We spotted this gorgeous Hayabusa whilst out shopping this week. I quite like the body kit on it and how it looks against the green & red bushes too! What do you think?
Windowsill Garden For The Girls
The Mr has set up a windowsill garden for the girls since spring is here and they don’t have a garden to play & grow in plants in.
Eva & Izzy have a small glass greenhouse the Mr picked them up in Ikea last year. They planted a few plants when we first bought it. Unfortunately girls pulled them apart trying to feed a ‘pet’ fly that was dying on their windowsill. Yes my children are weird.
The Mr decided now both girls are older to try again so set the greenhouse back up on their windowsill & gave them a small succulent to get them started. Izzy then picked out these two weird little Bear grass head plants to grow with Eva.
The girls really enjoyed getting involved and soaking their bears in water to help them start growing. They love doing things like this although they do pick some rather random plants!
Learning to Repot Plants
Izzy again went shopping with the Mr & came back with another two small succulents and a Grow kit for peppers! The Mr showed Izzy how to repot the small succulents into slightly bigger pots. She helped fill the bigger pots with soil before gently holding the plants as the Mr helped get them out of their tiny pots. Izzy was really excited to put the plants in the bigger pots and popped them in the greenhouse alongside the other plants.
Next they planted California Wonder Pepper seeds in the pot of soil. Izzy enjoyed getting involved and getting her hands messy! Izzy placed the Peppers next to the greenhouse as it was too big to go in with the others. Luckily they had thought ahead though and bought a mini propagator for it!
So far the girls have behaved with them & Izzy has remembered the bear heads need watering every morning too which is lovely! The girls have agreed Izzy will water the plants when Eva is at school & Eva will water them at the weekend. The Easter holidays are coming up so we’ve agreed they can take a turn each day then.
A Windowsill Greenhouse
I miss having a garden so much and growing our own fruit & veg, Eva loved growing & eating strawberries! its nice the girls are still learning to look after & grow plants even if it is only tiny random ones they have picked on their windowsill.
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Our Favourite Books This Week – Week 5
Our favourite books this week is back again. Although the girls have spent a bit of time on their tablets this week they have also picked up a few books too. Eva has been curling up in a corner on the sofa with a book in her hand, absorbing herself in new stories this week.
We missed the library this weekend, instead heading out for the park to enjoy some sunshine, so the girls have mostly chosen books from their bookshelf. It was tough to get Izzy not to pick the same books as last time but we got there eventually!
Izzy’s favourite books this week
Izzy picked 2 Disney books this week. Her first choice is the Lion King. Her favourite part of the book is when Simba meets Timone & Pumba. She thinks it is funny when they eat bugs and loves them singing ‘Hakuna Matata’. I think she finds is funnier as I randomly say ‘Hakuna Matata’ for absolutely no reason haha!
The other Disney book Izzy has chosen is 101 Dalmations. She loves it when Purdita and Pongo get all their pups back from Cruella De Vil! She likes seeing them all back together as a family with the pups safe as she thinks the pups are all ‘soooooo cute!’.
Eva’s favourite books this week
Eva also picked a Disney book this week. Aladdin and the White Baby Camel has been one of Eva’s favourites. Her favourite part is when the White Baby Camel is returned after being stolen by thieves! She does love a happy ending bless her. Both girls love Disney books as most kids do & they have read most of theirs so I think I need to get back on the hunt for more.
The second book Eva has chosen this weekend is Mr. Forgetful from The Mr Men series. Another series the girls really enjoy which I remember reading as a child. Eva loves it when Mr. Forgetful passed on the wrong message because he was so forgetful. I can see why Eva likes that part as she regularly passes on messages wrong by either not listening in the first place or just forgetting lol!
What do you think of this weeks books? What books are your kids obsessed with at the moment? Do you have any books you could recommend the girls based on their favourite books so far?
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My Sunday Photo – Purple Flowers
Two Year Funding – Why I’m Not Sending My 2 Year Old To Nursery
Two Year Funding -What Is It?
Two year funding allows children to start nursery a year earlier. This scheme is offered in most deprived area’s and Thurrock is one of them. It’s run to help children learn & socialise a little bit earlier and to give parents a chance to get back to work etc. We have been offered each term a chance to enrol Izzy at a nursery since she turned 2.
I had previously considered taking up the offer but I sat and thought about it. Could I use the time to myself? Yes. Do I thijnk it would benefit Izzy? No. Eventually I decided not to take up the offer and to wait until September when she will be 3.
Why?
I can’t justify sending Izzy to nursery early just because I’m able to. Whilst it is a great scheme especially for parents looking to get back into work or to save a few £’s on childcare or even to get toddlers playing with other’s their own age, I’d rather spend this year helping Izzy develop at home. Although I doubt myself constantly as a mother, I know my girls are learning plenty at home. Children spend so many years in school already & I can’t see why I should add another year to that. Especially whilst I am home all day.
Izzy loves being at home & she has learnt a lot from our usual routines. Shopping with daddy, finding what we need and popping it in the trolley is so much fun for her. Chatting to people all around town from shop staff to people she passes regularly. School run’s to get her ‘Ea-yaye!’ gives her a chance to run like crazy on the way home. Helping around the flat with chores makes her beam with pride. Teaching her everything’s has it’s place & needs cleaning. even if it’s just been sat for a while.
Reading is Izzy’s absolute favourite thing to do, we read a lot of books together which is why we started Our Favourite Books This Week series. She can count to 12 & has started learning basic math. Just this morning when asked what is 2 + 2 she said 4 then counted 4 with her fingers then showing 2 fingers plus 2 fingers make 4. Izzy recognises most letters in the alphabet & has begun to recognise words whilst we read. I’m confident she will keep up when she does start nursery in September.
At home we pull out the craft boxes, paint or draw. Izzy loves getting creative and making lovely pictures to put up around the flat. Her fine motor skills are pretty good, in fact as Eva is a lefty Izzy holds her pencil better.
Going to the pub on paydays with daddy and talking to all the regulars in ‘her’ pub & playing with Saphy the staffy. Then there’s baby Finn who she has watched grow over the last year & become good friends with. Whilst ordering her fruit shoot & crisps she say’s hello to the women at the bar. Whilst she only goes once a week or every other week she loves it. Izzy has a better social life than me and learns so much from this.
Why should I cut that short when she’s already going to spend the next 15 years in school?
Don’t get me wrong 15 hours a week of peace & freedom again for me would be AMAZING! But I will have plenty of time to myself when she starts in September. I am in no rush. I want to make the most of these last few months before she starts nursery in September. I don’t want to send her early and miss out on our time together when I know she’s always learning & socialises better than I could ever dream of!
When Eva started nursery she changed so much, and so quickly too! I guess I’ve realised the years fly past so quickly and I want to make the most of this time. Soon Izzy will have her own little world & circle of friends at nursery & then school. She will be interested in things I am clueless about & wanting time to herself. So for now, I want to make the most of the terrible two’s, have those lazy sofa snuggle days & enjoy these moments before Izzy grows up too fast.
Izzy will start nursery in September and is really looking forward to it. She will be coming with us to take a look at the local nurseries over the next few month’s to find somewhere she will be happy. I’m looking forward to the free time as I fell pregnant after Eva started nursery. I spent that time feeling fat and awful. I will definitely be making the most of the time come September & enjoying some me time but for now I’ll be enjoying our time together.
Whilst I’m not jumping for the early years funding I do think it’s a brilliant scheme which allows parents to get back to work/learning or finally catch up on 2 years worth of clothes washing & dishes or even just getting a few hours to relax each week.
What do you think of early years funding? Is it available in your area? Would you take it up or have you?
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Tooth Brushing Fun With Brush-Baby
The girls have had plenty of tooth brushing fun with Brush-Baby Products we received to review.
Brush-Baby are a company who offer a range of dental care products for babies, toddlers & children. From dental wipes for babies, chewable toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, toothpaste’s & floss brushes! Whatever you are looking for Brush-Baby will have a suitable product.
We received a package from Brush-Baby for the girls to try.
The girls both had different brushes and toothpastes suitable for their ages which they loved. Izzy received the 3-6 years Tutti Frutti Toothpaste & the 3-6 years Kidzsonic toothbrush. She gets on quite well with the toothpaste which surprised me as she can be quite fussy when it comes to flavoured toothpastes. Eva had the 6+ Spearmint toothpaste & 6+ Kidzsonic toothbrush.
They also received sticker charts & stickers to track their progress.
These helped encourage the girls to brush their teeth every morning and night. Both girls have been having plenty of fun using their special brushes and watching the colours change . I love that the Kidzsonic brushes flash for 2 minutes. I don’t have to worry about the girls knowing how long they need to brush their teeth for. It’s been quite nice seeing them get so excited about keeping their teeth clean & healthy.
After trying out the brushes and toothpaste for a few weeks both girls filled their charts completely!
Both girls really liked the designs on the brushes but absolutely loved the LED flashing light and like to turn off the bathroom light to brush their teeth. At one point I did have to hide the brushes in the kitchen unless needed as they loved them so much & kept sneaking off to brush their teeth haha!
I couldn’t recommend these products more as the girls have had so much fun brushing their teeth and it’s comforting to know they are will spend a full 2 minutes brushing each time. I have awful teeth due to not brushing properly as a child so it’s nice to know the girls will have healthy clean teeth at my age!
I wish I had discovered Brush-Baby sooner as the dental care products for babies look fantastic, especially the dental wipes! Have you heard of Brush-Baby before? What do you think?
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Our Favourite Books This Week – Week 4
We are back this week with our favourite books after missing out last week after an unexpected incident last weekend.
The girls have picked out their favourite books which are mostly Library books this week.
Eva chose What Happens to Broken Bones, an Inside my body book.
She loves learning about the body and said she loved all of this book because it was so interesting. We have quite a few body books at home but none specifically on bones so it’s no surprise she was glued to this book for a few days. She really enjoyed learning about what is inside bones & how they are made up.
The second book Eva as chosen this week is The Tiger Who Was Angry.
Eva’s favourite part of the story is when the Tiger cries as he realises losing his temper loses him friends and begins to be friendly. This book is a story about dealing with anger which is probably a good book for her to be reading this week as she has lost her temper quite quickly herself this week. She has been much calmer this weekend thank goodness!
Izzy has chosen I Love My Mummy as one of her favourite books this week.
She says she loves the first page because she loves her mummy very much and I’m soft & cuddly too like the mummy in the book. (Aww!) She giggled when the child had their feet their tickled and aww’d a lot when the book was read to her. She ‘read’ the book to me a few times too which was quite cute!
The other book Izzy chose this week is the Gruffalo!
This time the full but miniature version I bought them for taking out and about with us. Izzy finds the Gruffalo hilarious she loves how big he is and thinks it’s funny that the animals are scared of him. She finds it even funnier when the mouse pretends everyone is scared of him so the Gruffalo doesn’t eat him when really it’s the Gruffalo behind him they are scared of.
The girls haven’t chosen a book together this week and I’m not surprised as it has been a rather eventful week all round.
What books have been read in your home this week? Do you have a personal favourite?
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My Sunday Photo – Sliding At The Park
I missed last weeks #MySundayPhoto after the Mr was attacked by a neighbour. I lost my blogging mojo all week because of it but decided I needed to jump back in & #MySundayPhoto is a brilliant way to do that!
We escaped to the park a few times this week & I love this photo of Izzy about to go down the slide at the park. A little bit of sunshine & playing brightened up our week!
Did you have a bit of sunshine this week? What did you get upto?
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4 Ways To Save Money On Your Mother’s Day Bouquet
4 Ways To Save Money On Your Mother’s Day Bouquet
Mother’s Day is not far behind Valentine’s Day. If you bought gifts for the holidays and for Valentine’s Day, you might not have a lot of cash left by the time Mother’s Day comes. This doesn’t mean you can’t treat your mother to something special on this holiday. Mother’s Day is the occasion to give something back to your mother for everything she does for you. A fresh bouquet of flowers might not seem like much, but your mother will appreciate this gesture. Purchasing flowers can seem difficult if you are on a tight budget. You can find florist flowers at an affordable cost if you know how to shop. These tips will help you find flowers for Mother’s Day without having to spend a lot.
Choose Seasonal Blooms
Flowers are usually more affordable when they are in season. Not all flowers bloom at the same time of the year, which is why prices vary. Flowers that are not in season will be more expensive because they have to be imported or grown in an artificial environment. Flowers that are in season can be grown in a less expensive manner. You should find out which flowers are in season in your area around Mother’s Day to get a better idea of what will be affordable. Do some research before going to the florist. If you want to order flowers online, the website of the florist you decide to use might have a section with seasonal flowers. If you decide to visit a local store, put together a list of seasonal blooms so you know which options will be more affordable. Some florist have a special section on their website or in their store for Mother’s Day which makes it easy to compare your options.
Consider A Smaller Bouquet
There is no need to go all out for your Mother’s Day bouquet. A simpler choice can be more elegant and your mother will appreciate that you thought of getting her something on this special day. Getting the larger bouquet you can find is not necessarily a good choice. You can make your mother happy by choosing flowers or colors she will like. Besides, a smaller bouquet is more practical if your mother doesn’t have a lot of space to display the flowers. Don’t overspend to get a large arrangement that will take too much space in your mother’s home.
Order Flowers Online
Ordering flowers online can be a good way to have more options to choose from. You might be used to shopping at a local florist but this could be an opportunity to try other options. You should explore your different options by visiting different local florists and browse different websites to compare prices. You might be able to find coupons and discounts by shopping around. Shopping online is a convenient way to compare your options and to find good prices for Mother’s Day flowers. You can easily do some research online whenever you have some free time or when you get home from work, we do recommend sites like WOW FreeStuff UK, who are offering £10 off Mother’s day flowers at Next.
Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute
You should start shopping for your Mother’s Day gift in advance. You will have enough time to do some research and to compare prices. You should save links to different florists or websites so you can easily review your options. Take the time to compare the different bouquets you have found, ask yourself which ones are in your price range.
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Ladies Purple Heat Holders Lounge Socks – Warm, Cosy & Purple!
A pair of Ladies Purple Heat Holders Lounge Socks were sent out for me to review. Anyone that follows me on twitter knows I am always cold and complain my feet are freezing a lot so I couldn’t wait to receive them and see if they really did make my life warmer & purple. 😉
Soo warm!
The socks instantly warmed my feet up, with a 2.34 tog rating they really do keep your feet toasty. I actually managed to get through an entire day without complaining about cold feet. An impressive feat! I love the purple pair I was sent & the thick purple heart grippers on the bottoms. The inside’s are so soft and fluffy they feel lovely on your feet too.
I’ve tried out a lot of different fluffy/thermal socks & slippers in an attempt to keep my feet warm but tend to end up wearing several pairs of socks. Keeping my feet warm is something I find quite frustrating as it makes my balance worse too. It’s nice not to have to keep putting on more socks across the day & tripping over cold numb feet!
Impressively the Heat Holders Lounge Socks actually stay on my feet without the need to continuously pull them back up. I tend to have this problem (which REALLY annoys me) with most fluffy/thermal socks. Having had a look through the range on the heat holder’s website I will most definitely be buying more pairs for me & the girls as well as there are some beautiful designs for girls on there too!
