I can hardly believe that this year the husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary! I’ll never forget the day he surprised me with a proposal I wasn’t going to refuse…

The husband is a bit of a traditional old romantic at heart. We’d talked wistfully about getting married, and discussed that I’d like a piece of diamond jewellery, but we never actually looked at rings. I presumed, being the control freak that  I am, we’d arrange it all together, but he had other ideas.

One evening, in my Dad’s kitchen while we were having a cuppa, he unexpectedly proposed! I was nothing short of flabberghasted….and, of course, over the moon.

Earlier that evening he’d had ‘the chat’ with his future father in law, and unbeknownst to me had already bought the ring, which he’d chosen all by himself! No clues, or hints from me whatsoever!  It was a pretty solitaire, small but perfectly formed. I was nothing short of flabberghasted….and, of course, over the moon.

A simple proposal, but a wonderful surprise! Amongst all the great engagement rings out there to choose from, although mine wasn’t a 2 carat whopper, it was perfect for me, and all the more so because he’d made the effort to choose, and buy it in secret.

Back then there were no online diamond stores to endlessly peruse. Buying diamond rings UK wide, for the majority of normal folk, involved trawling through jewellers in nearby towns, until you found the perfect ring. I’d hazard a guess that most ordinary people didn’t even know that there were so many different cuts of diamond. Can you imagine if he’d have been faced with a choice of:

• Round Brilliant
• Princess
• Baguette
• Pear
• Emerald
• Oval
• Radiant
• Asscher
• Marquise
• Heart
• Trillion
• Cushion

Not to mention all the types of gold and settings you can find online these days! I’m not sure he’d have been so bold as to choose a ring, faced with such a range. I’m not even sure I could choose myself!

I think if we were getting engaged now I’d have to ignore all the detail about carat and cut. I’d spending hours gazing at websites, seeking out the perfect ring and imagining it nestled snugly on my finger. I’d think up wily ways in which I could make him pick the right ring. And hope when the proposal was made, that I wasn’t disappointed and the perfect ring magically produced.

In fact, if we were to do it all again, I reckon we’d probably end up with much the same ring as we have now. Hmmmm, I wonder if we should put that theory to the test.

Can you get re-engaged to your husband….

Content on behalf of The Diamond Store

I’m an old fashioned girl. I’m all about the elegance, glamour and effortless simplicity, *cough*….

Flowers are one of those timeless gifts for women, given and received since time began. So obviously, when it comes to birthday gifts and surprises, there’s nothing I love more than receiving a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. Even better if they’re delivered when you’re not expecting them, in the buzz of a crowded office. Who doesn’t enjoy being the envy of their colleagues when the florist’s van pulls up, and the gigantic flower delivery is for them?

A gorgeous bouquet of pale cream roses never fails to make me smile. There’s something wonderfully decadent about receiving flowers, and as much as I love being on the receiving end of a wonderful bunch, they’re always an absolute  joy to give too.

Many times I’ve employed the services of Interflora to send gifts to friends and family, my Nan in particular. She loved brightly coloured flowers, nothing drab and wishy washy! When it came to gift ideas for her I knew exactly where to search. There was always something beautiful and vibrant, just like her, to choose.

Flowers say, ‘you’re special’, ‘you’re appreciated’, and hopefully more often than not, ‘you’re loved’. Who doesn’t want to feel like that every once in a while!?

I wonder if my husband’s reading this, it’s our 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday….

Content on behalf of Interflora UK

For most people, a holiday is a time to unwind and relax as well as recharge before returning to face the world.

However, for families with young children, the trauma of travelling to the destination can sometimes make the whole idea seem too stressful to contemplate, but there are ways to help make the experience less of an ordeal.

Those with babies face a particular uphill struggle, with the mountain of accessories that have to be carted around. Airlines unfortunately fail to appreciate that one small person means a lot of extra luggage and not all of them allocate additional baggage allowances if the little one does not have their own seat.

To get around this, some package holiday providers offer a baby pack to help frazzled parents, the typical contents of which include a highchair, buggy, steriliser, blender, sun tent, changing mat and baby bath.

But even before you get to your accommodation, the idea of trying to squeeze a packed baby-changing bag into the tiny airplane toilet can seem like a disaster waiting to happen. An alternative is to prepare in advance and put wipes and clean nappies into individual nappy sacks to use.

The airport itself is a noisy and chaotic environment and keeping a close eye on children can be tough at times. Dressing them in brightly coloured clothes will help them stand out from the crowd and make them easier to spot.

For those staying in the UK, trains can be a cheap and speedy choice but hanging around on platforms and being stuck in a carriage does not go down too well with children. Some operators offer activity packs for children in return for a small cost, such as colouring in kits and goodie bags and some of the larger stations also have a kiddie play corner offering distractions away from the danger of the tracks.

Packing can be difficult to organise when you are trying to run the home as well. Some trains also offer emergency packs for parents who have forgotten a vital item or for when it’s buried at the bottom of a suitcase, a service that can be a lifesaver!

For those that are taking their own car or hiring a vehicle from a firm such as netcars, it can be a good idea to load up the night before whilst the children are asleep. This allows the day of travel to focus on getting everyone ready and in the car, making the departure a little less frenzied.

Even with snacks and toys, long journeys are not much fun for younger family members but it can easily be brightened up. Giving them a new toy during the trip can keep them amused for a long time and playing their CD, if you can bear it, is another good diversion. Alternatively, offering children the use of something they do not normally have, such as an MP3 player, will keep them occupied for hours.

Organisation and planning, dull though that may sound, is the key to getting through the holiday without too much pandemonium. If you start to lose your sense of humour, just remember that in a week or two, you will have to do the same trip in reverse…

Content provided by netcars

As any mum knows, everyday of the week throws up new challenges in family life. That’s just motherhood for you! But, there are those that go above and beyond that role, and selflessly take motherhood to another level.

For the seventh year, Tesco is celebrating incredible mums with its prestigious Mum of the Year Awards, and is looking for you to nominate mums who’ve made a difference.

These un-sung heroes help change lives every single day – perhaps she’s raised money for a great cause, or runs an altruistic business. It could be the mum in the playground who campaigns tirelessly for better play equipment in the local park, or the mum who runs free dance classes for local children, to help them exercise and build confidence.

All these women, no matter how small their corner of the world may seem, are making a difference in people’s lives, and the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards hope to recognise these incredible achievements.

Nominations are open until 23rd September 2011, and the final categories will be chosen once all nominations are in. The awards themselves will take place at the Waldorf in London on 11th March 2012, with celebrity ambassador Sara Cox attending the star studded ceremony, along with the Tesco Mum of the Year finalists.

So, get your thinking cap on and nominate your mum, your sister, your friend, your neighbour or indeed any mum you think deserves special recognition for her incredible achievements!

This is a sponsored post.

I have a confession; I’ve been married for almost ten years and I still covet engagement rings.

It’s not that I don’t love the ring that sits on my wedding finger, and the small diamond within it. Though a friend did once cry, “Oh my God! It’s so small!” and gave my tiny diamond an giant inferiority complex.

There’s nothing wrong with looking elsewhere, right?

Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not in the market to divorce my husband. I’m more holding out hope that one day, maybe for a special anniversary *cough* he might treat me to some beautiful new jewellery.

I’m not hankering after anything too ostentatious, or tear inducingly expensive. It doesn’t have to be big enough to see from the moon, just from across the room. I’m not obsessive about the colour, clarity and cut. Something simple (above 1 carat, please) will do me just fine, darling!

Perhaps I need to employ a little subliminal suggestion. I could stick pictures of diamond rings to the fridge, perhaps even ‘accidentally’ add one as a screen saver on his lap top and phone. I’ll gently put his earphones in as he sleeps, and play the recorded mantra, “buy your wife a diamond ring, buy your wife a diamond ring…”  just to give him a very subtle hint.

After all, if it were his idea to buy me diamonds, then who am I to argue!

For me darling! Oh, how did you know!?….

Content on behalf of The Diamond Store 

I’m sure there’s not a married woman alive who couldn’t tell you what wedding flowers she chose. The colour and scent of every stem is probably etched on her memory forever and will always be evocative of that special day. That single bouquet, no matter how small and sweet, will live on forever in a hundred photographs.

Fresh flowers are one of those simple luxuries that always put a huge smile on my face. Be it the heady scent of oriental lillies,  the elegant beauty of large headed white roses or the exuberance of a bright summer posy, there is no simple pleasure that cheers me up more.

After a fraught week, when that familiar florist’s delivery van pulls up outside with a glorious bunch of flowers, the reaslisation that they are for me will have me grinning from ear to ear! The first time my husband sent me a dozen red roses I actually cried!

Glory be to the Gods of the internet for making it easy for my husband everyone to buy flowers online. Gone are the days of maximum effort. These days anyone can send something utterly beautiful and always memorable for minimal cost, in a few simple clicks!

When was the last time you made someone’s day with fresh flowers?

Content on behalf of Interflora

Planned pregnancy? Hardly!

From the decision to have a baby and the hours spent day dreaming about baby names, through to the moment your bundle arrives, pregnancy is the longest, most fraught roller coaster you’ll ever ride!

Unless you’ve just wandered out of one of those 80′s style pregnancy guide books, looking all Stepford wife, sporting a wavy perm and a fetching floral maternity smock, then believe me, there’s nothing about pregnancy that can really be planned! It’s a bit like herding cats.

You don’t need me to fill you in on the ins and outs (cough) of the birds and the bees. We all know that at some point that all important date in your ovulation calendar, (the one you double ringed in red marker) had you contemplating the most unromantic sexual encounter of your entire life, all in the name of pro-creation.

And don’t tell me that you never considered standing on your head once the deed was done, to help the little fellas on their journey. I won’t believe you! In fact, I bet some of you did…

Then comes the waiting, the disappointment, the stock piling of pregnancy tests, the months of scheduled sex trying. Eventually, if you’re lucky you’ll reach that bathroom pacing,  heart stopping moment when, after what seems like a lifetime,  ’pregnant’ flashes up on your digital pregnancy test.

And even then, after all the waiting, extra sex, head-standing and leg crossing,  you won’t quite believe it until you’ve done at least another twelve two tests, preferably different brands.

Tell me I’m not alone….

On behalf of Bounty – The UKs best loved parenting club

As a busy working mum I often find it nigh on impossible to make time for me.

Between the nursery run, the nine to five, and the endless organising that parenthood brings, there never seem to be enough hours in the day to make time for myself. And, like many parents, my own needs are bottom of a very long list!

As every parent knows, for the sake of your own sanity, it’s important to try and make time for yourself, and what better way to do that than a spot of pampering?

I’ve often found myself daydreaming about getting away to a hotel all by myself for a day of indulgence, but as yet have never managed to get around to booking it. In these uncertain times it seemed like an indulgence that was financially out of my reach.

But, not so it would seem! If you’re looking for beauty spas, or are interested in discounted spa breaks or beauty treatments, then look no further than Wahanda. Describing itself as ‘the online home for health, beauty and wellness’ you can find deals on all sorts of luxurious pampering treats in spas and salons all over the UK, and way beyond. Plus comprehensive listings of spas and beauty salons, and plenty of customer reviews.

With Wahanda’s daily MobDeals you’ll find heavily discounted beauty treats that won’t break the bank and will certainly put a smile on your face. In my local area I found a beauty salon offering a luxury manicure for just £10, and a rather more indulgent ‘For You with Love’ spa day for two, including treatments, champagne and afternoon tea for only £125, at the gorgeous Wood Hall Hotel & Spa. Perfect for a girly birthday treat!

The founders of Wahanda believe that everyone deserves a bit of luxury and indulgence in their lives, and I have to say I’m inclined to agree!

Now, where did I put my debit card? Because that £10 luxury manicure is mine baby! All mine!

This is a sponsored post.

One of the perks of being a Parent Blogger, aside from all the sparkling awards and accolades (snort!), is the random and often fabulous treasures we are offered by lovely PR types.

From Tena Lady (really) to Green & Blacks, Vosene to Xbox, it seems everyone wants a slice of the parent blogger pie! So, when I received an email from a marvellous chap called Ben about a comment I’d left over at Ian’s (Single Parent Dad) blog I was excited to play along.

You see,  Ian had been the recipient of a brand spanking new Zannusi washing machine from Appliances Online. That very day, the most memorable PR pitch in my inbox just happened to be for nit shampoo. Being the kind and generous soul that Ian is, I thought I’d offer my nit shampoo in return for his far more desirable white goods. But whaddya know, the big old scrooge said no!

Shocking, I know.

Anyway, Ben’s pitch involved bestowing fabulous gifts on commenters on Ian’s and subsequent recipients blog posts. Some had been given HD TV’s, others top of the range Smeg gas ovens, and some received kitchen gadgets. Ben arrived in my inbox on his white charger, and on the basis of my woe is me comment on Ian’s blog I was terribly excited when he offered me….

Wait for it. Wait for it!

Was it a wide screen TV? Perhaps my choice from Appliances Online’s range of ovens? Maybe even a fabulous gigantic American style fridge freezer?

Nope. None of the above.

Ben offered me knitting vouchers. Knitting. Vouchers. Yes you read that right.

The moral of this story is, that when you comment on this post, which you really really should, you may be in with the chance of receiving something fabulous from Appliances Online. But, be careful what you wish for…..

This is a sponsored post.

NB – This post is tongue in cheek. I’m very grateful to Appliances Online for the vouchers.

This is a sponsored post.

Since having children I seem to have got extremely snap happy with my camera! Anything and everything is a possible photo opportunity and I want to capture it all!

If you’re anything like me you’ll have thousands of digital images stored on your computer but very few actually printed. Every now and again I get myself in a blind panic and decide to have hundreds printed at once. Sometimes individually, sometimes in photo books for ourselves, or gifts for others. Not surprisingly, the run up to Christmas often provides me with the perfect opportunity to do this!

This year I’ve been uploading my favourite pictures and creating a KODAK Photo Book charting the children’s journey through 2010. With a few clicks I’ve created my very own beautiful, high quality, hardbound photo book chosen from a variety of different templates, colours and finishes. Perfect for keeping all my special pictures in one place, and a great Christmas gift for family and friends alike!

To help you save a few pounds this Christmas, I have an exclusive 2 for 1 discount voucher for you from KODAK Photo Books. All you have to do is enter the code 2FOR1PHOTOBOOKS at the checkout on KODAK Gallery to receive your 2nd photo book free! Et voila! Two gifts for the price of one (or one for family and one to keep).

But that’s not all!

KODAK are running and extra special competition across ten sites (including this one) to Find Kodak’s ‘Photo Book Family’. One overall winner, picked from the ten sites will become KODAK’s ‘Photo Book Family’.  The winner will receive fabulous prize package including a KODAK Playsport Video Camera and £50 worth of KODAK Gallery Credit. How fabulous is that!?

To enter, all you have to do is send your best family photo to Kodak.Xmas@ketchumpleon.com by Friday 12th December 2010, and KODAK will select the eventual winner.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be KODAK’s ‘Photo Book Family’ then get clicking through that photo album and good luck!

Terms & Conditions – KODAK ‘Photo Book Family’ Competition: Entrants should email their family photo along with their full name and address by Friday 12th December 2010. Entrants must be over 18 years of age and resident in the UK. One entry per person. The winner will be required to supply KODAK with footage their family compiling their Photo Book within 28 days of receiving their prize. KODAK will be happy to liaise with the winner to clarify what elements could be included in their video

Terms & Conditions – Promotional Discount: The 2 for 1 discount code is valid until 31st January 2011 on www.kodakgallery.co.uk. Maximum of one free photo book per customer. The voucher can only be used once. Offer is valid on all Photo Books types (excluding the mini book).

Any one who knows me is well aware, that made for the sunshine, I was not!

Being practically opaque of fair complexion, and pleasantly plump (as my Grandma would’ve said) I’m most certainly made for chillier climes. The last time we went abroad to Spain, I spent all day, every day indoors, hiding from the heat!

Since having the children it has, of course, occurred to me that I might actually have to take them abroad one day. Much as I love this fair isle, I’d also like them to see a little of the world. But, the thought of a week long holiday roasting in the sun just fills me with dread. I’ve been considering instead, once the children are both old enough and suitably co-ordinated, that perhaps we should look into family ski holidays.

Now, it’s a long time since I’ve skied, and even then it wasn’t in a winter wonderland. It was at the local dry ski slope, in West Yorkshire, circa 1991. Not exactly Klosters with Prince William and Kate Middleton. I may have also dabbled in some (equally un-glamourous) grass skiing in the Yorkshire Dales in my ever distant youth. Actual snowy slopes are something I have yet to conquer.

I’ve been wistfully reading about family ski holidays in Switzerland on a well known ski website. In my imagination I have this perfect idyllic daydream of us all enjoying a day being tutored on the slopes, the children wrapped up all warm and snuggly in their matching salopettes and ski jackets. The husband and I brimming with pride as they out ski us every time.

Then, by night we’d tuck the children up, all cosy and warm inside a picturesque chalet, snow falling silently outside, as the husband and I sipped a glass of something chilled as the log fire crackled and roared. I know, I’m an old romantic at heart, and I love my rose tinted spectacles!

The reality of course would probably involve chilly winter air, rosy cheeks, falling over repeatedly, a few bruised bottoms, alot of giggling, some exhilarating thrills and lots and lots of fun! All culminating in tired but satisfied children and parents. Perfect!

All I have to do now is persuade the husband….

This is a sponsored post.

You know that child of yours? The really cute one with the cheeky but adorable smile and those big beautiful eyes? The one that hogs the limelight and loves the camera? Then read on, because this post was made for you!

NEXT has launched its Baby Boutique Model Competition 2010. In association with Prima Baby Magazine they are searching for Britain’s cutest, most photogenic, tiny tots to become their newest babysupermodel!

The competition is open to infants aged between newborn and 36 months (born 19th November 2007 or later) and will be split into two categories – birth to 18 months and 19 to 36 months. It will be open for entries from 22nd October 2010 to 12noon 16th November 2010.

Winners will receive a fabulous prize package including £500 NEXT vouchers, a 12 month modelling contract with Urban Angels and participate in photoshoot with NEXT and Prima Baby Magazine.

To enter and for full terms and conditions visit facebook.com/nextonline.

Good luck!

This is a sponsored post.

It’s rapidly approaching that time of year.

We’ll barely have trick or treated our way through Halloween and oooed and aaahed at the last fireworks of Bonfire Night before Noddy Holder et al begin to remind us, in less than soothing tones, that the festive season will all too soon be upon us again.

It seems the pre-school population is already well aware that Santa will be on his way imminently, with my soon to be four year old already adding toys regularly to his ever burgeoning Christmas list. From Toy Story toys, to DVDs my boy has a definite idea of what he’d like delivered by the big man come Christmas morning.

The approach of the festive season can be undoubtedly financially stressful, so here are my top 5 tips for easing the burden this Christmas:

1. Budget, budget, budget! Plan ahead, spread the cost, write lists, make sure you set a spending plan within your means, and stick to it.

2. Cut back. Many families this year are adopting the ‘wear, read, want, need’ approach to buying for their children. It dramatically cuts the cost of being over frivolous and everyone is happy, your overdraft and conscience included.

3. Shop online. Shopping online helps avoid the temptation to just add another product to an already overflowing trolley. On sites like Tesco Direct you can see the cost before you hit the checkout and are more likely to reign yourself in.

4. Use cash back sites and points cards. Another bonus of shopping online means that you get to take full advantage of online discounts, cashback sites and points card offers. You may find you have more than enough Tesco Club Card points saved up. Every penny counts.

5. Ignore the pressure. Remember Christmas is only one day out of 365! It’s not a competition to see whose child has the biggest/best/most expensive new toys. It’s about family and being together. Keeping up with the Jones’ is for the un-imaginative and shallow.

Here’s hoping the run up to Christmas is as stress free as possible for everyone! Now all I need to do now is help my boy write a letter to Santa and wait and see what toys he chooses to bring….

This is a sponsored post.

This is a sponsored post.

As a busy working Mum I never have enough hours in the day to actually hit the highstreet and indulge myself in a spot of retail therapy. Almost all my purchases, from groceries to household appliances, are made online.

This does, of course, give me the advantage of being able to shop around from the comfort of my (slightly worn) sofa and be able to get the best deal for me, using cash back sites and discount codes.

That’s where a little help from Voucher Hub comes in.

Launched in September 2009, Voucher Hub describes itself as ‘the people-powered online destination for finding and sharing money-saving vouchers’. You can either simply search for a discount code for your favourite store or restaurant, or if you have a code to share you can add it to the listings on the site.

There are Debenhams voucher codes, Littlewoods discount codes, Mothercare and Early Learning Centre codes and, if you fancy eating out, there are printable Pizza Express vouchers, which I’ll definitely be taking advantage of! You can even sign up for their weekly news letter so you get the hottest discounts delivered direct to your inbox.

Plus it’s worth remembering VAT will be increasing from 17.5% to 20% on January 4th 2011, so any big purchases are best made before the hike, and if you can grab yourself a discount code then all the better!

Voucher Hub costs nothing to use, so you have nothing to lose! Why not give it a whirl and see what you could save?

I’d like introduce you to a little project my family has been working on which launches tonight!

If you’re local then come along! It’s going to be popular so arrive early to avoid disappoinment!

You can find them online at www.villagelaughterstore.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @VillageLaughter.

This is a sponsored post.

A very long time ago, when I was a little girl of just four or five I remember being fascinated with my Grandma’s jewellery box.

To me it was a thing of wonderment, filled with beautiful trinkets and treasures. So enamoured was I, I was given my very own jewellery box for Christmas that year. It was made of white satin with a gold clasp and when opened, inside danced a tiny ballerina to the music box melody of ‘Raindrops keep falling on my head’.

Inside that special box I kept my very own treasures, including my first piece of jewellery, a sterling silver heart ring.

That pretty little box and its contents held so many special memories for me. One day, I hope that I can create share some similar memories with my lovely Little E.

But what would I choose for her? Something beautiful, just like her? Certainly. And, I know exactly where my search would begin!

Molly Brown London, described as ‘Tiffany’s for children’ by UK Vogue, is the UK’s leading children’s jewellery brand. Their collections are abundant with beautifully crafted pieces which are just perfect for little and older girls alike. From christening jewellery to birthday gifts and beyond, there are stunning gifts for every little girl.

The jewellery itself is crafted from precious metals, gorgeous freshwater pearls and gemstones chosen for their clarity, each piece being finished of with Molly Brown London’s signature sterling silver tag. It’s altogether absolutely stunning.

I’ve spent a virtual fortune just browsing, there are so many lovely pieces to choose from!

Now all I need to do is convince Little E’s Daddy, and let the memory making begin.

This is a sponsored post.

It seems the whole world and his dog have a Facebook page these days. No really, even the Andrex Puppy!

As part of their ‘Soft, strong and long’ campaign Andrex is offering its Facebook fans the chance to win one of thirty top prizes prizes everyday, by playing ‘The Pup-o-matic’.

Each day from now until the 5th July Facebook fans will be able to play The Pup-o-matic between 7am and 7pm. Much like a slot machine, execpt with the fruit replaced with the dogs from Andrex’s new advertising campaign, all you have to do is ‘pull’ the Pup-o-matic, match the dogs and hey presto! A prize could be yours.

The fabulous prizes up for grabs include a Sony Cybershot Digital camera, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, X Box 360, Nintendo DSi, plus gift vouchers for highstreet favourites Next, M&S and Tesco, money off vouchers for Andrex, and of course plenty of Andrex puppy goodies.

And the best bit? It’s completely free! No purchase is necessary, all you have to do is ‘like’ The Andrex Puppy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/The AndrexPuppy, click the ‘Pup-o-matic’ tab and get playing.

Easy.

Run along now, there are prizes to be won!

This is a sponsored post.

As a parent in the 21st century, I’m endlessly thankful that I live in an age where information about virtually anything is at my finger tips.

Since becoming pregnant for the first time, and giving birth to my two gorgeous children, the Internet has been my lifeline where all things pregnancy, baby and toddler are concerned. And, with sites like Bounty.com, there is excellent, free advice available online in a few simple clicks.

I’m sure most Mums in the UK have heard of Bounty. I remember being given the token to collect my Bounty Pack and (in the best fashion I could in my hugely pregnant state), almost skipping down to Boots to go and collect it. Then there were the New Mum Bounty packs I received in hospital, full of sample sized goodies, vouchers and very importantly, the forms I needed to fill in to claim Child Benefit.

These days Bounty does much much more than provide freebies to new mums. As the ‘UK’s Favourite Parenting Club’, Bounty.com is the perfect parenting site for any mum or mum-to-be.

From conception to pregnancy, birth and beyond, Bounty is jam packed with articles and information to help, reassure and sometimes simply make you smile.

Bounty’s pregnancy week by week section helps you understand what to expect at every crucial stage. From feelings and worries to appointments and birth options, there is a wealth of knowledge available.

Worried how you’re going to cope with your newborn bundle? Bounty.com’s ‘Baby’ section has articles galore to help you wade through those early days, weeks and months. There’s also a separate mini site, ‘The New Dad’s Survival Guide‘ for expectant fathers, because Dad’s need support on their journey into fatherhood too.

For those times when only the advice of another parent will suffice, the Bounty forum allows you to reach out and connect with like minded people and benefit from each others knowledge, and perhaps even find a shoulder to cry on or make a new friend.

So, if you’re looking a great website for all things pregnancy, baby and parenting then Bounty.com is an excellent choice.

Why not pop over and join ‘The UK’s Favourite Parenting Club’ today?

This is a sponsored post.

I don’t know about you, but the aftermath of Easter is still in full force in our house. Chocolate mountain has it’s own postcode in the corner of our kitchen and it seems to have developed a strange gravitational pull.

It’s been estimated that this Easter in the UK alone, a staggering 80 million Easter eggs were sold, and at around 530 calories an egg, that’s rather a large amount of excess calories consumed that now need burning!

Never fear! Help is at hand to assist you and I to get those extra calories shifted.

In it’s role as British Swimming’s principal  partner, British Gas is committed to getting more people taking a dip in their local pool and is offering all its customers a free family swim for up to two adults and three children. Not only is swimming the perfect family activity, it will also help burn those chocolate fuelled Easter calories, saving you a few ponds along the way.

All you have to do to claim your free family swim is visit www.britishgasswimming.co.uk and follow a few simple steps:

1. Enter your British Gas customer details and how many swimmers you’ll be taking.
2. Choose a participating pool near you.
3. Print your free family swim voucher or choose to have it posted to you.
4. Enjoy your day out at the pool!

So why not go dig out your British Gas customer details and get your free family swim booked?  It’s good for you and great fun too!

This is a sponsored post.

As Little E rapidly approaches her first birthday I’ve started to think about buying her first pair of shoes.

Up to now she’s only ever worn socks or tights on her feet and often goes barefoot as I’ve always believed that not restricting children’s feet before they can walk is better for their development and the growth of delicate bones.

But, as she’s tentatively beginning to cruise round the furniture, and spending more time playing outside at nursery, I’m certain the time for her first pair of shoes will arrive fairly quickly.

As the warmer weather approaches and the shoe shops begin to bring in their stock of girls sandals I’m looking forward to being able to treat Little E to her first pair of shoes, after all it’s a monumental event in any little girl’s life.

I have fond memories of shoe shopping with my parents and grandparents as a small girl. The shoe shop was always a place of wonderment. Every little girl I knew wanted a pair of black patent leather shoes. I remember my Mum taking me, on the bus, into town to have my feet specially measured and fitted for the perfect pair.

These days, thanks to the quirks of the modern age and the Internet, you can now fit your children’s shoes at home, with a little help from Start-rite’s shoe gauge. Available to buy in two sizes, the gauge enables you to accurately measure your child’s foot in the comfort of your own home without having to contend with the stress of  a crowded shoe shop.

Once your shoes arrive you can make sure they are the perfect fit by following the advice in Start-rite’s excellent fitting guide videos.

It all looks fairly straightforward to me, and I’m certain I’d have the confidence to give measuring both Little E & Big E’s feet a whirl.

The only real problem I’d have is limiting my purchases to one pair of shoes each!

So many shoes, so little time….

This is a sponsored post.

It’s no secrect that the husband and I like to indulge in a Domino’s Pizza every once in a while. Once the kids are safely tucked up in bed we order online, get comfy on the sofa and watch a movie while munching on our favourite pizza.

Wouldn’t it be brilliant if you and your friends could order pizza online and make money at the same time?

With introduction of the new Domino’s widget you can do just that!

Domino’s are offering you the opportunity to add the Domino’s affiliate widget to your blog, Facebook, infact just about anywhere you can embed the code. All you have to do is register at www.dominos.co.uk/widget, copy the relevant code and follow the instructions for installation.

Once installed, each time an order is placed via your widget you will earn a small slice of the profits back into your account equalling 0.5% of the price of every purchase. Once you start earning commission you’ll need to sign up with Domino’s affiliate partner Affiliate Window* to collect your cash.

Remember to ask all your pizza loving friends to order through your Domino’s widget and hopefully fairly soon you should see some small rewards for your hard work.

It really couldn’t be easier! What are you wating for?

This is a sponsored post.

I like to think of my self as a thrifty shopper. If there is anything I want to buy you will find me eagerly tapping away online comparing prices and searching for the cheapest option. Some would say I’m a skin flit, I reckon it’s pretty savvy.

I’m especially careful with our spending when it comes to utilities and insurance. There’s something good about the feeling making a saving on your insurance gives you. My bank manager is always happier to see my out goings decrease too! The devil in me would wistfully imagine all the shoes I could buy with the savings.

In reality any savings we make go into the continual attempt to improve our home. According to these five easy ways to increase the value of your home we’re already on the right track.

Last year we added a raised decking area to the, frankly, over grown garden. This year our aim is to add a lawn and make it child friendly. We’ll also need to add a small shed or similar to house the outdoor toys, trikes and bikes. Of course, this means that we’ll need to make sure our insurance policy covers the shed and its contents.

If your home insurance renewal date is looming why not have a look at what Tesco Compare home insurance has to offer to get the right insurance for you?

Oh. My. Goodness.

Outstanding.

Roll on April 12th…..

This is a sponsored post.

I’m no Nigella Lawson in the kitchen. For starters she’s a posh brunette bird and I’m a bossy redhead from ooop north. Whilst I do enjoy cooking from scratch most of the time, every now and then I like to indulge in something a bit naughty and let someone do the cooking for me.

So every couple of weeks, on a Friday night when the kids are in bed so they can’t steal our food we put a DVD on, get cosy on the sofa and enjoy a takeaway. Sometimes we have a chinese, occasionally indian but by far and away the husband’s takeaway of choice is to get a pizza delivered from Domino’s.

There’s just something about the humble pizza that makes it the perfect food for sharing. We order pizzas, potato wedges, coleslaw, and if we’re feeling particularly indulgent we occasionally have deliciously divine waffles with chocolate & toffee dipping sauces. Very bad, but so very very goooood!

The husband like his pizza hot and spicy, the more jalepenos the better. Domino’s ‘Meltdown The Revenge’ fits the bill perfectly. I’m a fan of anything barbeque sweet like the Texas Barbeque or I build my own as no pizza is complete for me if it doesn’t have pineapple topping.

There’s always more than enough to share around and then some.

What’s your perfect pizza topping? Go on inspire me!

If you’re thinking of  treating yourself to a pizza why not pop over to Domino’s online and see what their menu has to tickle your fancy!

This is a sponsored post.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could ease the financial strain just a little and have your mortgage or rent paid for a whole year? In the current financial climate many of us would welcome that little bit of breathing room, Lord knows I certainly would!

Well, that dream could become a reality with the Andrex ‘Win Your Mortgage Payments for a Year’ Competition. Andrex will be paying one lucky winner’s mortgage or rent payments, (up to the value of £12000) for an entire year.

All you have to do to enter is:

1. Buy a promotional pack of Andrex from ASDA (as pictured above), available for one week only from Monday 15th March 2010.
2. Go to www.andrexpuppypoints.co.uk/asda and sign up.
3. Enter the code inside the pack for one entry into the competition.

It really couldn’t be easier! I’m already imagining all the lovely things we could do with that little bit of financial leeway.

Oh! Would you look at that, I appear to have just this minute run out of loo roll!

Better pop down to ASDA…..

This is a sponsored post.

It’s that time of year when everyone is getting just a little bit fed up of the winter here in the UK.

After one of the coldest winters in a long time, and with summer seemingly a long way ahead on the horizon, lots of folk are beginning to get the wanderlust again and are starting to plan their summer holidays.

And who can blame them?

We’ve not managed to get abroad in a long while, seven years to be exact, but after browsing around on Thomas Cook Style I’m beginning to wonder if we should take the plunge this year. In the past we’ve taken most of our summer holidays in Spain, either on the main land or the Balearics.

We went on honeymoon to Fuerteventura when it was still a relatively quiet destination and always said we’d love to go back once we had children. The gently shelving beach at Caleta de Fuste is perfect for families and we imagined that one day we would take them back with us.

The artist in me has always dreamed of holidays in Italy. I imagine myself watching the evening sunset from a villa over looking lake Garda, the husband in the kitchen rustling up something delicious with local Italian fare and the children playing happily in the late evening sun. Bliss.

Of course all this may just be idle daydreaming as the likelihood is that we’ll probably, once again, end up holiday with family somewhere in the UK and the dream of distant shores will just have to wait for another year.

Sigh.

What are your holiday plans this summer?

This is a sponsored post.

Our garden isn’t much to write home about. For the last 10 years it’s been a slow work in progress.

Still though, one thing on my ideal wish list remains absent.

A lawn.

This year I’ve finally persuaded my husband to put the icing on the cake and we are going to lay ourselves lots of lovely lush green grass to replace our old gravelled area. This of course means that I’m going to have to brush up on lawn care which I’m currently doing with the help of Love the Garden.

Living on a steep hill it’s been a bit of a challenge to make the garden easy to use. One fine spring, a few years back, we dug it into three tiered layers. It took a week of digging in which I lost over half a stone in weight! We ended up with a patio at the top, a gravelled area in the middle with terracotta planters and another smaller patio at the bottom, enclosed on one side by a fence and the other two by the old privet hedge.

Being utter novices (and I not in the least green fingered!) we only chose easy care plants. We chose a few ferns, a buddleia, a beautiful yellow rose bush which we planted in remembrance of my mother in law, and in spring we’d treat ourselves to some lobelias and pansies just for a splash of colour.

We’re hoping the addition of a lovely lawn in place of the gravel will mean our garden will finally be somewhere our children can play and we’re even considering adding in a little raised flower bed so they can start planting their own flowers or maybe even some vegetables.

Love the Garden has lots of tips, tricks and advice for enhancing your garden so if you fancy getting a bit green fingered, why not pop on over and see what you could grow this year.

This is a sponsored post.

Do you have a secret ability?

Why not share it in the Heinz Secret Abilities Competition for the opportunity to win £1000! All you have to do is upload a video of you demonstrating your Secret Ability on the Secret Abilities site and you could be in with a chance of winning one of their prizes.

What are mine? Now let me see…..

In my daydreams I often like to imagine myself as ‘Uber-Mum’. I have the secret ability to whizz through the household chores while keeping the kids clean fed and entertained, all whilst not breaking a sweat, or a nail, looking glossy & groomed and maintaining a fabulously sparkling social life.

Sadly my ‘actual’ secret abilities are far, far, faaaaaar less useful. They are, in fact, erring on the side of odd. Cases in point:

• I can turn my right foot completely the wrong way round and still stand up.
• I can predict who’s on the phone when it rings.
• I can bend down and put my hands flat on the floor with my legs straight.
• I can predict how much we have spent on shopping at the supermarket to within £1.
• I can ‘hear’ electricity.

A genuine secret ability would be cooler but I’d settle for being able to tie a knot in a cherry stalk with my tongue like Sherilyn Fenn in Twin Peaks. Utterly useless, but sexy.

In the meantime I’ll leave you with the Tollbooth Telepath and her amazing secret ability to predict the colour of oncoming cars. Don’t forget to upload your Secret Abilitiestoo!

This is a sponsored post

John Lewis are compiling ‘Rules for a Perfect Family Christmas’ on their website to gather inspiration for families in time for the festive season and have asked me if I’d like to share our family ‘rules’.

You will obey…..

The Children

I am very strict when it comes to buying presents for the children. No buying noisy toys, no psychedelic plastic carbuncles, and under no circumstances buy anything that sings anything on repeat repeatedly over and over ad nauseum.

What do you mean, “Why have I bought them a load of bright plastic tat?” I made the rule’s I’ll break ‘em at will. OK? Good.

Fun must be had at all times by the small people. It’s the law.

The Christmas Meal

Under no circumstances must anyone, anyone interfere with anything in the kitchen on Christmas Day. I will have planned each detail with military precision. You will not stir the gravy or chop a carrot. Imagine if you chopped circles instead of batons? What do you mean you want to mash the potatoes? Leave the sodding prawns alone! GET BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM!! Having a cold sweat now. Brrrrr.

Mess with my focus at your peril.

The table must be set by the husband and my brothers then I will inspect their efforts and subsequently rearrange everything. It’s my prerogative.

If I serve dinner late you will politely decline to notice and instead applaud me for my timeliness and culinary brilliance.

It is compulsory to wear a paper hat and eat as much as humanly possible during the meal. Even though I will have cooked enough for most of the street it must all be eaten. I didn’t just almost give myself a breakdown and lose a stone in sweat for nothing. Did I?

Note to self – Breathe. And relax.

The Family

The family must at all times stay out of the kitchen (please see ‘The Christmas Meal’). You will be fed bacon sandwiches for breakfast and must attempt to amuse the small people at all times.

I do not expect gifts but will accept offers to wash up after dinner (and if you don’t I will make hints until you cave in).

If you are one of my brothers or so inclined you will be required to take part in the traditional Christmas eating competition, whereby each competitor attempts to out eat the other. Usually consuming bacon sandwiches, Christmas dinner & pudding, turkey sandwiches, Bombay mix, assorted nuts, chocolates & nibbles. The winner is the last brother standing and the prize is nothing more than kudos.

The Entertainment

The entertainment mainly comes from the small people. They will probably force you to watch The Polar Express at least once and you may be required to play board games/build Lego/play trains.

Just because it is annoying, I may force you to play Charades, or 20 questions. As you are a guest in my home you will indulge me.

More likely than not we will require you to sing (badly) on SingStar.

Any activity will be done with a smile and you will at all time remember it is the season of goodwill (even when you’re losing the will).

Decorations

At some point during December I will ask the husband to put the tree up. I will then veto any effort he makes to decorate it and embark on a quest for balance and perfection.

The tree must be decorated in shades of gold. All ornaments must be evenly distributed as must the lights.

My tree is a thing of beauty and you will make appreciative Ooooo’s and Ahhhh’s when you behold it’s Christmassy gorgeousness.

So there you have my laws rules. I’m not really this bossy.

Honest…..

Image linked to its source.