was very easy to do and lots of fun!

I choose to have my design printed onto a faux leather case (although there is also a clip on case option available too) and received my order just three days after I sent off my order and I was thoroughly delighted with the finished product! The design was printed exactly as I had created it on screen. The case offers high scratch protection to front & back of ipad & medium drop protection (which is perfect for clumsy old me!)

The case is designed with a prop feature so you can prop your iPad up whilst using it, this is a feature that has proven invaluable as I use my iPad to Skype my relatives and it means that we can have a steady conversation!!

Overall I really love my new iPad case, my only minor criticism is that occasionally the case slips over the sensor and my iPad locks mid use. Although now I'm aware of this I can often prevent this from occurring.

I think that the final product is brilliant!! I would thoroughly recommend using Ideal Cases to create fun but practical, personalised gifts for all your gadget loving friends and family!!

REVIEW: Gumigem necklace

When I visited The Baby Show back in October I met the lovely folks at Gumigem:

Gumigem jewellery has been especially designed for mum to wear and baby too teethe on! All the range is made from a soft flexible silicone which is safe for babies to pop in their mouth and munch on! That's right, a fun stylish piece of jewellery that doubles up as a baby teething aid!!

They kindly gave me the pick of their stall and allowed me to select a piece of jewellery to review when the time came for Xander to start teething.

I selected this beautiful necklace:

Well, the time has come! Xander has begun teething and he's a grumpy little so and so!! His cheeks are red, he's very dribbly and his fingers are constantly in his mouth. At just over five months the tip of his very first tooth poked through the gum.

For Christmas Xander received pretty much every teething toy under the sun but Xander has dismissed them all. Nothing has been able to beat his fingers as a means if soothing his irritated gums.
At this point I decided to try out the Gumigem necklace I received back in October. Here's our views on the necklace:

What we loved about the Gumigem necklace:
- Lovely bold design which is very fashionable!!
- Fun bright colour!!
- I've worn the necklace out and about and received lots of compliments! Many people were surprised to discover it actually served dual purpose as a teether!
- The necklace can be washed in warm soapy water or popped in the dishwasher for hygiene purposes!
- The necklace has a breakaway clasp which means if baby tugs hard on it they won't strangle you!!
- An ideal teether in babywearing scenarios.
- This has been the one item Xander has actually chomped on for more than two minutes and does appear to be easing his discomfort.

- A whole range of colours and designs available at very reasonable prices.

Potential issues with the necklace:
- It was difficult to encourage Xander to take to the necklace at first. After telling him for the last couple of months not to pull mummy's necklace I was actively encouraging him to play with this one! It may be worth wearing the necklace well before the teething process to encourage familiarity with the item.
- It's not a teether the baby can have and play with in their own. It is important to remember safety. You couldn't really take off be necklace and give it to baby to munch in unless you was very carefully supervising baby as there could be a potential chocking hazard.
- Could encourage clinginess if baby wants to use your necklace as a soother/teether. On reflection I would be more inclined to by the silicone bangle for this reason.

Overall I think Gumigem jewellery is a wonderful idea and there is such a brilliant collection of designs I'm sure you will find a colour or design that really suits your style!! Gumigem jewellery would make a fantastic baby shower gift as the mum-to-be could wear the jewellery straight away as a fashion statement! And it would certainly make a change from bibs and babygros! It's a gift for both mummy and baby!

We received this item free of charge for the purpose of this review. All views expressed are my own.

REVIEW: ParamountZone Popcorn Maker

I recently had the opportunity to review a popcorn maker from a brilliant gift website Paramount Zone. (with thanks to Fuel My Blog)

As a celiac (aka a poor unfortunate soul unable to eat gluten) popcorn is a popular snack in our home. We often grab for the ready made packets of popcorn but was extremely excited to be given the opportunity to put a popcorn machine to the test!

When the machine arrived I couldn't believe how compact it was. Perfect from a storage point of view as my cupboards are stuffed with pots, pans and other kitchen gadgets. Because its not huge it's also portable meaning that we'll be able to take it around to friends houses when we have gatherings and parties!

Unlike methods where you make popcorn in a pan you don't have to use oil. The machine uses hot air to pop the kernels. We was really impressed with this feature as it meant the popcorn wasn't greasy.

Also unlike microwave popcorn this popcorn maker evenly cooks the popcorn, no burning and almost every single kernel popped!!

Another impressive feature with this gadget is how super quick it is! It takes just 2 and a half minutes to create 17 cups of popcorn!!

Here's a further summary of what we thought:
Strengths:
• Nice and compact. Easy to store.
• Clear instructions and easy to use.

• Produces a non greasy (healthy sans butter) snack, suitable for celiacs.
• Great novelty factor for family film nights.
• Easy to clean.
• Good value for money (RRP: £24.99 but currently available for £12.99)
• Great gift idea suitable for most recipients.

Weakness:
• Possibly more of a novelty item. Potentially a kitchen gadget that will find its way to the back of the cupboards with all the others??
• The popcorn cartons are cardboard and won't last too long. BUT you can buy more from the Paramount Zone website for just £1.99 for 5)

At the moment (as new parents) date nights are pretty much on hold at the moment, so film nights are a common occurrence in our home as its a lovely way to spend some time together when the little one is (finally) in bed! And you can't have film night without popcorn (and now we really feel we're at the cinema with the authentic popcorn boxes that come with machine!!) Awesome!

Checkout ParamountZone's website. It is the perfect place to buy  Birthday and Christmas gifts! With FREE P&P and a brilliant filter to select the perfect gift the site is user friendly and makes finding a gift even for the most awkward person so much easier!!

I received this item free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: Bibee Maternity and Breastfeeding Dress

Throughout my pregnancy I struggled to find suitable clothes (especially for work) The thought of having Xander and starting to wear my usual clothes was something I looked forward to immensely! What I hadn't considered was the complication of finding suitable clothes for breastfeeding.

Up until now I have resorted to wearing baggy vests and my maternity tops, as although there are many breastfeeding tops of the market I find many of these unflattering and very casual.

When I came across Bibee Dresses on twitter I was excited by the whole concept of their designs! Finally a company that offer stylish designs for both the pregnant and breastfeeding mummy!!

I was lucky enough to meet the lovely folks from Bibee Dresses at The Baby Show at Earls Court: where they were launching their wonderful dresses:

And whilst there was offered the opportunity to review one of the dresses, bibs and long sleeve tops!! An offer i couldn't refuse! I opted for a navy dress, navy v lily pink bib and cream top.

What is a Bibee Dress?
There are different components to a Bibee Dress:
• The dress (which are available in black, navy or eggplant)
• The bibs (which are available in a range of plain or decorative designs and round or v neck)
• The long sleeve T-shirts (available in black or cream)

How to wear a Bibee dress:
1) Select your dress:

2)Team with a bib:

3)Add sleeves if you wish:

4)Mix and match!

5)Specially designed for breastfeeding here's how they work:

(All you have to do is undo three side buttons to release one side of the bib, you can then discreetly feed your baby. Buttons are on both sides allowing discrete and easy access to both breasts!)

The Bibee website is fantastic! It has an interactive feature where you're able to dress a model and see what different combinations of dresses, bibs and sleeves look like, ensuring you get the perfect look for you! Not only that there is extensive sizing guidance in there (which is something I know I was always concerned with during the pregnancy stage especially)

I've love wearing my Bibee Dress with boots to the mummy and baby groups we go to and I've received lots of compliments from all the other yummy mummy's and guess what I'll be wearing to an up and coming Christmas do (dressed up with heels, of course!)

Due to the insufficient range of breastfeeding clothes on the market prior to discovering Bibee Dress I have refrained from breastfeeding in public. Opting to express and bottle feed whilst out and about. However now having Bibee Dress in my wardrobe I think I'll be more brave second time around and would give public breastfeeding a go!

The great thing about Bibee Dresses is that you can wear them throughout your whole mummy experience from bump to baby! You can dress them up or dress them down, so they suit all sorts of occasions! It would have been perfect to have worn this to work whilst I was pregnant and equally ideal to wear to more formal occasions too! I wholeheartedly recommend Bibee Dresses to expectant and breast feeding mums!

I received the Bibee Dress free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Give the gift of a clean house!

When I first became a mum I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of jobs around the house there was and how little time there actually is in any single day to do them! Pretty much everyone I spoke to gave me the same advice: cleaning can wait, just spend time with your baby.

Well, that's been my mantra for the past 4 months and I'm ashamed to say I have really neglected my house in that time! Of course i've kept tidy the visible bits of the house, it's all those little jobs that I've put to one side - cleaning inside the kitchen cupboards, scrubbing the lime scale off the shower cubicle. Every time I go to tackle one of these little jobs motherhood gets in the way and it gets put on the back burner for another day!

But today all that's changed! I have been given the exciting opportunity to review a Cleaning Gift Voucher (thanks to Fuel My Blog) The concepts simple, you buy a friend/ family member some vouchers from the website for a denomination of your choice and the recipient then selects a service from the site! (there's an extensive range of options from cleaning, oven cleaning, odd jobs)

I was given a £45 voucher and selected the option of a cleaner for 3 hours.

So today's the day! Instead of one cleaner arriving three turned up (2 trained cleaners and one who is undergoing training) and instead of doing three hours they're doing 90 minutes (which suits me fine as I'm off out Christmas shopping after they leave!) But lucky me I currently have one cleaner in my bathroom giving it a deep clean, one in my ensuite and another cleaning through my kitchen, including the cupboards!! All this being done whilst I'm playing with Xander and blogging!!! I could get use to this!

When the cleaners left I had a good look around my house and was pleasantly surprised by the high standard that the cleaners achieved in such a short period of time!!! I could never have achieved all of this in such a short space of time, I can start with a clean slate and keep up the cleanliness! Plus now my house is sparkling in time for Christmas!

The only minor criticism I have about the overall service is the language barrier that occurred between the cleaners and myself. It took a while to communicate with them and get across what I would like done. But all three cleaners were polite and hardworking!

If you ask any busy mum what they want for Christmas I would imagine most if not all would say TIME, give me TIME!! This is exactly what these vouchers offer! Although you'd have to be careful not to offend anyone by giving one of these vouchers as a gift!!

But you don't have to buy one of these vouchers as a gift, it's a perfect opportunity to arrange to have a cleaner as a one off in your own home without a weekly commitment.

I also think that one of these vouchers would be the perfect gift to give a mum to be at a baby shower! Those first few weeks are so insanely busy that a cleaner would be the perfect gift! I've already told hubby when I have baby number two I'm most definately buying the voucher for a cleaner 2 hours a week for 4 weeks to make those first few weeks a little more manageable!

You are able to purchase the vouchers directly from the Cleaning Gift Vouchers website. It's the perfet last minute gift as the voucher can instantly be emailed to you to print off and place in a card!

We received this voucher free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: My 1st Years Snowman

When Xander was born we received lots of wonderful gifts, but my favourite by far was two items from our good friends Andy and Suzanne:

These were purchased from a company called My 1st years. A website selling literally the most beautiful personalised gift items for little ones for all occasions.

Those of you who follow me on twitter (@craftythinker) will know that I'm absolutely obsessed with christmas! And keen to mark Xander's first Christmas with some super special presents, so I was delighted when My 1st Years offered to send one of their personalised cuddly snowmen for us to review!

It arrived (as all My 1st Years gifts) in a beautiful keepsake gift box:

And just look how gorgeous this snowman is:

He's super soft and really snuggly! His jumper has been personalised with Xander's name! With embroidered facial features there are no loose parts to be concerned with and perfectly safe for your little one to play with!! I can't wait to give this to Xander this Christmas and imagine he will become a regular visitor each Christmas in our house!!

My 1st Years slogan is 'Made with love' and anyone receiving a gift from My 1st years will understand why. Each item we've received from them has been beautifully made and so personal to the recipient which makes each item so unique! With each item beautifully packaged in a stunning gift box they make the most special gifts for little people!! There's still time to order for Christmas. Click here to access their website!

We received this item free of charge for the purpose of this review all opinions are my own.

REVIEW: Snow Boots From Tiny Feet Hampers

When Tiny Feet Hampers showed a pic of their super cute snow booties I instantly tweeted back asking what sizes they were available in and the price.

They instantly came back to me saying that you can buy them in sizes 6-12 month, 12-18 month and 18-24 month and available at the bargain price of £2.50 + £2.50 P&P! I was even more excited by the fact that Sarah from Tiny Feet Hampers offered to send us a pair free of charge to review!!

They arrived beautifully wrapped in polythene and gift ribbon:

With the super chilly weather these have been perfect for Xander to wear! They're beautifully made and look how super cute they are on:

Tiny Feet Hampers website is most definitely one you want saved in your favourites. The one stop shop for gift baskets for baby showers, new babies, christenings and birthdays! Get your orders in before the 19th December to ensure christmas delivery!!!

We received these booties free of charge for the purpose of this review. All views expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Christmas Keepsake Box from Inspiration4U

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm completely sentimental. I keep absolutely everything: cards, gift tags, letters, postcards and pretty much everything else! Anything that has a memory attached I keep!

I already have a memory box for Xander where I have stored away his scan pics, new baby cards, hospital wristbands, newspapers from the day he was born, his first outfit, bits from the Olympics and lots of other bits which I'm sure he'll consider junk in years to come.

I was therefore delighted when Inspirations4u offered to send a Personalised Handmade First Christmas Memory Box to review for Xander:

I'm a massive fan of anything handmade and just think that the reindeer on this box is so cute!!

I love the personalised nature of this box. It makes it so special and perfect to store all Xander's first Christmas memorabilia. I've already popped his Memories Made letter from Santa in there for safe keeping!

I think one of these boxes would be the perfect christmas gift for a small baby. It's not to late to order in time for Christmas. You can order through their website and you'll have to email handmadecards@inspirations4u.co.uk with the baby's name.

All Items are handmade to order so please allow up to 7 days for dispatch, Inspiration4u have informed me that as long as you get your order in before the 16th December it should be with you in time for Christmas!

We recieved this item free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Slug and Snails Boy Tights

Slugs and Snails is the original boys tights company, set up by a mum who living on a chilly hill on the West Coast of Ireland recognised a gap in the market for a product that could keep little boys snug and warm. The result a complete range of tights in masculine fun designs and bright, bold colours!

The lovely folks at Slugs and Snails offered us a pair of Hampton design tights for us to wear and I couldn't wait to put Xander in them. Admittedly hubby was a little sceptical of the concept of boys in tights, but once he saw how fab they looked on he was won around!

The hampton design are baby blue with a fun sailboat design. We found the colours within the design made it very easy to match the tights up with tops we had in Xander's wardrobe.

I first put Xander in his tights when he was feeling unwell. I could tell straight away how comfy and warm he was. Exactly what you want for your little one, especially when feeling under the weather.

The other outcome I liked about these tights was the flexibility Xander had in them. After just a day of wearing them Xander became more aware of his feet and began to put his feet together and lift them up to play with them!!

To summarise - pros and cons:

Heres some of the pros of Slug and Snails boy tights (some identified by the company and some myself):
•No more lost or odd socks.
•Warm legs and snuggly toes.
•Flexible yarn and generous sizing allowing room for nappies and chubby legs
•Soft non-slip text on the soles, ideal for wooden or ceramic floors.
•Funky designs loved by little ones.
•Unlike many girls tights the design doesn't stop at the knee meaning you can wear them without trousers and you can easily couple the tights with a top/ jumper.
•The perfect potty training emergency outfit, just pop a pair in your bag and you have trousers and socks ready to wear with minimal fuss.
•Beautiful packaging ideal for gifts and baby showers.
•A possible stocking filler gift.
•Fair price, cheaper than most trousers.
•Nice and quick to select outfits for baby. Pair of tights and a top, hey presto! Perfect for when you're on the go!
•A warm but fairly thin layer which is perfect to put on baby underneath a chunky snow suit.
•Perfect if like Xander he was born in summer and friends and family brought clothes for the baby in larger sizes but they were summer designs (such a shorts/ romper suits) you can just pop a pair of tights on underneath)
•Unisex designs (although marketed for boys the designs could be ideal for parents keen not to dress their little one in the stereotypical colours/ designs.
•Ideal when babies are in the in-between stages of clothes (I.e when 0-3 month is too small and 3-6 month is too big, isn't that so annoying!)
•Some positive comments from some of the mums at Xander's baby group (two little boys there are regular tight wearers but their mums hadn't heard of Slugs and Snails and wore plain grey/ navy blue tights) they were delighted to discover they existed!

Cons:
•We had a couple of comments from family members who were less keen on the concept of boys in tights. I guess it's a matter of personal preference.

However we're completely sold on these tights and will certainly be buying more pairs in the months and years to come!

We received these tights free of charge for the purpose of this review. Views expressed are my own.

REVIEW: FUN soap from Lush

With Christmas fast approaching I've been on the lookout for gifts for friends and family.

Lush ltd sent me some of their new FUN soap to review and I have to say it's a perfect stocking filler and lives up to his name - it certainly is fun!! I received a bar of Red Mandarin and Orange.

I have to say that this is was the best smelling parcel I have EVER received! Before I had even open the envelope the smell of oranges filled the room!

Lush FUN soap has a multitude of functions:
• Body soap
• Bubble bath
• Shampoo
• Washing clothes
• For fun - its simply like modelling dough!!

I absolutely LOVE having bubble baths and used the majority of my FUN bar as bubble bath - just a small amount ran under water made lots of gorgeous smelling bubbles!

Xander is still very little and doesn't get much of a say when it comes to baths but I can totally see that this product would be ideal to use with reluctant toddlers/ children during bath time making bathtime a fun time!

You can buy FUN from any Lush store or online from their website. It comes in five different colours/ fragrances. When I was in Basingstoke I couldn't resist visiting the Lush store and sniffing/playing with the other 'flavours' and recommend also the Green Lemon and Lime which is so tangy and fresh smelling!

For the the first year of sales of FUN, Lush will donate 10p from the sale of each bar into a FunD, to be given out in grants to projects providing fun and recreational activities for children living in challenging environments! An ideal project for everyday use and perfect for gifts for friends and family for Christmas! The staff in the Lush stores are super friendly why not pop in and have a play with FUN for yourself!

I received this item free of charge for the purpose of review. All views expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Heat Holder Socks

How super chilly cold is it at the moment!? I'm one of those people who really feels the cold and end up wrapped up like the michelin man throughout the whole of winter. My feet especially get icy cold. When i was approached to review Heat Holder socks i jumped at the chance - my feet especially get super cold throughout the winter and i often wear more than one pair of socks to keep them warm! Heat Holder socks claim to be 'The Ultimate Thermal Sock' with the promise of 'No more cold feet' so i was very willing to put them to the test!

I was sent a pair of black extra long (knee high) heat holder socks to review:

It was clear before even putting them on that they are not your average pair of socks. They take up a fair amount of space in my teeny tiny sock drawer! There's a lot of sock for your money and they're so thick - they mean business!! They're not the kind of sock you can wear with a pair of pretty ballet pumps but absolutely PERFECT under a pair of winter boots!!

Now, as i said i'm the kind of person that really feels the cold. I have worn these out and about a few times now and can honestly say my feet have never been so toasty! This isn't really a suprise as they boast a 2.34 tog rating (5x warmer than a typical cotton sock)

Not only do they do a superb job in keeping your feet so warm but they're so comfy as well! The insides of the sock have been intensively brushed. The results in the sock being able to hold more warm air close to the skin, not only that super soft on your feet and toes!! Just like wearing a pair of warm fluffy slippers!!

Let's be honest, we often resort to buying socks at Christmas. If you go down this route, why not consider buying your friends and family some Heat Holders. There are mens, ladies and children products available in a whole array of colours. They're ideal for the chilly weather!!

I received these Heat Holder socks free of charge for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Scoopmate

Ever tried to prepare a bottle of formula when bleary eyed and sleep deprived?! How many times have you lost count of how many scoops you've already popped into the prepared boiled water? Well scoopmate is an innovative little gadget to help you always get your baby's bottles right!

Heidi Products sent me a Soopmate to review shortly after i made the decision to combination feed Xander. I had underesteimated the time consuming nature of preparing formula bottles. Breastfeeding definately is an easier option in that respect - no preperation required! Scoopmate most definately has made the job a little more managable. Especially when getting the night bottles ready (by this stage i literally need matchsticks to keep my eyes open and need all the help i can get!)

Scoopmate is a levelling device which allows you to keep track of the number of scoops of formula you have placed into your baby's bottle.

This is how you use it:

 

1. Take a heaped scoop of milk formula using manufacturers scoop.
2. Level off the scoop with your ScoopMate.
3. Using your thumb, simply move the slider along 1 click to record that scoop.
4. Place the formula into a bottle.

Using Scoopmate has become part of our everyday routine now. Since using it i haven't had to question whether i have put too much or too little formula into Xanders bottles (even on the most sleepless of nights!) and i haven't had to throw a single bottle away due to losing count. At just £4.99 it is a fab little gadget to have to make life a little easier. Scoopmate would also make a fab babyshower/ new baby gift - the new mum will most definately find it useful!

We received this scoopmate free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Stone Bridge Hair Accessories

I've started doing my Christmas shopping. Have you? If you're looking for Christmas gifts for women/ girls you may wish to visit the Stone Bridge hair accessories website.

Stone Bridge Hair Accessories (http://www.stone-bridge.co.uk/) specializes in handmade luxurious hair accessories ranging from hair bands to claws and clips.

Stone Bridge offer a wonderfully unique service to their customers. If you're unsure what hair accessories would be suitable for you (or the gift recipient) you can fill in their online form titled 'Tell Us More About Your Hair' and their hair consultant will recommend a few suitable accessories to choose from ensuring you purchase the correct item(s) for you!!

In order to select the items to send me to review I completed the online form, which asked me questions about my hair colour, texture etc and then received an email shortly after with five suggestions of hair accessories. I selected two headbands to review. These were:

1) Super Comfy Half Inch Headband in midnight blue:

This headband certainly lives up to its name and is extremely comfortable to wear. Most headband I've owned either make your ears ache or the combs dig into your head but not this one! It's French made and is of very high quality. Its very lightweight and you almost forget you're wearing it!! The midnight blue colour is beautifully elegant. The headband has been finished and polished by hand, there are no rough edges to catch on your hair. It is also available in a Pale Plum colour (which is most definitely on my wish list!)

2) Squares Link Headband (mosaic)

This headband is very delicate looking, despite it's width. This is because of the open cut out design. Again it's very lightweight. Despite its weight it still very effectively pulls back your hair and like the super comfy hair band doesn't apply any pressure behind the ears like other headbands I've owned before. This headband is also handmade and finished in France and its super shiny finish is a result of it being hand polished, meaning that there are no edges or sharp bits to catch and snag your hair, helping to keep your hair in smooth, healthy condition!

Although Stone Bridge Hair Accessories may seem expensive they're worth spending that little bit more on. They're beautifully made and superb quality. With their unique hair consultation feature you just knoew you're going to recieve a hair accessory that is a perfect match for you! They come beautifully wrapped and would make a lovely Christmas gift. I know I would be ecstatic if I were to receive a Stone Bridge Hair Accessory (or two!!) this Christmas! (hint, hint any friends or family reading my blog!) Check out their website today!

I received these headbands free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: First Christmas Tree Decoration from The Little Pennant Company

I'm so excited about Xander's first Christmas fast approaching! I'm keen to make sure it is completely perfect and that this special day is well documented! He has his personalised Christmas stocking from Personalised Baby (click here to see review) and he now has a personalised handmade Christmas decoration courtesy of The Little Pennant Company:

As you're all probably aware I'm a complete lover of all items handmade and this tree decoration is no exception!! Isn't it beautiful?!

Elizabeths 1st Christmas tree decorations are available as either hearts or stars. They are made of linen and the wording is done in freehand machine embroidery and the edges are finished by hand in a blanket stitch. You can clearly see each stitch has been done with care and attention!

Most of what Elizabeth makes is to order. She provides a completely personal service for bespoke commissions allowing each customer to be involved in the design process. As a customer you will receive at least one progress photo. This means you'll know what you're getting and have a chance to make suggestions. This also reassures Elizabeth that she is creating exactly what the customer wants!

They are £12 each and £2 p&p. (1st class recorded delivery) The last date for ordering personalised Christmas gifts is the 25th November. You can view lots of examples of these decorations on The Little Pennants Company Facebook page.

The Little Pennant Company makes a whole range of other beautiful handmade items so check out the Facebook page to view the whole range! Elizabeth is always open to ideas so if you have a particular product in mind get in touch with her. To order send Elizabeth a message via her facebook page or email her: thelittlepennantcompany@gmail.com

I absolutely LOVE Xander's star and can't wait to hang it on the Christmas tree!!

We received this item free of charge for the purpose of the review. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: CBeebies Music CD

Xander absolutely loves music and we often bop along to the radio or music from the tv. His little face lights up and he nods his head along to the rhythm - he's so cute!!

Over the last couple of weeks he started showing a little interest in the television and we have had the CBeebies channel on. There's a lot of singing on this channel which always gets Xander's attention.

So when when we was given the opportunity to review the new CBeebies album I knew Xander would love it!

There is a whole range of songs on this double CD album. Including all the theme tunes of the big CBeebies programmes such as In The Night Garden, Zingzillas and Rastamouse. It also includes several songs from the best programmes and also songs that the CBeebies presenters sing, including The Birthday Song and The Time Has Come To Say Goodnight.

We have had this CD on a lot! I don't like the idea of the television being on a lot and having this CD on makes the house less quiet and offers us a good level of entertainment! We have a dance around the sitting room to the songs. It's all good fun! Just look at him enjoying the tunes:

Xander's only 3 months at the moment. But I'm sure as he gets older he will engage with the CBeebies channel more and more and will recognise the songs and sing along!!

We received this CD free of charge for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

REVIEW: Tummy With Mummy

At 8 weeks old it was clear that Xander had very strong neck muscles and could hold his head up when being carried. However when lying down he was unable to lift his head. So when the folks at Tummy With Mummy kindly offered to send Xander one of their products to review I was delighted as I hoped this would help him to develop this skill.

Tummy With Mummy is a product which encourages babies to enjoy being on their tummies. I had tried lying Xander on a blanket with a long sausage like cushion but he really didn't enjoy this and had little patience with the position. So I was hoping that the Tummy With Mummy would make tummy time a lot more bearable for both him and us!

When the Tummy With Mummy arrived I was surprised how compact it was. This is great as if you have a baby you'll know they take up a lot of space with all their belongings. The compact nature of the product meant we could easily pack it up and take it to Xanders grandparents when we went to visit!

It was easy to construct. You simply unfold it and fasten zips along the sides and hey presto!

Initially when Xander started tummy time with Tummy With Mummy he couldn't lift his head and barely last a few minutes without screaming. However we ensured he had tummy time at least a few minutes everyday and slowly but surely he began to tolerate lying on his tummy and then just a few days ago for the first time Xander lifted his head!! I was so excited about him reaching this milestone and you could tell from his little face he was too!!

As well as using the product for tummy time it also has a seat feature which allows babies to sit upright! Straight away Xander loved this feature as it allowed him to look around and interact with others. Because It has high sides, a solid back and safety harness Xander felt very secure!

The Tummy With Mummy also allows babies to lie in a reclined position which has been perfect for doing our baby massage as Xander is slightly raised and means that I don't have to crouch down on the floor!

Tummy With Mummy retails at £59.99.
Its the perfect tool to assist you in introducing a tummy time routine to your little one. Tummy time is an important element of your baby's development. Not only does it increase baby's upper body strength but improves their motor skills and for this reason I urge you to consider purchasing the Tummy With Mummy.

We received this product for free for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW and OFFER: So Kitsch handmade jewellery

As you all should know by now I LOVE items that are handmade! Twitter is a fabulous source of locating talented crafters who create and sell unique and beautiful items and that's where I met Clair, the owner of So Kitsch jewellery!

Clair's jewellery is completely different from any other handmade jewellery I've seen before! It's fun, colourful and a little on the zany side (which I LOVE!!)

Clair sent me two items to review:
A scrabble piece ring:

This chunky ring is made from an original scrabble piece. I love that it is personalised to my initial! The ring is adjustable to suit the size of the wearer. The item is well made. I think this would make a wonderful Birthday or Christmas gift. Or possibly a brilliant partybag gift at a girls birthday, a hen night gift or wedding favour for women guests!

A pair of pink bow earrings:

As I don't have my ears pierced I gave these to my ten year old sister. She absolutely loved them! She's only ever owned studs suitable for school and loved the fun design of these earrings! Again they have been well made, are not too heavy and the backs clip on perfectly so they're fitted securely in the pierced hole. Again these would make a perfect gift/stocking filler!

Please check our Clair's creations all of which are unique. She has a range of fun jewellery on offer from scrabble and Lego rings to m&m earrings!

Clair has kindly offered mycraftymummy followers 10% off her items!! So why not visit her Facebook page today and mention the discount code mummy10 when you order and start your Christmas shopping today!!

REVIEW: Padders Ugg-Style Boots From Tiny Toes Baby Shoes

Up until now Xander has either worn baby grows, socks or booties when out and about, however with the cold weather fast approaching i was keen to get some more suitable footwear for him to keep his cute little tootsies warm.

So I was over the moon when Bruce from Tiny Toes Baby Shoes offered to send us a pair of 3-6 month Padders Chestnut Ugg-Style Boots to review:

I had been considering getting Xander a pair of these for a while and when I received them I wondered why I hadn't bought some sooner. They're gorgeous!!

Not only are they fashionable (we got lots of lovely comments whilst out and about in them), these faux sheepskin boots with faux fur trim and lining most definitely kept my little mans feet nice and warm!!

Here's Xander wearing them at his sensory class:

Unlike many ugg-style boots in the shops they're also completely practical to put on your baby as they have velcro hidden up one seam of the boots:

The slip resistant sole coordinates with the upper:

These ugg-style boots from the Padders range come in 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months. They're a complete bargain at just £10. He's definitely getting plenty of wear out of them. I think they look brilliant on, especially with dungerees:

They are now also available in Chocolate AND excitingly you can now get your baby's boots personalised for just an additional £8!!

Guess what I will be buying Xander for Christmas?!

Check out the Tiny Toes Baby Shoes website today they have a whole range of beautiful baby and toddler shoes to pick from. These baby shoes are beautifully made and of excellent quality. Why would you want anything else for your children than that?