Tuesday 21 July 2015

School Holidays Are Here!!

How has this happened??

It`s end of term and the end of Jacob`s reception year in first school. It feels like only yesterday that he was having his graduation party from nursery and excited with the prospect of going to `big boy` school.

He has grown and matured so much I hardly recognise my quiet and shy little boy; he is now a confident and bright little boy who has a thirst for knowledge and is always looking for ways to learn something new.

It is scary as to how quickly this last school year has gone.

Thankfully we now have the 6 weeks holidays to have fun and make some great memories before the school year starts all over again.

The picture below show just how much Jacob has changed...I think he`s grown about 2 inches!!!!

What are your plans for this summer??



Wednesday 15 July 2015

Mi Local - The New and Updated Version

Last year I reviewed a great new FREE app called Mi Local For Mums. An essential parenting app which helps you find classes and activities local to you that are relevant to the age of your child/children. Check out my first review HERE.

Available on ANDROIDIPHONE and WINDOWS platforms there is no excuse not to have this app in your life!!

I have been using the app for the last year and have loved it so was intrigued when I heard that there was a new and updated version being released.


So what has changed??

The whole app has a fresh new look to it with the addition of 2 great new features - `Ratings and Reviews` and `Special Offers and Discounts`. Allowing you to review each activity as you do them so making it a better experience for the next mum to use it.

Each page has been changed to be easier to read and gives you all the information you need with no fuss.

I am liking the new bright coloured sections which make it a lot easier to navigate around the app.


The app shows you what activities are on in your specified area from your postcode. Choose from the huge list of activities listed; here are some of the categories to choose from -


  • Clubs and classes
  • Parent and Toddler groups
  • Nurseries
  • Indoor and Outdoor Play Centres
  • Classes for Mums
  • School Holiday Activities 
  • Attractions, Places of Interest and Days Out
Also another feature that I have noticed is the yellow button on the home page of the activity, which when pressed the activity provider will contact you for a natter.

The app covers over 7,000 different activities around the country. If you cant find any in your area why not give Tessa a message at tessa@milocal.info to see what they can do. 

Alternatively if you have a business that you would like to have listed on Mi Local give the team a shout on the email above or register your activity on the Mi Local website under the CONTACT section of the website.

There have been some technical problems with the previous versions which Tessa and Charles have been tirelessly working to resolve but inevitably there are problems with any app. If you do find a problem when using your app please feel free to contact the guys at tess@milocal.info and they will try sort it for you.

If you have children then this is a MUST HAVE app....it FREE and it works xxx

Sunday 12 July 2015

Book Review - Be A Happier Parent With NLP

A few weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to review a new book from the author Judy Bartkowick called Be A Happier Parent With NLP.


To tell you the truth I jumped at the chance!! All 3 boys seem to be going through a phase of testing the limits in their own individual way and I have been feeling frazzled and worn-out for a while with none of my methods seeming to make any difference at all.

To begin with I was very sceptical as to how a book could change the way you parent your children. We all think that we are doing it the right way..am I right??

Now I hear you asking what does NLP stand for?? Well NLP stands for Neuro Linguistic Programming. "Neuro" is what we think; "Linguistic" is what we communicate verbally and non-verbally; and "Programming" is how we process the communications and experiences we have.

NLP is ideal for working with children to help develop their confidence, internal referencing and communication skills. It shows you how you can show your children how to use these tools in everyday life to become happier and ease their passage through life.

The book helps you identify situations in everyday life that could be a trigger for stress or confrontation and teaches you how to approach the situation differently and so have a better outcome. You are taught to see the good in every situation and take that good and project it onto your child. Also you are advised to say different words as some words are limiting.

Instead of saying to your child never, should, can`t, must and should, you change them to a positive. So for example if you normally say "You should wash your hands before eating" you can change it to "Lets go and wash your hands before tea because they are dirty", same request just put differently.

The book is divided into many chapters...to many to list here but it breaks down NLP into easy, manageable sections for you to read.

I have really enjoyed reading this book and have taken a lot from it, I admit that I wont be sticking to it 100% but I`d say 90% of the time!! I have definitely seen a difference in the boys since using this book and would highly recommend it to any parent friends.

Below is some more info on the author and where to grab your copy of Be A Happier Parent With NLP.

Judy Bartkowiak is the author of ‘Be a happier parent with NLP’ a guide to using life coaching skills to enhance your parenting. Judy and her husband Edward have four children – Lucy, Alex, Jess and Paul and live in rural Berkshire with their dogs Roxy and Holly and nine hens. Other NLP Family (www.nlpfamily.com) titles are:

Workbooks
NLP for Parents
NLP for Children (5-10yrs)
NLP for Tweens (11-14yrs)
NLP for Teens (15yrs+)
NLP for Teachers
NLP for New Mums
NLP for Weight Loss
NLP for Work
NLP for Back to Work

Self-Esteem Workbook
NLP Workbook
Secrets of the NLP Masters

Judy Bartkowiak comes from a business background where she worked with Toy companies and TV production companies helping them to understand children and their relationship with brands such as LEGO, Baby Born, Bratz, Thomas the Tank Engine, Pocoyo, Fireman Sam and many other well-known names. She runs Kids Brands Europe alongside her NLP training and coaching www.kidsresearch.co.uk and has a Facebook Kids Panel for Market Research which is done online or from her home.

She has an NLP training and coaching practice NLP Kids www.nlpfamily.com, specialising in child and parenting issues and runs Kids Brands Europe (www.kidsresearch.co.uk) as well as writing for children as JudyBee.

Judy loves playing tennis and reading as well as spending time with her family.

Email Judy judy@nlpkids.com for your FREE mini book ‘Be a happier parent with NLP’ and apply code ‘Blog’ to get 10% discount off Judy’s books  at www.nlpandkidsbooks.com 



Wednesday 8 July 2015

Mum`s School Diary Review

For the last few years I have been an independent trader for a stationery company supplying diaries, organisers and calenders to help busy mums become more organised. The company ceased trading to its independent traders last year so I have been on the look out for a new product.

Mum`s Office to the rescue!!!

Mum`s Office offer a massive range of diaries and planners to help keep busy families organised and up-to-date with each others busy lifestyles.

Each product is designed to help minimise the stress of daily life by allowing easy viability of the day, week or month ahead`s schedule in one place.

All the diaries and planners are printed in Mum`s Office signature pink (except the Dad`s To Do list!!) and come in lovely pastel or bold colours, suiting every style and taste, with lush snake skin detailing. I am lucky enough to of been sent a Mum`s School Year Diary in Sea Green...I love the cover, I keep stroking it!!!!


The diaries and planners comes in either an academic -13 month, or calendar format. With the boys I prefer the academic format so I can see the whole school year in one hit rather than having it split over two standard year diaries.

The layout of the products are great with easy to navigate information sections at the front including -

  • your personal details
  • individual children`s info
  • pocket money records
  • dates to remember
  • notable dates
  • need to know dates
  • friends numbers (in case you loose your mobile!)
  • month to view pages
  • travel plans section

Then you have the diary section, each double page is split into two. The left side is all for you to list your activities and plans for the week and the right side is for the other members of your family with 4 columns, one for each person.

I personally love this diary and even though it doesn`t start for a few more weeks I have already started entering in our plans for the summer holidays as I need to be on top of things with the 3 boys, their never ending parties and play dates!!! And with a RRP of £14.95 it is definitely worth it!! xxx

I was supplied this diary free of charge in exchange for an honest review.