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. Choosing Household Appliances for the Family Home : What to Consider

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    If the amount of washing I have done after this weekend is anything to go by, it is a good job we have a decent washing machine. Let's be honest, when it comes to buying white goods (or silver or black these days), it may not be the most glamorous or exciting task, so we are therefore delighted to share this sponsored post on the top things to consider when choosing a household appliance.

    There's such a range of different manufacturers and models these days that choosing a new household appliance of any type can be a bewildering process. Some people just browse online or visit a shop and fall instantly in love with a product. Others are more methodical, researching functionality and value before coming to a decision. There's certainly nothing wrong with buying an item you simply like the look of, but if its destination is a family home, there are probably a few other considerations to bear in mind. 

    Durability

    In any family with kids, durability can be a huge asset in an appliance. Even if you have children that are too young to use that brand new gleaming microwave, they'll be hungry teenagers one day (and hopefully, you'll have bought an appliance that lasts).

    Consider exterior surfaces and how likely they are to scratch or otherwise get damaged. Is the product generally robust, including movable parts, such as doors? Finally, how complicated is it to use? Many families find they prefer relatively simple appliances, rather than ones with a host of functions they'll never use. For others, the more all-singing and all-dancing, the better!

    Size

    Depending on the type of appliance and the size of the family, you should also consider capacity. This can apply whether you are looking for a new fridge freezer, a washing machine, dishwasher, or any other appliance that services your family's needs. Larger families usually eat a lot of food and generate a lot of mess that has to be cleaned.

    Efficiency

    At the same time, you may also want to keep your eyes on the electricity bill. Larger appliances can cost more to run than smaller ones, but you'll still need appliances that fit the family's needs. Running one large wash in a high load capacity washing machine will generally cost less than running two cycles in a smaller machine. Most appliances in the UK now have an energy efficiency rating, but with a lot of new products rated A or above (A+ or A++), it can still be difficult to differentiate between different makes and models. New energy labels make this clearer, showing each appliance's annual energy consumption in kWh. 

    Know where to shop

    Of course, there are a number of other points to consider before making a decision. Some appliances represent major purchases, but the Co-operative Electrical Shop has a wide range of products that mix form and function, allowing you to choose the appliance that's perfect for you and your family. 

  2. Exercise Tips for Busy Mums

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    As mums, we are lucky to find a few moments to ourselves, let alone find time to exercise too! Wouldn’t it be great if we could all have the post-baby bodies of Victoria Beckham, Reese Witherspoon, or Beyonce? The trouble for most mums is finding the time to take regular exercise. While celeb mums have personal trainers who can whip them back into shape and nannies who can take care of their kids while they do it, the average mum has her hands full taking care of the kids and keeping the house in order. Cosmetic surgeries like tummy tucks and breast lifts may seem like an easy way out, but the risk of complications and medical negligence for these procedures is higher than what you may think. Instead, find time to squeeze fitness into your hectic schedule by following these tips: 

    1)    Multi-task. 

    As a busy mum, you simply may not have the time in your schedule to do a thirty-minute workout at the gym. But you can get some basic workouts in while you’re taking care of the kids, doing household chores, or running errands. Squeeze your glutes while you’re standing over the stove cooking dinner, do a few vertical push-ups each time you go to the toilet, and do some light weightlifting when you’re watching a television programme with the kids. Have time to spare when you’re waiting to pick up the kids from school or football practice? Keep a resistance band in the car to help keep you fit.

     2)    Take advantage of early mornings or nap time. 

    If you have younger children, you can use nap time to fit in a quick at-home workout. Stream a fitness programme from the web or pop in a fitness DVD and get moving! Even a fifteen minute cardio workout will help you burn some calories. Mums who can’t seem to get a minute to themselves during the day may be better off trying to fit in a workout before the kids wake up; resist the urge to hit the snooze button and commit to waking up a few minutes early each morning.

     3)    Get the kids involved.

     While your kids will likely be bored by your pilates or yoga practise, they’ll be thrilled about high energy activities like dancing or swimming. Turn on some music and have a dance party in the living room, play a game of tag at the park, or take the kids to the pool to splash around with them one afternoon. If you have an infant in tow, push them in a stroller while you power walk or jog behind them.

     4)    Find a gym with childcare 

    Can’t find the motivation to work out on your own? It may be time to head to the gym. Since it’s probably unrealistic to find a babysitter each time you want to work out, joining a gym that offers childcare services will allow you to enjoy a worry-free workout. 

    We thought that these tips were pretty useful ..... hope you did too?

  3. Lotus Shoes Review & Competition : Vittoria Bag

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    Anyone that knows me well, knows that I have a penchant for shoes and bags, so when I was asked to run a competition with Lotus Shoes, I was happy to agree.

    Now I have to admit that I hadn't heard of Lotus Shoes before hand but their website tells me that they "include designs that are at the height of fashion and inevitably suit a spectrum of tastes, together with timeless classic options which encapsulate style and elegance"  The shoes look like they would definately be kinder to my feet than some of my choices over the years but I was more drawn to the bags they have and selected the Vittoria! 

    I have a multitude of black handbags, so having a contrasting cream and navy bag is quite a novelty (it also goes with a pair of fabulous Navy shoes that I have).  I love that it has lots of compartments, including two inner mobile phone pockets (one for me and a spare for my daughters iPod!) and it is wipe clean .... a must for mums who have to carry around food and drinks for their little ones.

    It looks fabulous and the small charm makes it still a little girly. Lotus Shoes products are all about style and quality and makes me feel like a "real" grown up .... a girly grown up but a grown up nonetheless. 

    VittoriaIf you would like to enjoy some of the quality and style from Lotus Shoes, then we are delighted to host a competition to win a £60.00 voucher to spend on their site, just enter here.

     

    Disclaimer: I received the Vittoria bag to review but the opinions and comments herein are my honest opinion. 

  4. 30 Minute Parent Pledge

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    I recently read about the MyFamilyClub Parent Pledge and couldn't help but be inspired. The principle of the campaign is easy, all you have to do is tell them how you pledge to spend at least 30 minutes each week doing something different, fun and thrifty with your children.

    It got me to thinking about the time I spend with my girls and the "quality" of that time and I decided that there are small changes I could make, to make a difference to my children. Anyone that knows me, will know that I am never far from some form of technology, whether that be a laptop, tablet or phone. This love of technology is echoed by my own girls, even the little one has her own toddler apps but I never had those as a child, the closest I got was a Fisher Price wooden phone .... which is not really the same thing.

    Classic pull along phone

    So here is my pledge:

    I pledge that for 30 minutes a DAY (not a week) I will turn off all the apps, phones, laptops and tablets and enjoy reading an actual book, rather than an electronic one, we will do some physical drawing, rather than with a stylus and we will bake delicious cakes that we can actually taste, rather than look at on a screen.

    Technology is fantastic and making sure that my children are competent in using it is a great skill for them as they grow up but it is easy to forget that there is life in the real world, waiting to be discovered. This weekend we may even go to an "actual" farm, not one that has been created online!

    Don't get me wrong, we are not always stuck in an electronic world but it is easy to forget that the simplest things are often those that create the very best memories.

    So will you consider making a pledge? If you do, don't forget to share it with MyFamilyClub as if they love your idea you could win a prize. Their favourite Parent Pledge will win a luxury family break in Cornwall, courtesy of the beautiful Sands Resort Hotel & Spa. 

    What do you pledge?