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1. Home is where your Wi-Fi connects automatically - Desenio prints review

   Posted on 4:31pm Tuesday 25th Oct 2016

    

   Home is where your Wi-Fi connects automatically. This is the saying of the teen generation. 

   If you see our Facebook page, you will know that we are big fans of a "funny saying" or inspirational quote and this is one of the reasons that we have found a love for Desenio, who are a Scandinavian company that has recently launched in the UK. Desenio is a Swedish-based business that was founded in 2010, and who now sell online throughout the Europe, Norway, Australia, Canada and the US but they want the UK audience to know a little more about their products and we are happy to shout about them. 

    

   At first glance, you might be fooled into thinking that they are cheap posters, with prices starting from £2.99 but all the posters are printed on 200g uncoated, FSC-certified and age resistant paper with a med matt finish, so you know that you are getting a quality product. We purposefully don't do many reviews on the Lilypad these days but we genuinely want to share the great designs and quality from this brand. 

   The site is really easy to navigate too and you can browse around the website either by categories including Geometric, Quotes, Animals etc or by Best Sellers.

   

   My eldest daughter sat adding poster after poster into the online basket and I am quite sure I could have covered two walls with her choices! As a teenager I remember covering my walls with the on trend "Athena" posters of the time (who remembers the man holding the baby?) but these prints are more classic and timeless and hopefully my daughter won't cringe when she remembers her selections in 20 years time.

   Desenio have an eclectic range of posters and once you have decided on the image, you are then able to select a reasonably priced picture frame to compliment your design if you wish. Again the frames start from a reasonably priced £2.99 and are packaged so securely that they arrive in perfect condition. You can take a look at the quality of the packing in an unboxing video from Emma Bradley here.

   

   This poster was my own personal selection (and nothing to do with the 11 year old), because this "&" sign is an image that we used throughout our wedding theme and as it is our anniversary today, it seems that it is only right to end with this poster. 

   So whether you want a token gift or really want to blow the budget with a theme of images, Desenio have something for every taste and purse, so like me today, you can be guaranteed of a shopping experience with a happy ever after.

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2. Win a 4wd Minjal Ride On

   Posted on 9:11pm Tuesday 11th Oct 2016

   The Christmas adverts started some time ago, trying to entice children with this years plastic offering or digital "must have" gift but we have always favoured more traditional gifts, the timeless and beautifully crafted presents, which is why we adore the Minjal 4WD Ride On. 

   

   Your little one can start to use the 4WD as soon as they has started to walk and balance independently. If both feet can touch the ground when sitting on the product, we are told that your child will get the optimal benefits. The Minjal 4wd has a unique ergonomic design which not only enables your child to have lots of fun but also aids their essential development. The product is designed to encourage maximum activity in children aged one to two and half without tiring them.

   Ergonomically designed handlebars

   Optimal Height

   Comfort Seat

   360 Multi-Directional Travel

   Safety Stoppers

   4 Different Colours

   Ideal for Small Spaces:

   

   So if you covet one of these for your child this Christmas, why not enter our giveaway to win one worth £29.99?

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize: 4WD Minjal Ride On worth £29.99
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
   Minjal will make every effort to provide a choice of colour but this cannot be guaranteed
   By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 29/10/2016 at 12am

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3. Keep Playing #likeagirl

   Posted on 11:34am Friday 1st Jul 2016

   Like A Girl. It has always been seen as a little bit of an insult hasn't it that phrase? But being "like a girl" is something to be celebrated and the new Always campaign is looking to challenge perspectives and the impact that negatives can have on young women. I have two girls and it is important to me that they grow up believing that they can do anything they want to do from academic excellence to sporting achievements but what is saddening to learn is that over half of girls (64%) give up sport by the end of puberty, with a whopping 80% not believing that they belong in sport!

    

   

    

   Sporting acheivements seem historically linked to male sporting figures and how many times have we heard comments like “girls shouldn’t play that sport” or seen girls’ teams playing in half-filled arenas? What impact does this have on girls and their desire to play sport throughout puberty? These are critical questions that Always, leader in global feminine care and the brand committed to championing girls’ confidence, is asking – an activity recognised for its profound and long-term impact in helping girls build and maintain confidence. As the world prepares for the 2016 Olympic Games, Always wants to urge, encourage and inspire girls everywhere to Keep Playing #LikeAGirl.

    

   Key ‘Always Puberty & Confidence Wave IV’ Study Findings

   • By the time girls reach the age when they finished puberty (16-17 years old), 64% will have quit sports
   • 8 out of 10 girls who quit sport during puberty felt they did not belong in sport
   • Only 1/3 of girls feel that society encourages girls to play sport
   • The top challenges for girls continuing to play sport are that most people believe girls become more self-conscious about/dislike their body (50%), most believe girls are worse at sport than boys (34%) and the lack of respect for girls in sport (32%)
   • 61% wish there were more female role models in sport
   • If there were more female role models in sport then girls aged 16-24 believe that more girls would continue playing sport (47%), there would be more interest in female sport (46%) and female sport would be more popular (42%)

    

   

    

   So the team at Always are inviting everybody to join in to rewrite the rules and keep girls in sport. Pledge that you’ll Keep Playing #LikeAGirl and encourage others to do the same. Upload a picture, shoot a video or tweet using #LikeAGirl to show your support and inspire young girls everywhere to Keep Playing.

    

    

    

   My girls are swimmers, they are both gymnasts and I want them to keep swimming and I want them to keep bending themselves into unimaginable positions for as long as they want to! I want them to feel positive about their abilities and their possibilities ....... so maybe one day they can be a role model for a future generation!

    

    

    

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4. Where is the little shark?

   Posted on 9:39am Wednesday 16th Sep 2015

   Every person has a natural in built fear of the water. The human body not naturally designed to be underwater which is why swimming is such an important life skill for any child. But what if confidence holds a child back, what then?

   We are huge swimming advocates and ensure that the girls swim on a weekly basis but going on holiday this summer meant a new pool, new depths, no lifeguards and a big adventure as far as the girls were concerned but I was a little more cautious. I was therefore delighted when Swimfin gave us the opportunity to try out one of the pink shark fins for our summer holiday.

   The website tells us that the SwimFin compensates for different abilities, providing as much support as the swimmer needs, yet giving confidence to even the most timid learner. For me the fact that it works in harmony with the body, helping to develop a better and more natural swimming position, was attractive to me as whilst the little one has achieved her 10 metre badge with Water Babies, she has a tendancy to "run" through the water rather than lying flat.

   So what did we think ......?

   

   The Swimfin feels sturdy without being heavy and the adjustable velcro straps give a feeling of security for the little one (and for me). I *may* have put it on my daughter backwards the first time round and whilst she looked like a backwards shark, it didn't actually detract from its bouyancy. There is no need for inflating or deflating after use (and it dries quickly too ..... although that may have been more to do with the sunshine!)

   

   The deep end of a new (freezing cold) pool can feel quite daunting, especially when the water temperature takes your breath away but the Swimfin gave our little swimmer that extra bit of confidence in getting into the pool. Our little swimmer doesn't like "fuss" so the fact that the Swinfin is so easy to get on and off when she is getting in and out of the water is a big plus.

   

   We saw lots of different bouyancy aids on our holiday but unlike other swimming aids, we love that the SwimFin is multi-stroke functional. It leaves the arms completely free to move and so can be used to learn front-crawl and back-stroke with ease. Our youngest daughter has never been a huge fan of swimming on her back but with the Swimfin she was happily swimming around on her back, comforted by the protection of the Swinfin.

   

   Essentially the SwimFin is just a very clever flotation device. There are no gimmicks (aside from being very cool looking) but it does its job and complies with international safety standards, which is a big plus for safety conscious parents.

   The Big Plus Points :

   • The Swinfin gives confidence for mum and child in the water
   • The Swimfin looks super cool
   • The Swinfim is not restrictive
   • The Swinfin is always a talking point at the pool so great for helping the children make new friends on holiday.Everyone was asking "where is the little shark"
   • There is no need to get out of breath blowing up inflatable water wings as the Swinfin is ready to go.
   • It helps to improve the childs swimming position

   Is there a downside to the Swimfin?

   • The only downside for me is that it took up a little extra room in my suitcase that I could have used for an extra pair of shoes!

   

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