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I love technology, I am a secret tech geek. I love being able to get access to everything at the touch of a button but when I was left without a mobile phone for the first time in 15 years, I was grateful to Facebook and social media platforms to enable me to stay in touch with everyone! So what did we do before we had Facebook? How did we survive?

I remember when I would get home from school and ring my friend on the house phone (you know the one with wires).

I remember when I would make a date with a boyfriend and didn't feel the need to tweet / Facebook / bbm 10 squillion times before he actually came to collect me.

I remember when I would go out for the day in the summer holidays as a teenager, without any mobile phone, and just know that I needed to be home by 4pm. (I used the watch on my wrist to tell the time)

I remember when Candy Crush was just something you would get from the sweet shop at the end of the road.

I remember when I would go out for the night with my girlfriends and the photos we took would end up in an album. (the kind with a back and front cover)

I remember when I really didn't need to know what my friends had for breakfast / lunch / dinner  *delete as applicable*

I remember when only my closest circle of friends knew my business ......

So what did we do before Facebook? We definitely had more privacy but our circle of friends was possibly more insular. So if our privacy settings are right (and our candy crush addictions are kept under control), I think Facebook has brought old friends closer together (and possibly driven some apart). It has its place in today's society and there is no escaping it.

Now let me go and update my status .......

 

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Do you give to a charity? Whether it be cleaning out your wardrobe and giving to a charity shop or a monthly direct debit to your charity of choice, there are lots of different ways to give. I know alot of people believe charity begins at home but what if you were unable to support your family at home, wouldn't you hope that there was someone there to offer support?

The Lilypad have supported various charities such as Save the Children and Caudwell Children but we have only been able to do so in a small way, so it is really refreshing to hear about small UK based company, Michiko and Me,  commiting their support to Action Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Michiko and Me will provide year round support by making a generous donation on each product sold to Action Against Hunger.  Donation amounts will range from £1 to £5 per product and to celebrate the launch of the partnership, Michiko and Me will apply this donation across their entire product range.

Nicky Lumb, founder of Michiko and Me says, “Our Michiko and Me designs are based on a principle of growing as the child grows. This notion of our children growing happily and healthily is a privilege that we often take for granted. Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to feed our children but this is not the case for all families around the world. Knowing you cannot feed your child is so painful, which is why Michiko and Me wanted to back a charity that supports children and families in the struggle against hunger. Action Against Hunger’s work includes saving malnourished children’s lives and improving families access to food and clean water for the future, making them the perfect charity for us to partner with.” 

We have no affiliation with Michiko and Me, purely admiration. 

For more information about Action against Hunger please visit http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partnerships/our-corporate-partners/michiko-and-me/

 

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It is no secret that I have a love affair with shoes. I couldn't even tell you when this happened, whether it was wearing glamorous dancing shoes during dance shows as a teenager or it goes back as far as tottering around in my mums high heels when I was a really little girl but whenever it started, I have never stopped buying shoes since (this post may help towards buying more shoes, which doesnt really help my addiction).

I will often buy shoes "just incase", you know the snow boots that will be really handy if we have 6ft of snow or the running shoes in case I ever need to go running (disclaimer, in the unlikely event that I go running, I have proven that you can do this in heels), so it is fair to say that I probably have a pair of shoes for every occasion.

It is therefore unsuprising that both of my daughters love shoes and unfortunately they are both cursed with my "fat feet" (and when I say mine, I actually mean those inherited from my mother), so shoe shopping can be a little exhausting at times. My youngest daughter has a high in-step, so alot of styles don't actually fit her and we have spent many hours in Clarks trying different styles, colours, types of shoes so we know now the ones that fit and the ones that don't. Unfortunately stocks in the shops can sometimes be limited, so when we were introduced to Bells Shoes, I was delighted that they stocked Clarks shoes and even more so to find designs that weren't in the high street shop. Take a look;

Running our own online store means that shopping online is a perfect solution for me and I particularly like the ease and flow of the Bells Shoes site. I will obviously still go and get my daughter's feet measured in store but having shoes delivered to my front door sounds like heaven to me!

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Crawlerz baby boy and baby girl clothing are designed to actively encourage your child to crawl. Their Patent Pending Anti-Slip Grip will give your child the added help needed to promote their development. Available in a Range of Funky Styles for ages 3-6, 6- 9 and 9-12 months.

  

We love this concept and the Crawlerz range haven't yet launched in the UK so be one of the first people to try them by entering our competition to win a set of 7 rompers .... that is one for every day of the week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway