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It is no secret that I love to shop. I can't even pretend that I don't shop, especially if I find a ludicrous bargain that I want to shout about. Even my neighbours know how much I love to shop (as they regularly accept parcels if I am not home) and I am an advertising agency's target market because I am such a consumer!

My shopping habits have changed over the years, once upon a time it was all about that seasons dress or the perfect pair of designer jeans and whilst my love of shopping hasn't changed, I seem to spend much more on my gorgeous girls wardrobe's than I do on my own. No matter how much money you do or don't have, finding a bargain, never fails to give me a thrill, whether it be a designer handbag or toddler shoes, a bargain is a bargain whatever it is.

62% of supermarket revenue comes from impulse buying so shopping online helps to find the best bargains on the high street but using sites to find the best deals of the week definately puts you one step ahead of the game, I personally love to check out the MyFamilyClub weekly Best Buys. Having a family doesn't mean that you need to stop spending, you just have to be a little more savvy and if you manage to save money on everyday essentials, it leaves more money to spend on shoes (that's how it works isn't it?)

Image courtesy of sattva at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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We have always blogged about our Water Babies journey, so when I read today that the ASA are reporting in an article that 51% of 7-11 year olds can't swim 25 metres, it made me even more delighted with our progress. You can read the article here.

So with the little one learning the "kicking" motion and happily putting her face under the water, I wanted to share once again why we love Water Babies.

 

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Storytime is an important part of the bedtime routine in our house and what better way to enjoy quality time with your little one than by reading together? So how do you choose the right book for you and your children?

Here are my favourites .... if you fancy finding something new to read?

Stickman – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

"Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three." This fabulous rhyming book teaches about rising above adversity and the value of family. It is so easy to read, I think I actually know it off by heart.

Dogs don’t do ballet – Anna Kemp & Sara Oglive

This is an entertaining tale about Biff the dog, but the problem is, Biff doesn't think he's a dog, Biff thinks he's a ballerina! This is an entertaining story of a small dog with a big character and even bigger dreams! It is one of those stories that you can read over and over again and shows that you can be whatever you want to be!

Bumpus, Jumpus, Dinosaurumpus - Tony Mitton/Guy Parket-Rees

This is great for children of all ages as it is a timeless tale. The exciting, fast-paced rhyme flows easily but then slows down naturally at the end, perfectly timed to calm the children in readiness for bedtime. 

The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

Arguably the best children’s book ever written and it is actually my particular favourite. It appeals to children of all ages with captivating rhymes and fantastic pictures. I know that it is now a short motion picture but I still prefer the book. It is a  true children’s classic. 

Elmer – David McKee

This is the tale of a loveable elephant who, for once in his life, wants to mingle with the rest of his herd and be like all the others. It is a lovely story with the subtle message that it is that it is OK to be different, which is why I think it is fab!

Aliens Love Underpants – Claire Freedman & Ben Cort

With bright animation throughout, this is a truly funny story and when reading this to any child, it always guaranteed to raise a chuckle as children think it is hilarious that you are talking about underpants. 

There’s an Ouch in my Pouch – Garry Parsons

Finally, this is a genuinely entertaining story about toddler behaviour, the discovery of independence and the pending arrival of a new baby. This is a perfect story if there is a new baby brother or sister due.

What books do you love to read with your little one?

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This time last week I was at Blogsummit in Birmingham. Now I appreciate that to a lot of the readers of our little blog, this means absolutely nothing and I have to admit a mere two years ago, I had no clue that I would be excited / nervous and interested in going to an event like that. Blogging just kind of happened on the Lilypad, it was never a conscious decision and we have made some (okay maybe alot of) mistakes in terms of promotion, advertising, SEO and even (quite frankly rubbish) content. *whispers* There are alot of people that write for a living and I take my hat off to each and every one of them because I write when I feel like it, when I have something to say, to rant about, to share or simply to remember, I never consider it "my job".

So despite being in awe of lots of amazing bloggers and a bit worried that there would be cliques, there was lots of friendly faces and a totally happy vibe. Once I had got past people looking at my boobs (at my name tag - obviously!!), it was great to meet lots of "online friends" in the flesh. It was cool to meet up with Pink Oddy too, as we haven't seen each other since 1994 when we both left senior school ..... bizarrely we had no trouble recognising each other, must be a testament to our youthful looks (and obviously nothing to do with Facebook keeping us updated!)

I loved the enthusiasm of the speakers from boggling my brain in the SEO masterclass to meeting some great contacts in the Brand Panel session. The Tots 100 had clearly worked hard to bring a great collection of people together but like a lot of the great ladies that were there that day, my favourite sesson was Andy Cope's Art to being Brilliant. Now obviously I am already brilliant (ahem) but he exudes optimism and in the fast paced seminar he reminded us all that happiness isnt "over there", it is here and now and we should be enjoying every second of it. 

There were a number of us that moved on from Blogsummit to continue to "enjoy" the day with a few vino's and something to eat and it was great to get to know the people behind the blog. I spent alot of time chewing the ear of Emma and Laura, both of whom are super cool ladies. My mum always told me never to talk to strangers but when you read someone's blog, you begin to understand them as people and it is fabulous to find out that they great in "real life" too. I know Emma and I will sharing vino's again in the future!!

So did I learn much - Definately.

Would I go again - Absolutely

Am I Brilliant? - Well I am definately not a "mood hoover" and I intend of being part of the 2% of the population who is eternally optimistic, positive and happy!