Category: News

1. Travelling with children : Cbeebies Live

   Posted on 4:20pm Friday 28th Mar 2014

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   Anyone with a toddler will not be able to escape CBeebies and the joy it brings to their lives, so when we hear that there was a CBeebies Live tour, we were a little excited but equally a little scared at the thought of a long car journey, trying to amuse a determined toddler.

    

   

   Now we all know that travelling with children can be as easy as juggling jelly, so here are my top tips for a wobble free expedition!

   Take your time.

   It sounds so simple but trying to get out of the house with a toddler can take twice as long as any other time. Give yourself an extra hour if it is a long journey, allowing for some traffic and the inevitable toilet breaks!

   Book in advance

   Whether it is tickets for the event or a hotel close to the event, a tired, hungry and impatient toddler can test the patience of the most calm of parents. Relieve the stress and book in advance.

   Baby wipes are your friend

   Baby wipes are definately underated. Not only do they deal with dirty bottoms and sticky hands, they are great for wiping a table over in a busy service station or cleaning baby sick off leather seats in the car. No need to ask how we know this. We just do.

   Technology is your friend

   I fondly remember the days playing I-Spy in the back of my Dad's Ford Cortina on long car journeys as a child but this game will only last so long. It also isn't quite so effective with a toddler who doesn't really grasp the concept and shouts random words, consequently aggravating the ""tween". So in-car entertainment is your friend. DVD players on the headrests are a godsend .... although what is played can be a whole other debate!

   Wear comfortable clothes.

   This applies to everyone. As much as I love my skinny jeans and heels combo, its not the most practical for a long car journey and the same applies to the children.  They will undoubtedly be eating at some point, maybe spill a drink (or be travel sick), put them in something comfortable, not too warm and not too fussy. It makes life easier for everyone.

   Think about the time of day you travel

   We always try and arrange a longer car journey around nap time. It makes for a much more peaceful journey.

   Don't swear

   Driving can bring out the worst in the best of us. If a driver cuts you up, take a deep breath. If you swear, you know that your toddler will store that little gem of information until a really quiet moment, in front of a group of really important people. Or in church.

   Enjoy!

   We sometimes spend so much time planning our adventures that we forget to enjoy them. So Enjoy!!

    

   Would you add anything else to the list?

2. eBay Inspires .... me!

   Posted on 3:18pm Thursday 27th Mar 2014

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   I have to admit that I have only really started using eBay in the last few years (I am not entirely sure how it passed me by before) but now before I buy anything, the thrifty side of me has to check eBay to see if I can get a better deal. The range of products listed every week never ceases to amaze me and you really can find anything on eBay.

   So in March 2014, eBay launched their eBay Collections and we were delighted to be asked to create some of the the first collections to feature on the site. This was extremely exciting, especially when we found out that we were in the company of style icons such as Danni Minogue and Kelly Hoppen. The collections are essentially a mood board or an online scrap book for you to create a visual picture of what you are trying to create, whether that be a room, a theme or (like me) just indulging a shopping habit!

   

   eBay have rolled out their collections now so you can click and create collections to your hearts desire. You will find  "add to collection"  just underneath "add to watch list" on each item listing. It really is that easy. I have created collections around our home and socialising .... which is something we love to do! The Man on the Pad is a little concerned at how excited I got over finding new things to add to each collection but it is a great way to see if items work together, especially if you are redesigning a room.

   If you would like to have a little look at our collections, just click here. You can follow the boards too, if the mood takes you!

   Click.

   Create.

   Inspire.

   eBay Inspires me to shop more cleverly. How will you use the collections?

    

   This post, is part of my ongoing partnership with eBay.

3. International Women's Day 2014 #lastingchange

   Posted on 8:21am Saturday 8th Mar 2014

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   Unless you have been in hiding for the last few weeks, you cannot have ignored the social media powerhouse that is Team Honk! Team Honk is about bloggers raising money and awareness for Comic Relief.

   To celebrate International Women's Day #iwd2014, Tanya, Annie and Penny are in Tanzania finding out how donations to Sport Relief last year have created female entrepreneurs and #lastingchange for women, their families and communities and beyond - rippling out #lastingchange in Africa. 

   So we are delighted to share this #lastingchange postcard:

    

   • Bertha - This is a Bertha.  She is a food producer in Dar es Salaam who has received support from the Gatsby Trust. Bertha makes three different types of wine, garlic paste and a flour used to make porridge.  In addition to making products she is also now training other women to do the same.   Bertha works from a processing plant that she built herself at the back of her property, with room dedicated to each part of her business. 

   

   We think she is inspirational, don't you?

   How can you help?

   5 MINS  Please RT, share and support any updates you see with the #lastingchange hashtag.

   DONATE You can help create #lastingchange by sponsoring #teamhonkrelay for Sport Relief

   GET INVOLVED Join up for your local Sport Relief event here.

   Thanks for helping to create #lastingchange

4. Little Fun Fest - We have been chosen!

   Posted on 12:14pm Tuesday 25th Feb 2014

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   You may or may not have noticed that we have a shiny spangly new badge on the Lilypad and we are thrilled to say that we are a "Little Fun Fest Blogger Extraordinaire". *sounds fanfare*

   

   What is that baffled face? Do you mean you have no idea what I am talking about?

   I have to admit that I had not heard about Little Fun Fest until after the event last year but I knew that it was something we would want to get involved in. It is basically a festival for the under 10's (and having never actually been to a festival myself, I thought it was a great way to start by taking the whole family) , based around having fun. What is not to love?

   The website says that Little Fun Fest aims to provide funsters with their very own festival experience. Funsters can lose themselves in music, magic, rides, stories and dance. They can enjoy being a child and use their imaginations and energy in beautiful surroundings with other funsters. We want grown ups to join in the fun too, but we also want them to be able to sit back and watch their funsters enjoy a memorable day and take home a permanent smile.

   

   It sounds like there is something for everyone, which is good especially when you have a big age gap between children but whenever I think about festivals, I am always thinking that I can't wear my heels, so I think I am finally going to have to admit defeat and purchase some wellies ..... just to make sure I look the part of course!

   So if you fancy joining us on our Little Fun Fest adventure, tickets for Little Fun Fest can be booked here

   All entertainments and rides are included in the entrance fee.
   
   

   Disclaimer : We have been awarded tickets for our family to go to Little Fun Fest but all opinions are our own, so we will let you know how we get on!