Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.

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  1. We went visiting my Nan today to give the man on the Lilypad some well deserved "blue" time as it all gets a little bit too pink and girly in our house sometimes. My girls love to see their Great Grandmother and sit playing with toys that I am quite sure have been in that toybox since I was a child but today with the weather being so lovely, they ventured out into her garden to go exploring.

    Soon I heard squeals of "we found a blackberry bush" and they were determined they were going to pick some!

    Country Kids 030814

    My Nan couldn't walk as far as the blackberry bush but she was giving them strict instructions to only pick the ripe ones and there little fingers were sneaking their way through the leaves to find them.

    Country Kids 030814 1

    Unfortunately for me, the only time I tried to get involved I managed to get caught in the thorns so I left them and their little hands to it. (note to self: Blackberry bushes can be dangerous if not careful or have tiny hands)

    Country Kids 030814 2

    Country Kids 030814 3

    They absolutely loved it and I am not sure if they were more excited about finding them in their Great Grandmothers own garden or wanting to have them for dessert!

    Sometimes it is just the little things that make your day!

    Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

  2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
     
    I am not sure I ever had a burning desire to be "something" but then again, I am not entirely sure I ever grew up either!
     
    My eldest daughter often talks about being a "grown up", I think she believes that you get powers when you are an adult and money magically appears from the hole in the wall ( I don't want to destroy the magical powers illusion bit just yet, I kind of like being a super mum) but as for what she wants to be, I am not sure she has a vision yet.
     
    I was therefore interested to hear that Blossom Magazine have launched a brilliant competition for their readers this week.  The #IWantToBe campaign is asking young readers to submit a video entry of what they want to be when they grow up. (I promise I am not going to subject you to a video of my brummie accent)
     
    Blossom I Want To Be
     
    Entrants have until 6th September to submit their video to the email address of [email protected] and one winner will be selected to win a VIP London family trip which includes one family ticket to ZSL London with a Meet the Meerkats experience; one Rainforest Café voucher worth £100; overnight accommodation in one family room at 3-star hotel, in Central London and a visit to Blossom HQ plus a Blossom Goody Bag.
     
    In each edition of the magazine, Blossom features a different aspirational career to show girls they can be whoever they want to be - whether it's an airline pilot, an author or a doctor.
     
    So what does your little one want to be when they grow up?
     
    Blossom I Want To Be Edition cover
     
     
    The full terms and conditions are here, and are found in the current magazine edition too:
     
    T&Cs:  Terms and conditions: Promoter: Immediate Media London Company Limited. You must make sure that we have your entries by 11.59pm, 6th September 2014. 1. You can enter if you live in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands, unless someone who lives in your house works for the Immediate Media Company. 2. By entering the competition, you promise to us that you have read these rules and that you will follow them. 3. We can’t include entries which arrive too late and we can’t accept responsibility if your entry is lost. By entering this competition, parents/guardians grant permission to Immediate Media Company (publishers of Blossom) to post the winner’s video and entrants’ first names in its publications, websites and on its social media sites. 4. Winners will be chosen at random. 5. One entry per household. We don’t allow bulk entries or entries made by other people on your behalf. We will disqualify all entries which break this rule. 6. If you win, you will receive the prize described. We won’t swap the prize for cash. No alternatives or substitutions for any unused elements of the prize. If there’s ever a reason why we can’t give you exactly the same prize, we’ll give you something  j ust as good or better instead. Prize is one family ticket to ZSL London valid for 2 adults and 2 children aged 3-16. Children must be at least 5 years of age and be accompanied by an adult for the Meet the Meerkats experience. One Rainforest Café voucher worth £100, see voucher for expiry date and additional T&Cs – includes drinks. Overnight accommodation in one family room at 3-star hotel, in Central London selected by Immediate Media Company. Visit to Blossom HQ includes a Blossom Goody Bag. Travel and other personal expenses are not included. Prize must be redeemed before 31st December 2014. 7. Winners will be contacted within 28 days of a competition closing date, either by post, telephone or email. 8. If we contact you to tell you you’re a winner, but you don’t reply within a month, we may have to offer the prize to a runner-up or give it away in a future competition. Your details: We will use your name, address and any other details that you give us to run this competition. If you win, we will pass them to the person who’s providing the prize so that they can post it to you, and we may use your first name and county in the magazine or on our website but we won’t provide them to anyone else without your permission. You can find out the winner’s first name and county once the competition is over by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Competition Rules, ATTN: Marketing Assistant, Blossom Magazine, Immediate Media Limited, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT. Remember to tell us which magazine, issue number and competition you’d like to know about. 
  3. We finished our swiming lessons for the summer holidays last week and we were suitably subdued that we would be missing our Water Babies adventures over the summer but even more so that our swimming teacher was moving on to pastures new. There are some of our Water Babies friends that are not continuing their lessons next term due to circumstances, which meant that there were more goodbyes to be said before the end of term.
     
    It got me thinking about the transition from Water Babies as some of our group are now obviously gaining exceptional water skills, not purely life saving and enjoyment but the ability to swim freely. So when does the transition happen from baby swimming to "just swimming".
     
    I can't imagine putting my youngest into traditional swimming lessons at the present time, in fact I think it would be counter productive to her confidence and development and in talking to Water Babies, they tell me that the transition period is usually around the age of 4 (so we definitely have some time!).
     
    There are lots of things to consider and prepare for in the transition to main stream lessons, even at ages 4 and above, such as; 
     
    • Before hand, take your child to the pool and ensure they can get in and out of the pool on their own
    • Explain to them that you will not be in the pool with them but you will be near by
    • Visit the venue before hand and show child where they will be swimming and where you will be sitting – it may mean you cannot see them swim
    • Help them pack their own swim bag (so they also know everything they need to bring home with them too!)
    • Explain to them that they should wait for you at a set point for collection after their lesson and not go with any one they do not know
    • Buy a swim hat – it is likely they will have to wear one so you might as well try it on before hand (my eldest was not a fan of this when she started her lessons but she just snaps it on her own head now).

     

    I never forget the tears and trantrums that we had with my eldest when she started traditional swimming lessons, so I know that it is important to make the transition from Water Babies to main stream lessons a smooth one. Thankfully it is not something I need to think about for another 12 months or so ...... or maybe it is me that is not ready to make the transition and accept that my water baby is growing up.
     
  4. I read an email that said the words "Kids Go Free"

    You know the kind of email that makes you pay attention because where children are concerned, there are not a lot of things that are free!

    I now hope that this blog post does the same for you.

    CBeebies magazine has teamed up with Merlin Entertainments to launch a fabulous Summer long campaign which gives parents the chance to save up to £355 on top kids’ attractions in the UK.  (see I told you that you would want to pay attention).

    cbeebies kids go free issue cover

    Every issue of CBeebies Magazine from the 16th July until the 7th October will come with two vouchers for kids to go free to a different attraction every issue with some of the most popular kids’ attractions in the country including Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Sealife.

    Issue 409 has been on sale for a while but the full list of attractions and dates included in this fantastic offer are:  

    • Issue 410 (30th July) - Chessington World of Adventures – Save £68 (£34 per ticket)
    • Issue 411 (13th Aug) – Alton Towers Resort inc. CBeebies Land – Save £86.40 (£43.20 per ticket)
    • Issue 412 (27th Aug) - Warwick Castle – Save £39.60 (£19.80 per ticket)
    • Issue 413 (10th Sept) - Legoland and Legoland Discovery Centre – Save £82.80 (£41.40 per ticket)
    • Issue 414 (24th Sept) – Sealife Centres and Seal sanctuaries – Save £39 (£19.50 per ticket)

    cbeebies kids go free spread 

    We love ways of saving money and having fun, so in exchange for a magazine costing less than £3, we get oodles of adventures and priceless fun with the children ...... I'm in, are you?