Win It Wednesday - In Association with MyEggNest.com

You’ll love these fab Baby Sense Lala CD’s from MyEggNest.com ( I have one for BG, what? I had to test it out first!)

For those parents who have difficulty encouraging their baby to relax enough to want to sleep, this is a must have. Singing lullabies to your baby can help shift him into a drowsy state. Brought to you courtesy of MyEggNest.com, I have have six Baby Sense Lala CDs RRP £9.99 to give away.

 MyEggNest.com is a comprehensive guide to saving for your child’s future. The site provides a one stop resource that enables you to compare different child trust funds and savings accounts so you can make an informed decision on their behalf. Not only is MyEggNest a completely free service, it also lists great comparison tables of all the highest performing funds and paying rates. There’s also a section with invaluable reviews of CTFs from all the major providers. To win one of the CDs, all you have to do is…

Go to MyEggNest.com home page and find the interesting fact on there then email me the answer at newmummy@live.co.uk for 1 entry

For a bonus entry twitter about this competition and let me know you've done it by leaving me a comment with your twitter name.

Closing Date is Midnight Saturday 6th December

Good Luck

NM X

The Great Toy Guide

Now you may or may not know this but I also write toys reviews along with a great team of parents bloggers for the Great Toy Guide and have we got some great reviews for you to make choosing that Christmas present easier!!

First of all is this great guide to Advent Calenders and not your run of the mill chocolate calenders oh no these ones are super special!! See for your self!

We have all been working hard for the past few weeks to be bring you the Top 100 Toys under £10!! and to make it even easier for you we've done it by age for you! Babies, Toddlers, Pre Schoolers, Kids aged 5 + and Kids aged 7+, don't miss it!!

And if that wasn't enough we are also running a fantastic competition!!

We’ve put together four prizes babies, pre-schoolers, boys and girls sponsored by Silver Cross, Tomy, Argos and ELC.

The baby stocking, sponsored by Silver Cross, contains: one Standard Love Letter cushion from Jonny's Sister, worth £45; Bamba's First Comforts baby signing kit, worth £29.99 and a range of Silver Cross baby toys including the Malham Teddy Bear (£10), the Owl and the Pussycat Musical Ball (£15), Bertha Bird travel toy (£7), Peas in a Pod Rattle and Roll set (£8).

The Pre-school Stocking, Sponsored by Tomy, contains: In the Night Garden Aquadraw Set (£29.99), Kid K'Nex Playground Pals (£19.99), Thomas and Friends Thomas at Boulder Mountain train set (£29.99), Tomy Flex game (£9.99) and Thomas Rock and Roll Guitar (£19.99).

The Girl's Stocking, Sponsored by Argos, contains: a High School Musical MP3 player (£29.99), Puppy in my Pocket Hospital play set (£15.99), FurReal Lulu the Cuddlin' Kitty (£49.99), Nintendo DS All Star Cheerleader game (£16.95) plus a Playmobil Super Set (£17). The prizes in this stocking have been supplied courtesy of Argos.co.uk who provide a wide range of toys, including FurReal Friends and Nintendo DS games.


The Boy's Stocking, Sponsored by Early Learning Centre, contains: the ELC wooden garage (£45), Ben10 Action Cruiser (£25), Build It Construction toy set (£35) and mini tub of dinosaurs (£7) plus a Playmobil Super Set (£17).


To enter pop over to the Great Toy Guide and answer the super easy hard question!


Go on! Go now before you regret it!


NM X

Icklebabe

Are you looking for unique handmande gifts this Christmas? Well look no further I have a great site for! Icklebabe.com

Icklebabe.com was created by Helen Icklebabe, why Icklebabe? I shall let Helen explain -

My name is Helen and I am mum to Ellie(14) Jack (9) and little baby Milly (9 months)

Me and my lovely partner Big J, decided to enter the crazy world of babyhood all over again and I started Icklebabe at the same time, not sure if that's brave or crazy! will have to get back to you on that!

For me, Icklebabe is all about handmade, beautiful things that are as unique as the little person who receives them!

I make every piece with a lot of love and great attention to detail and I hope that this comes across in my work.

With a vast array of lovely things from original art work to retro baby clothes there really is something for every occasion! With a new line for grown ups coming soon..

Come for a visit www.icklebabe.com see my latest blog www.icklebabe.com/blog/or my tweets (my new addiction) http://twitter.com/icklebabe_com

Here are the fabulous christmas gifts from Icklebabe
Retro Stylie Wooden Christmas Decorations They come in a set of 5 for £8.95, you have the choice of red or green ribbon.

There is also these green felt Cute Christmas Tree Decorations . Each one is made in green felt with cute button detailing, an original Icklebabe design, you will not find these anywhere else, 100% original tree guarenteed! £12.95 for a set of 5

This Personalised Santa Snack plate £9.50  is so cute  

                                                

For the babies is this gorgeous Long Sleeved Rudulf  T-shirt £6.95

                                                

If you are looking for an extra special stocking then look no further! Check out this great Personalised Shabby Chic Stocking  £9.95

                                             

or this Lovely Personalised Stocking £7.95

                                                 

Or my favourite Yummy Christmas Pudding Stocking  £9.95

                                             

Staying with the Christmas Pudding theme is this lovely handpainted Pudding Mug £7.95

                                           

and lastly is handpainted Grandma Hugs Mug £7.95 its so sweet!

                                                   

Please check out the site for the whole range.

With every order is this Yummy Mr Gingerbread Decoration worth £5.95 for FREE!!

                                                     

Last order date for Christmas orders is 12th December, so what are you waiting for?

NM X

Rules For A Perfect Family Christmas

John Lewis has asked mums to tell them their rules for a perfect family Christmas so here it goes...

This will be our second Christmas with BG, however she was only 6 weeks old and the only rule I had was I wasn’t cooking! As I was putting this post together I didn’t realise that I actually had rules for Christmas (my family may disagree), the problem with these rules is that they are pre-baby, so I’ve come up with new ones (ssh haven’t told them yet!).

Here are my pre and post baby Christmas rules.

Children

Pre-Baby  - There were none!

Post-Baby -  Christmas is all about BG and being with all of our family. The aim is for BG not to be too overwhelmed by it all, but to enjoy spending time with the people who love her the most.

The Christmas Meal

Pre-Baby - If I’m going Christmas Dinner do not come in my kitchen, If I need help I will ask. You may do the washing up because I’m not. If someone else is cooking, thank you very much I shall sit with a bottle glass of wine and enjoy the day.

Post-Baby- Get someone to do the cooking so I can enjoy the time with BG.

The In-laws

Pre-Baby -  We’ll see you boxing day!

Post-Baby - Make MIL happy by letting her cook Christmas Dinner (see rule The Christmas meal). This year to make everyone happy we are all going to OH parents for dinner, my dad, sister and OH included (I’m sure we’ll all get on)

Entertainment

Pre -Baby – Watch dodgy Christmas movies on TV, then attempt to play games after a few drinks. A drunken dad trying the play the wii is most entertaining.

Post-Baby - Play with BG

Decorations 

Pre-Baby - Classy and elegant with a colour scheme. Less is more

Post-Baby -The tackier the better, bright, flashing lights and lots of!! I want BG to be fascinated and stimulated its all about her!



There are my rules for my perfect family Christmas, what are yours?

NM X

Blogger Basics With Sandy - Lesson 3 Adding Video

Now we’re getting flash! If you would like to know how to add video to your blog post, this is the lesson for you.

The How To…

1) To add your own video that is saved on your computer:

In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, click on the ‘Add Video’ icon. This will open an ‘Upload Video’ window.

Click on the ‘Choose File’ button. Double click on the video file saved on your computer. Tick the ‘I agree to the upload terms and conditions’ box. Click ‘Upload Video’.

Now you wait and wait and wait. This can take up to 20 minutes! Be patient.

Eventually you will see your video in your blog post.

2) To add a video from elsewhere on the internet:

This is far easier than option 1.

In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, simply copy and paste the ‘embed HTML code’ from the source destination into your post.

The easiest way to get the ‘embed HTML code’ is from YouTube. If you find a YouTube video you want to display on your blog you will see the code next to ‘Embed’ a third of the way down the screen, on the right hand side. Simply copy and paste into your blog post.

When you click on ‘Preview’ you will see the video on your blog post.

Video Hints and Tips

If you want to add a home movie to your blog post it will probably be easier to create a YouTube account. You can then upload your videos there and simply copy and paste the ‘embed HTML code’ into your blog post.

If you want to use a video you have found on the internet please check the copyright situation. You may find that an image is ‘creative commons’. This means you can use the image, but you should give credit to the creator. You can do this by adding the sentence ‘Video Credit: Jo Blogs/website url’.

If you’re not sure, it’s best to assume that the video is copyright and you should not use it without permission.

I have found that it’s best to add any video you would like to use before you start typing your blog post. I find if you add an image later it can confuse Blogger and change the font you are typing in. I then find it infuriating trying to correct the font. This may be a quirk of Blogger, or it could just be me!

One excellent use of a video is the ‘A Minute for Madeleine’ campaign that was recently promoted on British Mummy Bloggers. If you didn’t see it, it’s on my blog, posted 6th November 2009.

***

Next time on Blogger Basics: Lesson 4 - Widgets

If you have any questions please ask, either in the comments here, or you will find my email address on my blog  Baby Baby

Review - Johnson's Baby Soothing Naturals

Me and BG have been testing the new Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals range. BG has been getting dry skin lately on her back so I jumped at the chance to try this to see if it helped.

The range contains a unique blend of natural ingredients and plant extracts to help soothe dry or sensitive skin. Naturally derived Vitamin E, known for its skin soothing benefits. Olive leaf extract from organically grown olive trees, for its antioxidant effect. Essential minerals, potassium and magnesium, which play a key role in maintaining a healthy skin barrier

I was sent the Moisture Rich Bath, 400ml; this is a gentle, creamy moisture rich bath with No More Tears and Nourishing Lotion, 250ml.

New research from Johnson’s Baby has shown that baby skin absorbs and loses moisture at a much faster rate than adult skin. The study also showed that signs of skin dryness were not always evident to parents. 90% of mums surveyed believed that their baby's skin was not dry, yet over 60 per cent of babies' skin showed clinical signs of dryness1. Because your baby's skin is so delicate, it's a good idea to use a moisturiser frequently.

We used the Moisture Rich Bath first. It doesn’t foam very much, there are not a lot of bubbles but it didn’t dry out BG’s skin. Her skin was left soft after her bath, though her back was still quite dry. I l also used it in my bath and its really gentle on the skin, I was left feeling moisturised and it didn’t make my hair stringy or dry as some bubble baths do.

Once BG had her bath we applied the nourishing lotion to her skin, paying particular attention to her back. The next day there was no improvement but it hadn’t got any worse.

I found that we started to benefit after a few days of baths and application of the lotion. My skin is defiantly softer and BG’s back is much better, though it still has dry patches. I’m hoping that if we continue to use it that her dry skin will go completely.

This is a nice range, it seems lovely and the lotion is nice and thick. I like the natural ingredients; I do worry like most mums about what I use on her skin. I also like that we can all use it, no need to buy separate items which helps save those pennies! I will continue to use this range.

You can purchase this range from Boots, Sainsbury’s and Tesco and they also make a nappy cream.

NM X

Help Save a Life with Boots and UNICEF

From now until 15th December 2009 Boots is offering its customers the opportunity to help protect vulnerable mothers and babies in the developing world from tetanus through UNICEF’s free vaccination programme.

For every pack of Pampers and Fairy Non-Bio sold in store or online at www.boots.com, Pampers will donate one tetanus vaccine to UNICEF’s campaign to help achieve the charity’s goal of eradicating newborn and maternal tetanus by 2012.

Furthermore, Boots will also donate one extra vaccine for every purchase of its limited edition baby bib – only £2.

Tetanus is still a major global public health problem in developing countries. An estimated 500,000 cases occur every year, killing approximately 200,000 young babies and 30,000 mothers.

So far, the UK campaign has delivered 40 million vaccines to at-risk mothers and babies in the developing world with Boots donating over one million vaccinations to UNICEF last year alone, a figure it hopes to exceed in 2009.

The offer includes all Pampers nappies and Fairy Non-Bio products. For every pack of Pampers wipes sold (priced from £1.39), a donation towards a vaccination will also be made.

NM X

Review - Ecover

I'm not the greatest at housework; my theory is if you can't see it, it doesn't need cleaning! OK so not the best theory but I'm slightly lazy. That’s why I was surprised myself (and OH) when I agreed to test and review a range of Ecover's cleaning products against their biochemical equivalent.



Now one of my excuses reasons for not doing much cleaning in the day is that our house is really small, or living room and kitchen is opened planned and I do worry that the chemicals in some cleaning products are too strong and I don’t want them to harm BG so I have either wait until she is in bed or is out of the house to do certain cleaning jobs.


Anyway I agreed to test the Ecover range for them, they sent me a multi surface spray, degreaser, window and glass cleaner and a all purpose cleaner. They also sent the biochemical equivalent to test against, cleaning clothes, gloves and lovely green trug to keep them in (no person to actually do the cleaning for me though!), so I had a baby free day and did some cleaning (oh the glamour)


Now for those you that haven’t heard of Ecover they are the world-leading pioneers of ecological cleaning. This range harnesses the power of nature through pioneering ingredients called Eco-Surfactants . The pioneering Eco-Surfactants make the hard surface cleaning range unique. Not only are these pioneering new ingredients made with fully renewable plant-based ingredients (rapeseed oil, yeast and glucose), they are also produced using a totally biochemical process – similar to the process of brewing beer – as opposed to a chemical one as many of Ecover’s competitors use.


What’s more, because Ecover only uses sustainable plant-based and mineral ingredients, you don’t have to worry about leaving behind residues of nasty (and unnecessary) chemicals when you clean. And thanks to its pH neutral formula, it won’t irritate skin like some other products can.


So on with the results


Multi Surface Spray


First of all I tested the Ecover Multi Surface Spray against Flash Multi Purpose Spray (Lemon).


I used them to cleaning my kitchen and bathroom surfaces down.

Ecover Multi Surface Spray 500ml £2.50

This cleaned both surfaces well; it didn’t have a harsh smell which I liked. It didn’t leave a residue either and left my bathroom sparkling.

Flash Multi Purpose Spray (Lemon) 500ml £1.55 

 This again cleaned both surfaces well; the lemon smell is a bit chemical but not too overpowering. There was a slight residue left afterwards.

Both of these sprays do the job they are meant to do and do it rather well. The Ecover spray is more expensive then the Flash sprays. To be honest I would be happy to use either of these, the smell of the flash isn’t too over powering.

Degreaser Power Sprays


I tested Ecover’s Power Cleaner against Cillit Bang Power Degreaser.


I cleaned the top of my electric cooker and the splash back tiles. I also used them to clean a roasting tray from dinner the night before.

Ecover’s Power Cleaner 500ml £3.99 

 This cleaner comes out like a thick foam, which clings to the dirt and grease. It didn’t run down the tiles, it stuck to them. This power cleaned all the grease and burnt on food first time, I was really impressed with it. I didn’t have to scrub at all and only had to use it once. There were no harsh smell and I could clean without using rubber gloves.

 

Cillit Bang Power Degreaser 750ml £3.19 

 This has a really wet spray, when I sprayed it on the tiles it just run down and didn’t cling at all. This didn’t clean as well as the Ecover; I had to scrub quite hard and had to use a second spray on the tiles. The smell is horrendous and I had to open all the windows to use this cleaner and gloves.

Ecover’s cleaner defiantly wins this test, it may be more expensive but cleans much better and the smell doesn’t over power you.


Window and Glass Cleaner


I tested Ecover’s Window and Glass Cleaner against Mr Muscle Glass Cleaner


I have two big patio windows in my living room so I tested the two cleaners on these. BG loves to lick, blow on and rub her hands over these windows so they were quite smudged and grubby. I used kitchen towel with both of these cleaners.

Ecover’s Window and Glass Cleaner 500ml £2.69 

This had a nice thick spray that didn’t run down the window. It wiped dry really quickly and left a smear free shine, with no residue left over. It had a pleasant smell.

Muscle Glass Cleaner 500ml £1.35 

 This had a really spray, the cleaner ran down the window and pooled at the bottom. It took longer to dry and clean with these cleaner but the results were the same smear free. The smell was quite over powering




Both cleaners left the windows looking clean and smear free however I preferred the Ecover as it didn’t run and dried really quickly, plus the smell was pleasant.


All Purpose Cleaner


I tested Ecover’s All Purpose against Flash All Purpose Cleaner Lemon


These all purpose cleaners are concentrated and can be diluted, I used them neat on my white kitchen sink that holds all stains.

Ecover’s All Purpose 500ml £1.59 

 The Ecover cleaner really lifted the stains well, I didn’t need to scrub too hard and there were no harsh smells. It left my sink clean and stain free and wasn’t harsh on my skin.

Flash All Purpose Cleaner Lemon 500ml £1.35 

 The Flash cleaner worked well to lift the stains on my sink, I had to scrub a little. The smell of lemons is a little overpowering but it clean my sink well.





Both cleaners did a good job, though the Ecover cleaner worked slightly better


Overall


I found the Ecover products slightly better than the biochemical cleaners. They smell wasn’t overpowering and they weren’t harsh on my skin. They are however more expensive than the other ranges, some by quite a lot. What I do like about the Ecover products is that they are gentle on the environment and I feel that’s something that we should be mindful of.


Would I buy Ecover again? Yes, I would but will I be changing over to them completely? No, sorry I do like to look for the best value for money and I am swayed by offers. I will probably use Ecover for my downstairs everyday cleaning because I am concerned about BG and the fumes.


NM X

Thrifty Christmas - Homemade Flavoured Olive Oils

This year I'm trying to save money on gifts as I'm sure a lot of people are, so I've decided this year to make some presents my self (This could be dangerous).

One of the things I am making is flavoured oils, my family likes to cook and every year I buy them lots of foodie stuff but it costs a fortune so here is my guide to homemade oils.

You will need -

Olive Oil - Mild is better as it will absorb the flavours better

Bottles for the oils - You can used old glass bottles or buy new ones. I got got some gorgous oils bottles with pourers from my local 90p store. Have a look around charity stores.

Flavours for your oils- I'm using rosemary as I've got loads in my garden and chilli. But you can use most hard herbs or  garlic.

Stopper, lid or pourer for the bottles

To Make -

Wash the bottles and sterilise them. If you have dishwasher that should be enough, if you are washing by hand, rinse well them place them on a baking sheet and put them in a low oven to dry.

Add the flavour to the bottles then pour over the oil.

Seal and place in a dark, cool place.

This is best done month before you need them.

And thats it! You can make labels for them and personalise them anyway you like.

Cheap and quick to do!

Ikea do a gorgeous bottle with a stopper for £1.99

Have fun making your oil, if you are looking for more thrifty ideas then pop over to Violet Posey's Thrifty Chrismas.

NM X

Review Rodeo

Hello and welcome to Novemebers Review Rodeo!!

For those if you that do not know what a Review Rodeo is, its a collection a reviews by other bloggers.

This month I'm trying out Mr Linky so all you have to do is attach the link to your review, simples!

There are some rules, you must have written the review or had the review written for your blog.

So sit back and enjoy!

NM X

Review - What Every Woman Ought To Know by Contance Mortimer

What Every Women Ought To Know by Constance Mortimer is a self help book with a difference love and lifestyle tips from yesteryear.



This book is a collection of letters from newspaper’s and magazine over a 100 years ago and is hilarious!


I love these kind of books, it’s not to be taken seriously so is good for a giggles but also gives us an insight of how Women behaved in the past. Some of the advice given will make you cringe and your toes curls and laugh out.


There are 11 chapters in this book, Love, Beauty, Fashion, Exercise, Health, Home Hints, Cooking up a treat, Big Boys Don’t Cry, Etiquette, Make Do and Mend and Odds and Sods.

I am very grateful that we can laugh at some of the advice given in here, because if it was given today there may be uproar.

Here are some of my favourite pieces in the book:-

Woman’s Wisdom - Being an Ideal wife means listening to all a man says, and never saying anything that you expect him to listen to – Reflections Of A Bachelor Girl by Helen Rowland, St Louis Post- Dispatch 10th September 1920

How can I firm my bust?

Practice the deep breathing exercises I have often given, and learn to breathe deeply at all times. Bathe the bust with very cold water every morning for at least 5 minutes and massage them gently each night with this cream:

Lanoline                            30 grams

Oil of sweet almonds      20 grams

Tannin 3                           ½ grams

Oil of rose                          6 drops

Hebe’s Helpful Beauty Advice, Baltimore American, 25th September 1910

(It hasn’t worked yet!!)

This is a great Christmas gift; it will defiantly bring some entertainment and giggles. It’s a book that you can nip in and out of with a cuppa and a biscuit and it would brighten your day.

I highly recommend getting this book, I haven’t laughed this much in ages. I shall be buying my sisters a copy of this!

What Every Woman Ought To Know by Constance Mortimer is out Tuesday 10th November. You can get it from Amazon for £7.69 at the moment.

NM X

Chocolat A Toi

If you're lost on how to fill those Christmas stockings, Chocolat A Toi has found the way. Whether you're strapped for ideas or cash, any of our personalised chocolate bars will do the trick. Simply personalise them. And guess what's best? We have a lead time of two weeks so just contact us by December 1st so we can catch the last post! Choose from any of our three sizes below in milk or dark chocolate.

In addition, we're offering all New Mummy members a special offer when you buy any two personalised bars, get the third for free. Simply use the code NEW MUMMY. You can now relax and enjoy planning for Christmas

Courtney Louise Photography

I am a young freelance fashion/ portrait photographer based in the East Midlands, and travel across England for my work. I have recently started my own business 'Courtney Louise Photography', with great success. Most recently I have photographed for the brand 'Clooci' where the photographs have been published in GQ and I-d Magazine as well as completing the 2010 calendar for the channel 'Film4'.

I have been featured internationally in photography magazines where I have been described as an 'up-coming photographer'.

I offer my services in Weddings, Portraiture (Families, Couples, Babies and Toddlers) and events such as birthday parties, corporate events etc.

I offer a feminine, relaxed and creative touch to all of my photography jobs and work with natural light often in clients' homes, gardens or a local park.

On the lead up to christmas, I am currently offering my portraiture services throughout the Midlands at discounted prices.

For an idea of figures, below is a clear list of what is included:

Baby photo-shoots start at £60 which includes a CD of enhanced images sent to you within 1 - 2 weeks of the shoot. All images are also put onto a password-protected online gallery for your friends or family to view and buy prints, canvases or books if they wish.

Family Photo-shoots (anything from 2 - 30 people) I am charging £120 (usual price £250) which includes a CD of enhanced images sent to you within 1 - 2 weeks of the shoot. All images are also put onto a password-protected online gallery for your friends or family to view and buy prints, canvases or books if you wish.

For more examples of my work, please visit: http://www.courtneylouisephotography.co.uk/