When I was 16, I went on holiday with three of my friends, no adults (well aside from the one of us who was 18), no responsibility and no fear. Throughout the following two weeks I have no idea how my mom managed to get a wink of sleep. I didnt think about this at the time, didnt think about it for a long time and it only really occurred to me when I had my own daughter. Can I just say now, there is NO WAY my daughters will be allowed to go on holiday alone when they are 16. So this is my message to my daughters ....

Dear Daughter,

At 16 weeks old - you are a tiny angel, with huge lung capacity and you had the ability to capture my heart from the moment I set eyes on you.

At 16 months - you are a gift of laughter, cuddles and trust. Remember, you can always trust me.

At 16 years - You will be strong, defiant and believe you know everything. I know you truly believe this but remember, I was 16 once and trust me, you dont.

When you become a teenager, you will dislike me.

When you become a woman, you can turn to me.

When you become a wife, you will think me old fashioned for crying.

When you become a mother ....... you will understand.

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Every New Year people make resolutions from giving up smoking, going to the gym, eating more healthily and paying off the credit card. Now there will be those select few amongst us who are determined and see these through but for many of us mere mortals, by the end of February ... okay January, the resolutions are a distant memory.

So rather than make new resolutions about the things I want to achieve this year, I thought I would do a reverse list of all the things I did achieve last year. (I promise you that this isnt completely self indulgent and you wont be here all day).

1. Theo Paphitis, Dragon, Entrepreneur and generally lovely chap, well he recognised the Little Lilypad during his "Small Business Sunday" which consequently lifted our profile - so for this we are most thankful.

2. We were featured in Vogue! Need I say more? (although I must clarify it wasnt a pregnant and naked Demi Moore-esq feature)

3. We received a Bronze Mumpreneur UK website award

4. Our Blog was nominated for a Mothercare, Gurgle Blog Award

5. I was personally named one of the Top 100 Mumpreneurs by Mumpreneur UK

Finally and most importantly, I gave birth to my beautiful youngest daughter.

Had I set myself resolutions at the beginning of the year, would any of these things been on there? Possibly not (well except from the baby), so is it not best to watch the year unfold and to take pride in the things you do achieve rather than berate yourself for the things you dont?

We are delighted to have a guest post from Amanda Tradwick with Everything You Need to Know about Cloth Diapers.

Every year, millions of disposable diapers wind up in landfills. Many of the materials used in these diapers are not biodegradable. They also contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your baby's skin and leach into the ground water once they have been dumped in the landfill. Most parents turn to disposable diapers because they are convenient -- you just toss them and go. However, cloth diapers offer a more eco-friendly option that is also less irritating to your baby's skin and will cost you less in the long run. Though they may seem more complicated at first (learning how to wash and care for them), they are actually quite convenient. Here's what you need to know:

The Basics
Cloth diapers are composed of two parts: the soaker and the cover. The soaker -- sometimes referred to as a prefold -- is the lining of the diaper. It is the part that soaks up the waste and that is removed to be washed. The outer cover is created to protect against leaks and is usually lined in a water resistant material. Many outer covers are also created in stylish colors and designs, allowing you to have a bit of fun with your diapering choices. There are many companies that offer cloth diaper covers, as well as their own line of prefolds. However, any prefold will work with any outer cover. You don't have to order these items as a set from individual companies.

Cleaning
The prospect of cleaning the cloth diapers is what usually deters parents from trying them. However, they are actually quite easy to wash, and the process need not be very messy. Simply remove the soiled diaper, and if there is solid waste, you can shake large particles into the toilet. You need not dunk the diaper or try to clean off all the excess. If you like, you can keep a spray bottle of water near the toilet to help spray off the excess. Place all soiled diapers in a pail to be washed. You can either place the diapers in the pail and sprinkle them with baking soda to control odors, or you can place the diapers in some water in the pail as a pre-soak. When you are ready to wash the diapers, just put them in the wash (dump out the water if soaking) and run the cycle as normal. Use a bit less detergent than you normally would since a buildup of detergent can interfere with the absorbency of the diapers. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners. You can then dry them in the machine or on a line.

Making Your Own
If the initial cost of cloth diapers deters you, you can cut your budget by making your own wool soakers. You don't have to be too crafty to make them, as the pattern is quite simple and only a basic stitch is needed. There are several free patterns available at The Diaper Jungle (http://www.diaperjungle.com/sewing-cloth-diapers.html). Basically, you will start with a piece of 100% wool -- which can easily be recycled from old sweaters or jackets found at Goodwill or other thrift stores -- cut a large triangle, and sew up the sides, leaving room for little legs. When you are finished, you should lanolize the soakers to make them more water resistant. Simply soak the fabric in enough water to cover it, add a few drops of pure lanolin (often sold over-the-counter for treatment of sore nipples from breastfeeding), and soak for 15 or 20 minutes. When finished, squeeze out excess water and dry them on a line. Always hand wash your wool soakers.

Other Alternatives
If the idea of handling and washing cloth diapers still seems like too much work, there are a few ways that you can make the process more convenient while still getting the benefits of cloth diapering. Many companies now sell disposable prefolds for use with a cloth diaper cover. When the diaper is soiled, simply remove the prefold and throw it away. This minimizes the amount of waste from a typical disposable diaper, but offers the same convenience of a disposable. All-in-one diapers (AIO) can also minimize the amount of steps you take for cleaning and preparing the diapers, as the cloth insert and cover are all one piece.

While cloth diapers may seem complicated and bothersome, they can actually be quite easy to use. Doing so will help you to minimize your impact on the environment and will lead to less irritation of your baby's skin.

One thing that always gets mentioned with cloth nappies is storage, so if you're looking for a range of high end nursery furniture for storage then the UKs Baby and Co offer a great range of draws, wardrobes, book cases and many other storage solutions for a nursery room.