Nursery Trader’s Bump to Toddler competition runs just three times a year and is the biggest competition of its kind in the children’s industry. It is supported by companies both large and small and offers the winner the opportunity to win over £6k worth of baby and toddler gear – everything from baby carriers to pushchairs, changing bags to toddler suitcases, nappies to clothing vouchers and much more. There really is something for everyone.
The latest competition is close to my heart, featuring cloth nappies from Fuzzibunz and slings from Beco and Moby. I think my favourite prize would have to be the Beco doll carrier, perfect for roleplaying little ones! It runs throughout the month of October and closes at 23:59 on 31st October – the winner is drawn on 1st November – an amazing early Christmas present for someone!
Note: UK entries only, winners will be notified by email within 24 hours of competition closing, NT is responsible for actioning prize passes and there is no cash alternative.
Silent Sunday after the Saturday that wasn’t silent…
I need words for Silent Sunday this week, this photo was taken yesterday, would you believe just five minutes before this we experienced a mammoth toddler tantrum, the first really really big one outside the home?
Hmm, let’s see, I look a little flushed from the embarrassment and Mr B is keeping a close eye on the situation, but Joss, like nothing had happened, “nothing to see here folks! Just a baby enjoying icecream…”
You know that saying, my child is not giving me a hard time, my child is having a hard time? Yeah, that! Except Joss wasn’t having a hard time anymore and had a bear wafer.
I think we handled it well anyway, if a bit embarrassed it was over before it started and we all had some ice cream to cool off!
There and back again…featured in the HIBS100 Gallery
How lovely to see my post about our winter lighting featured in the HIBS100 Gallery tonight!
Babywearing spot in Prima Baby!
Here we are with a wee piece in Prima Baby and Pregnancy doing our bit for promoting babywearing!
I can’t recommend the sling libraries highly enough, they’re brilliant for support, advice, testing before you buy and provide a lovely support network for local parents!
Arts and Crafts at The Laing Art Gallery
Small Steps Amazing Achievements – Animals!
A short photo post this week, Joss is wanting to walk more and more and it was so sweet to take her to see the animals at the Farm at the end of our street this week, we go all the time, but as she’s gaining confidence I’m learning to let her look and touch and not be so worried about her getting hurt or falling over!
Hello bunnies!
Allow me to shine a light on your darkness! My experience of SAD or low winter mood
Joss and I popped out last night at 6:30, we went to the shops and came back at 7pm and our walk back looked like this (but less fuzzy, you try pushing a pram full of shopping and taking a photo!):
And yesterday, a dull and grey day, was like this:
Most people find it harder to get going in the winter, the days get shorter, as does the hours of sunlight and whether its the lack of melatonin/seratonin or the body’s circadian rhythm (your body uses the sun to time various important biological processes, including your mood, sleep, appetite, digestion and energy levels) it can leave us all feeling a bit, well, blah.
A few years ago I started to notice a pattern and so did my GP, during the winter I’d suffer from low mood and irritability, oversleeping and finding it hard to get started for the day. I have tried lots of things to combat this, lots of healthy food and getting out for walks during the day makes a difference, I love a crisp walk in the snow because of how the light reflects, but nothing has had as much of an impact as my lightbox. I pop it on for a few hours a day, it took some time to get used to it, not least of all because I have to avoid mirrors when it is in the room as it’s not a terribly flattering light, but the strong lights mimic that of the summer sun and for me it has made a difference to my mood. I get it out of the cupboard in October and it stays here until February. The blog post title is something Mr B says to me when I’ve forgotten to use the light for a day or two, I do sometimes need a reminder, but I now pop it on whilst blogging, doing uni work or cleaning the kitchen so it’s become a bit of a habit. My GP is sympathetic, he likened the dip in mood to hibernation, that humans too have a desire to hole up for winter, and some would rather just bed down and sleep through it until the sun comes out again. Well, as my work and family life is about more than just gathering nuts to see us through the frost that’s not really an option, so a sunlamp, mince and dumplings and hot toddy might have to just do!
So here’s a bit more light after a bit of a grey post, my bright eyed girl in her winter scarf, I do like to wrap up warm, winter woolens, wellies and walks are a great boost alongside the sunlamp!
Do you have any tips for getting through the long dull days?
What’s the story?
Joss in her winter woolens, this week’s Story features two photos and one cardigan one year on almost to the day! In some ways I look at the two pics side by side and Joss has grown loads, in others she’s kept that same wide eyed babyishness!
Silent Sunday
My handmade Boston Tweed Handbag Part 2
I went back to finish my bag making course today, it was hard work! It was actually really tiring doing a 10 – 4 class, more tiring than a day with a toddler, a work or uni day, and that was really surprising as I normally find craft really relaxing, but this nearly finished me off!
I am utterly delighted with the results though, this tweed fabric colourway is perfect for with my winter parka and really retro which is just right up my street! I like the simple leather straps, they were the hardest part to do actually, I really struggled with the rivets but got there in the end, it also has rivet feet and a hard plastic base to give it a good solid shape.
I am a massive fan of the doctor bag, I like a structured handbag so when the instructor said we’d be using a frame I was really pleased. It’s a little different to what I thought I had signed up for, I imagined an introduction course being about basic sewing, a tote or shopper perhaps, but I’m over the moon with this!
