Friday 31 July 2009

That's It I'm Leaving The Baby....

..Group that is!! Ha ha had you worried!

Now its not because of the Yummy Mummies, or that its too much hassle to go! Its because its been taken over by the people that own the church hall and basically that have ruined the group!! (In my opinion of course)

Instead of the nursery rhymes playing there is a big screen TV playing kids programmes! If I wanted BG to watch TV I'd stay at home

Also (and I can kinda understand why they do it) that have made a baby corner (which the group already had) but the have turned the chairs to face the wall in a semi circle so you are away from the rest of the group!! So if no other babies BG's age are there then I have to sit facing a wall on my own with BG!! That's why I go to baby group to get away from my walls!!

Also the last organiser arranged visits from people and themed days and also had a news letter, now there is nothing.

There have been complaints on the local nets mums

So we are longer going which is a shame as it was just up the road and it was nice to get out on a Friday morning.

So until we find a new group that we can get to, I have bought a book on baby signing so we are going to learn that! and hopefully start swimming soon as well

OK rant over have a good night

NM x

Thursday 30 July 2009

Review - Ella Announcements



Recently I was given the chance to review Ella Announcements.

Who and what is Ella Announcements I hear you shout?? Well I shall tell you

Ella Announcement is a website that specialises in unique announcement cards, gifts, stationary and business design.

They can supply you will photocard, wedding stationary, birth announcements, thank you cards, logo and web designs! And many more!

Everything thing is design to your specifications

Ella Announcements is owned and run by Amanda Farren who in her own words describes her self as a ....Skilled circus performer...Juggles 3 toddlers, Ella Announcements, New Ventures, And life as a wife!

You can find out more about Amanda here

OK so what did I have made from Amanda, well I had some thank you cards designed and made for me.

Now I have not always been into thank you cards, frankly I'm just too lazy to send them!! But when BG was born she was bought such lovely gifts I thought I'd better send thank you cards and now I'm a little obsessed with them. However the choices of cards out there are pants! So when I found this site and was given the chance to have them designed to my spec I was in heaven!

Would you like to see the cards???

Of course you would! See below



I had them done to say thank you for my birthday presents, but I have few left over so they will be used after Christmas as well!!

My family and friends loved them, my nan rang me to say thank you for the thank you card!! It was so sweet! I will definitely be ordering cards for BG's birthday party! and hoping she will be doing Christmas cards (hint hint)

Now as I mentioned Ella Announcements provides business designs such as logo's and web designs, Amanda is offering 10% discount to WHAM'S see here for more details

And if raising 3 children, a husband and Ella Announcements wasn't enough Amanda also organises baby fairs!!! Check out the Baby Fair site for more info

So if you are looking for unique gifts, cards, stationary or business design defiantly check out Ella Annoucements you will not only get good quality, individual designs but at a reasonable price!

What more could you want?

NM x

Tuesday 28 July 2009

The Great Train Journey And Other Adventures Part 2

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin....

So in part 1 I told you about my disastrous train journey with BG, well the rest of the week didn't get a lot better!


OK so that's a little bit of an exaggeration as it was not all bad, Saturday was a rather nice day. My dad came to visit us, he had been to South Africa on the British Lions tour and came back laden with gifts (mainly for BG). BG has two more rugby kits, one in green and one in blue! We went for a lovely walk in town and then had some lunch, the weather stayed nice for us! The only thing that marred the day was my back was killing me, I thought it was due to all of the running around in the rain the day before little did I know it was the start of something nasty!!


When I woke up Sunday morning my back was killing me, OH had left me to have a lay in but I was in so much pain I had to get up. Once I was up I quickly realised that I had a kidney infection (Needed to pee 3 times in 30 mins!) I suffer with them quite a lot so know the signs, needless to say I felt like crap. BG was feeling to good either, very grumpy, off her food and drink, I thought she was teething. OH had to go to work which left a poorly me with a grumpy baby, oh joy!!

The only good thing to come out of Sunday was to find I had made it into the Tots 100 list! (sorry if I don't toot my own horn no one else will!!)

Monday wasn't much better and by Tuesday BG had a slight temp and I felt really poorly (If you follower me on Twitter you would have witnesses my whinging!)

On Wednesday BG seemed much better but I had a temp, a splitting headache, earache and a stuffed up nose! Can you see where I'm going with this?? I then find out that my GD who we spent Friday with had suspected Swine Flu!!!!!

So after a huge panic and discussion with OH we decided that BG was fine but I could have it. I couldn't get through to NHS direct and my doctors was closed so decided to ring in the morning.

I rang first thing and spoke to the triage nurse that told me it could be Swine flu, it could be flu or it could also just be a kidney infection and had the doctor call me. The doctor confirmed that I had UTI and also a upper respiratory infection that could or could not be Swine flu (the only way to confirm would be a swab). He offered me Tamiflu as my symptoms were borderline severe, though informed me all it does it reduce the length of time I have the symptoms. I asked if I could have antibiotics for the UTI and he she yes, so I sent OH to get them.

I did speak to him about BG and he wasn't concerned as she no longer had a temp, he said she probably had a mild bug and passed it onto me!! Thanks BG

Friday I still felt ill but not as bad and was looking forward to my lay in on Saturday as OH was off. Well the lay in never happened, all I could hear was BG screaming and OH trying to keep her quite!

So up gets mummy, thankfully I was feeling much better. Typical I have a day to be lazy and get OH to run around after me and I'm better, though my kidneys were still tender.

My last payslip and P45 turned up! I am officially unemployed! Anyway moving on.

We had a 1st birthday party to go to, so after some umming and ahhhing and looking at when I would be infectious to others we decided to go. I'm so glad we did, had a lovely time, BG got to be with other children in the sun and fresh air. The weather stayed nice all day, which was good as it was a BBQ!!

BG wore her Sophie4Sophie dress, which got a lot of comments, you can see why! Plus she had her matching lunch box



The birthday cake was fantastic, I want one made for BG's birthday!





BG was also given a little party bag with a great little toy for her, it was really nice that they had thought if her! Mummy got cake!

And then it was Sunday again!! In which again I did nothing!! So that was my eventful 8 days, I really don't want a week like that again !

NM x

Monday 27 July 2009

The Great Train Journey And Other Adventures Part 1

Wow its been a whole week since I had written a post, I do apologise but as you know I've been poorly and so had BG.

I have so much to tell you including mine and BG's first train journey together, so if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin! (a Little warning this may be long)

Let me take you back, way back to last Friday (I know, if this day wasn't burned into my memory I don't think I'd remember that far back!) Anyway I had decided that I would meet my best friend and her daughter (my God Daughter) in my nearest big town. Now for me to get there without OH I need to take the train, I've been putting off the train by my self for a while, mainly because the buggy we have it quite cumbersome when down. We bought a new lightweight one a few weeks ago so we had one in the car and for trips on the train!

So after practicing putting the buggy down while sitting with BG on my lap as if I was sitting on the benches at the train station I felt confident to take BG on the train! Silly Silly me

When we got up on that fateful Friday it was raining, I thought its OK I have a rain cover, train station is 5 mins away and we will be in a shopping centre it will be fine!! Now BG had also decided that she didn't want her morning nap, which meant running around trying to get dressed, bag ready, washing up done etc with a grumpy baby screaming for my attention! I should have seen that as a sign and stayed home, but did I? No!! (or there would be little point to this story)

After rushing around we made it to the station with 5 mins to spare, there was one person in front of me at the ticket desk I though great I can relax. Famous last words, oh no this woman wanted advanced tickets but didn't like the price, then wanted a different route, I was starting to get a little annoyed. Thankfully I saw the sign that said they had installed an automatic ticket machine woop!! So got ticket, sat down on bench, put BG on lap, put down buggy, removed my jacket as I was boiling from all the running around and laid it over my bag.

The train arrived and a very nice lady helped me with buggy, we found a seat and sat down, I put my bag on the seat next to me and my jacket was missing, I jumped up and looked out of the window and there it was on the floor under the bench!! It had slipped off my bag, the train hadn't left yet so I ran to the door (BG still in my arms) just as the conductor is closing the doors and has given has signal! I told him what had happened and he told me not too worry

He then had to ring the head office in Derby, who rang the station and they went and got my jacket! So nice of them! I then rang OH to collect it for me as our ticket office closes at 2.30!

The rest of the journey was uneventful, BG wasn't really bothered about the train she just played with her toys. The train journey is only 20 mins so the time went quickly. We arrived and another lovely lady helped me off with the buggy, I got it up, BG in and the rain cover on just in time as it started to rain!

We went and meet my BF and GD and had a lovely afternoon, however it was on the return journey thar it went really wrong!

The rain and been getting heavier and heavier all day, my the time we left the centre and made our way to the train station is what bucketing it down, I also have to point out at this point BG had only a 20 min nap all day and was not in the best of moods. So we were on our way to the station and BG became scared of the rain on her rain cover and started screaming!!

So I'm running to the station in the pouring rain, with a screaming baby trying to sing to her to sooth her. I finally get to the station and our train is on platform 3 which means going across a bridge to get there. Fortunately this is a ramp/bridge to get there, unfortunately you have to go right to the very end of the platform to get there!

So I am now running at the platform, in the rain, with a screaming baby, people are staring, I'm very hot (thankfully had pac a mac in bag)!! I run up the ramp, over the bridge and down the ramp where there is a group of people in my way sheltering from the rain!! They hear BG screaming and move (not without tutting first!)

The train was already at the platform and the train conductor (the nice man from before) points me to the other end where I can push the buggy straight on and park her as they have the flip up/down chairs. However there is a man on one of those chairs (there are 3 of them) so I go pass him , squeeze the buggy in one space, sit on the other chair and try to get BG out without hitting the other people on the train. Now I would like to point out that the train was not full, there where plenty of seats, this man could have moved giving me and BG a bit more space but did he? NO!

I finally get BG out of her buggy and calm her down. Across from us was a couple with their two little girls, who were fascinated by BG, BG liked the attention!

As this is only a 20 min journey it was soon time to ger BG into her buggy, this is were the fun really starts! She starts screaming again, its really raining hard outside so there is no chance of carrying her home. So I get her in the buggy about 5 mins away and try to calm her. Thankfully my daughter likes the boys, the little girls dad starts talking to her and smiling, BG stops crying, starts cooing then falls asleep!!

This lovely couple then proceed to help me off the train, up the stairs, over the bridge and back down the other side! I was so grateful for their help.

At this time the rain was really heavy, there was thunder and lightening and I decided that I didn't really want to walk home, so I went into the supermarket across the road, sat in the Cafe and waited for OH to finish work.

I had to wait an hour 1/2, buy BG her tea and several cups of coffee but I am glad I didn't walk home as when we got home our car park had flooded (which has never happened before) and there was a foot of water!! So so glad I didn't have to push BG through that!

OH had also had a pants day, where he works had been hit by lightening and there was also a leak!

So OH meet us and drove us home, now as I said there was a foot of water in our carpark, but where we park (which is up a little slope was mainly dry) so we drive up (slowly), well our neighbour was just coming out if his front door and as we drove up the water displaced and his feet got wet, at this point I will point that he was wearing Crocs and in his shorts in preparation to go to his car, were he was destined to get wet!

His response to being splashed was "was that necessary?" , now what OH should have said is "Sorry, but it was out of control the water displaced and I drove through the foot of water". What he actually said was "you were going to get anyway"!!!! Argggg bloody men!! That's all a need a war with the neighbours!

Anyway we jump out of the car, I got very wet feet and we were finally home!!

The best things to come out of the day was the fire engine turning up to pump the water, loads of firemen, Yummy!!!

Well that was Friday, I've got the rest of the week to go yet!! So I've decided to tell my story in two parts!

In the second installment you find tales of piggy flu, 1st birthdays and unemployment!! You can't wait can you???

Oh the excitement of my life!

NM X

Monday 20 July 2009

On Hold

We are the poorly house at the moment, I have a kidney infection and BG has the grumps!!

Anyway I will be quite for a few days, when I come back I will tell you all about my nightmare train journey last week!

Right off to watch crappy mini series's and feel sorry for my self

NM X

Saturday 18 July 2009

Just A Quick One



I'm number 71!!! Has made my day

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

NM x

Thursday 16 July 2009

Decisions Have Been Made!!!

This morning I received a letter from work saying that my official leaving date is next Friday! That means I have 8 days then I'm officially unemployed! This will be the first time in 13 years that I will not have a job and to be honest its scares the shit out of me!!

However I have decided to stop worrying myself as I'm making myself ill! I'm not sleeping and I'm getting stress headaches!

I won't be unemployed I will be a Stay at home mummy! I will keep looking for part time work (though to be honest its slim pickings at the mo), I have applied for some jobs just waiting to hear back.

Ideally I would like to be a WAHM and I'm working on some projects including making things from home and plan to have some stock for Christmas to sell (I'm hoping I'm being realistic). Once I have some things made I will show you all and probably send a few things out to be tested!

OH has said that he will help more with BG especially when he is off so I can work on things

I have also decided that I will only do reviews once a month I don't want to take away from what this blog is really about, mine and BG's journey!

Money will be tight but that's fine I have been skint before I know how to budget, Aldi and Lidl are my new best friends!!! Lol

On a happier note BG has started to call me mum!!! She's not just saying its randomly!!! So her first official word is mum!!! Good girl BG

Also her toothy pegs have finally come through!!! Well at the bottom just got the rest of the to go!

Ok off to plan, look for a job and have loads of snuggles with my baby!!

NM X

Monday 13 July 2009

Some Blogger Love!

The week started so well last week then I got ill and was feeling very sorry for myself! However I have decided not to mope and blog about being ill its sooo boring!! I thought this post could pass on some blogger love!



First of all as you can see I been awarded a "Fucking Fabulous" blog award!! This really cheered up, its such a great award (and the swearing makes be feel like a rebel!!). So as with all blog awards there are conditions that go with them, there are three things I must do:


1. Name the fabulous person who gave it to me
2. List my 5 current obsessions
3. Pass on to 5 other blogs

So here I go

The wonderful Dancinfairy at A Place Of My Own gave me this award, please check her blog out its v good and she currently awaiting the birth of her first baby

My 5 current obsessions


1. The Internet - all forms - blogging, twitter, facebook, shopping etc etc

2. The amount of milk BG is drinking, she has cut down as its driving me a bit insane she's not having the recommended amount!

3. Sewing, I have bought a sewing machine and I'm trying to teach myself to sew!

4. Finding a job!! At the end of the month I will be unemployed, the first time in 13yrs!! Very very scary

5. My baby girl

OK here are the blogs I'm passing this award onto






Ok giveaway time the lovely Amy at And One More Means Four and Peggy at Perfectly Happy Mum are both running a giveaway to win a trip to Alton Towers with accommodation for a family of four! So for double the chance to win go to both blogs!!!

Now Peggy has also set a great new blog called A Mother's Secret and is looking for mummies to contribute. Please pop over and have a look is a fab idea I've already sent a post in

And last but not least if you didn't already know, British Mummy Bloggers runs a Blogger Carnival every two weeks, its held by a different blog each week. The most recent carnival was held by Brits In Bosnia why not have a look, loads of great posts (including one of mine!!)

Going forward I will have the most recent carnival in my sidebar.

Right I have passed the love, have a great night

NM X


Wednesday 8 July 2009

My Family

Yesterday I got to meet my gorgeous niece and sister D and my brother finally got to meet BG!

They live in Tamworth and don't drive like me so hadn't managed to come over to see us yet. Anyway we drove up yesterday and spent the day. My little niece is soooo cute and like all new Born's slept the whole time we we're there! It amazing how quickly you forget what new babies are like it seem like years ago that BG was like that and she's only 7 months old!!

I had a lovely long hold of my niece and BG fell in love with my sister straight away! No crying at all, she wasn't bothered, just went straight in her arms. She was also fascinated by the baby and wanted to grab her!

My brother also came over and BG was smitten at first sight and so was he! He played with her for ages giving her hugs and kisses then he held Baby and was completely smitten with her as well it was soo sweet and we have loads of cute pictures. I've never seen him like that.

We also spent the weekend with my other sister (sister V), who for someone who says they don't have the patience for children is besotted with BG (and who is v jealous I got to see the new baby).

BG has spent the last few days being hugged, kisses and completely spoilt by her Aunts and Uncle and she loved it and so did I! She has finally meet all my siblings, she just needs to meet OH's now!

And I just need to get all of mine in the same place, me thinks BG's 1st Birthday may be the perfect time!

NM x

Monday 6 July 2009

Review - Annabel Karmel Pasta Stars


Happy Monday! This weeks review is Annabel Karmel's Organic Gluten Free Pasta Stars (which are also free from dairy, egg and wheat!)

So surprise surprise I'm a fan of Annabel Karmel (hey if you got offered the chance to review products from brands you loved you'd jump at the chance!!) I have two of her books and use them to help me plan BG's meals

Anyway we tried this pasta last week, this was the first time BG had had pasta. Now my problem is that I take instructions really seriously and don't use my common sense!

The instructions say to allow 20g per portion per child, so I weighed out 20g which looked like a lot for BG but that's what the instructions say so that's how much I cooked.

So I boiled the water in a saucepan, put in my pasta and left it simmer for 5 mins as per instructions (it does say to adjust cooking time) Now remember this is the first time I've cooked pasta for BG

I checked the pasta and it was soft, however this is were it goes wrong because I didn't have my Mummy head on so the pasta was soft for me but not quite BF soft (Duhh)

I decided even though Annabel Karmel does have some yummy recipes for pasta sauce that I would just add the pasta to some of her favourite veg purree so not to overload with too many new tastes and textures

Can you already see where this is going? So I cooked far too much pasta and it wasn't quite soft enough! BG just spat the pieces of pasta at me!! disaster so I got her something else to eat!

I tried the pasta again today for lunch, this time a did a smaller portion for BG and made sure it was super soft and she loved it especially now her bottom teeth have finally cut through (yay!!)

So my advice would be when buying this pasta is to use adjust your portion size depending on your child (not like me and cook too much)

This pasta is available from Tesco's and Waitrose and is suitable from 7 months, Pasta Shells and Alpabet shapes are also available

Would I buy this pasta, yes! You can get 12 meals from a bag (more if you are doing smaller portions like me) f

Next time I cook the pasta I will be trying one of Annabel pasta sauce recipes which you can find here

OK off to deal with screaming BG she's dropped purple hippo!

NM x

Thursday 2 July 2009

Welcome To The World!

Last night at 6.10pm after 22 hours my gorgeous niece Brooke was born!!

My baby sister has a baby OMG!!! I'm finally an Auntie

I can't wait to meet her and introduce BG to her little niece!

That's it!

I'm away at sister's 1 for the weekend

Be good!

NM x

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Evil Mummy

My daughter has a scream that she saves for special occasions and if anyone heard it they would think I was ripping her limbs off!!

I call it her Evil Mummy scream, she uses it when I’m doing something she doesn’t like, for example putting her in her cot for a nap, how dare I not let her fall asleep on me and stay there for an hour!!

Other times she uses that scream include:-

Wiping food from her face and hands ( If you want to help me feed you, you have to let me clean you!!)

Putting sunscreen on (Sorry Mummy will not let you burn)

Putting a hat on her when we go out (I know I’m evil baby, I should just let you freeze/burn!)

Wiping her snotty, bogger filled nose (No Mummy I’m saving them for Ron)

As you can see I’m an Evil Mummy or you would do if you heard that scream!!

BG does get her own back on me!! When’s she’s done a really smelly poo she smiles at me when I’m changing her. She has that look on her face to say “Ha, you have to change my pooey bum ha ha ha”

Evil Baby!!!

NM X

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