The right shoes for a three year old boy. *Wedding prep #HardingsBlessing2015

 

Who'd have thought finding cute toddler boys shoes would be so damn hard? 

I knew where to buy Emilyn's shoes from; (Monsoon) I blogged here.

But finding Hugo's smart shoes felt a near impossibility. 

Until I looked in the last place. Mothercare. Hurrah. Mothercare you saved the day.

Little Bird clothing by Jools Oliver I love her stuff so much. 

We wanted Hugo's shoes to look similar to his Daddies for the wedding blessing. 

I think these Little Bird Brown desert boots look perfect.

These cute little boots are only £16 too. Such a fabulous price.

Little Bird Brown Desert Boots

 A few days to go now till the wedding blessing. Whoo!!

Eggs and pregnancy

With the do's & don'ts being so varied when your pregnant, It's so easy to be confused by the right or wrong myth or study here & there. It's a minefield with everything. I know I'm not pregnant at the moment but having had two babies & in discussion about a third. Yes I know I'm crazy. Lets get the wedding blessing over & done with first shall we? 

The foods I *think pregnant people can't eat are as follows :

Mouldy cheeses 
You know like brie & soft cheese I think camembert is one to avoid (mouths watering at the thought of 9 months without camembert & fresh bread)

Pâté
How awful, pâté is a firm favourite of mine.

Meat
raw or undercooked meat, yay something I don't like I can't deal with blood in my meat.

Liver
Similar to the pâté, luckily I don't like liver either. 

Fish
Some fish is a no no, I remember Tuna needs to be kept minimal.

Alcohol & caffeine  - they're easy ones to remember. 

Eggs 
Or so I thought. until I done my own research in to it. Thank goodness for British Lion Eggs.

Eggs & pregnancy Well I just craved them. If only I had known then that British Lion Eggs were OK to eat, with evidence emerging that if pregnant women & babies eat eggs in the weaning stages there may be less likely to have allergic reactions to eggs in the future.

All British Lion hens are vaccinated to ensure that their eggs do not contain the salmonella bacteria, this effectively eliminating the risks for anyone consuming Lion Eggs.

Source

Surprise Hen party #Hardingsblessing2015

I'm feeling a little bit more human now, after spending all day in bed. *Hands over face* 

The hangover is never something to be proud of, however the last time I was hungover was on my honeymoon 4 years ago. I'm not a drinker, I never drink. Probably explains why after just half a glass of wine last night I was feeling the alcohol effects. 

So my absolutely amazing friends treated me to a complete surprise hen party. 

For the past few months I've been totally left in the dark about what was going to happen on the 28th February. I had absolutely no idea even where we were going to go. 

All day I had butterflies flipping around in my tummy. 

All I was told is was to be dressed up & don't eat too much before we go out. 

The next thing I hear is a knock at the door, an old friend who also runs a taxi company had come to collect me & one if my friends. 

We got dropped off in our local town to be greeted by a group of my best girls. 

We started our night in Wabi with drinks, lots of drinks. 

Then had a reservation at 7:30 at Bills restaurant amazing food. 

I've not laughed so much in ages, ages & ages. 

All the girls got on with each other so well. 

We ended up in a bar called Mungo's it was quite small but we managed to get a table outside & with the outside heaters it was quite nice sat outside. 

tequila tequila drink....

We had an amazing night the girls planned everything perfectly. 

We got home at quite a decent hour 12:30am & I went straight to bed & passed out fully dressed & a full face of make up. I've now currently stayed in bed pretty much all day. 

Perfect. 

This time next week we will be walking down the isle & then saying "we will"

So excited. 

Choccywoccydoodah Cake. Wedding Prep #HardingsBlessing2015

After our wedding blessing we are having a vintage tea party, so we didn't really need another cake.

However, have you ever seen the Choccywoccydoodah Cakes? 

They are amazing. 

Based in Brighton so they're close to us.

We ordered the cake a few weeks ago. I was so excited it all suddenly felt so real. 

When we originally got married I never had a cake. So this is why I feel like I need a cake. Something special to cut in front of the guests; or not cut it may be the case because its too beautiful. 

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

choccywoccydoodah

I can't wait to go to collect it next week. 

choccywoccydoodah

Remembering why I blog. Talipes, He asked for his boots and bar on.

Boots and bar 

I think sometimes, I lose track on why I blog. It's simple really, I started my blog to help spread Talipes awareness. Since then though I know I've lost track. I know I've picked up other blog habits other blog trends. But I feel I can't just blog 100% about talipes. You guys don't want to read depressing posts day in & day out. I have shared my passion of Upcycling, Buggies, shabby chic, interior design & my life with you. How my children astound me daily by them growing & developing. I love to share with you how well speech therapy is going for both smalls. & how Emilyn loves getting new glasses. I love fashion & shoes. I love sharing our life with you.
I do also love looking back at their life, Emilyn going through potty training, Hugo going through potty training. Its lovely to have my online diary.

This blog was primarily to tell you about Talipes.
However I do love how it's grown & it's turned into me, it's Busybeemummybex.Blogspot.

Yesterday we had a small victory. Hugo had spent the night crying like usual about his boots and bar, We got him dressed & then he asked for his boots and bar on. He asked for them on! No fighting & they were on, amazing!! It's days like today I love blogging. I love sharing happy posts with you.

Pretty In Pink (And Gold)! New Wedding and Party Products

Just married

We all need a bit of glitter in our lives and now we have it with these gorgeous new pastel pink and sparkling gold wedding and party decorations.  These pretties and more will be arriving at Hampton Blue this week and will be live on the website from Monday 2nd March at the latest.  Bunting, paper fans, gold dipped feathers, glittery luggage tags and more. 

They have a beautiful wedding collection 

Sweet favours perfect for a shabby chic Wedding Less than two weeks to go :

With under 2 weeks to go. Yep you read that correctly I'm on the home stretch! 

Less than 2 weeks to go. The panic is setting in. 

The Oh.My.Goodness I need to do one hundred million things!! 

So this week I've been finishing the table sweet favours for the guests. 

With around 80 guests for the church & vintage tea party I've got my hands full this week. 

The last finishing touches. The cute stickers on each jar, the pretty fabric used on each top & the lace to go round the jar. 

Filled inside with marshmallows & heart sweets. 

Love definitely is sweet.

You can check out my 7 week countdown ...

Zebra Pen Giveaway #lovestationery #getbritainwriting

With national stationery week coming up, we're getting ready by giving away 8 fabulous Zebra pens

I recently blogged all about just how important it is to me to #getbritainwriting again.

Giveaway starts today 24/02/15 - 18/03/15
UK entrants only please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A perfect gift from Ringtons this Mother’s Day

There’s nothing better than a bit of R&R with a good cup of tea or coffee so this Mother’s Day (15^th March) why not treat your mum to her favourite cuppa and some much deserved down-time with  a stylish and thoughtful gift from British tea and coffee merchant Ringtons?

Ringtons’ exclusive new online gift range has something to suit every taste, so whether your mother prefers ‘a proper British cuppa’ and a sweet treat, or they love coffee and gadgets, or they are a health fan and favour herbal infusions then Ringtons has something to suit them.

 

Not only are the gifts beautifully presented but they also contain the finest quality teas, coffees and infusions as well as delicious sweet treats and home accessories – guaranteed to suit any taste and budget.  Available exclusively from Ringtons’ online store at www.ringtons.co.uk or via a customer care team on 0800 052 2440, there’s even FREE DELIVERY on all orders.

On The Go Loose Tea Gift Box • £19.99

On The Go Loose Tea Gift Box • £19.99

For busy mums out there (all of them then!) Ringtons’ On The Go Loose Tea Gift is the ideal choice.  The attractive double-walled glass cup has a removable filter and lid which keeps the tea warm but the cup never gets too hot to handle! Also includes a handy scoop and three 50g taster packs of Ringtons’ speciality Signature teas which have been sourced by a team of master tasters from around the world.  Choose your team from Assam, Orange Spice and English Breakfast included. This gift also comes in a luxury two-piece gift box.  

Luxury Coffee Expert Gift Box • £59.99

This Luxury Coffee Expert Gift Box is the ultimate find for a mum who knows everything there is to know about coffee. 

The rich Ringtons Signature Fortissimo and Dark Roast beans, can be used to create your perfect coffee using the traditional turn-handle grinder and a beautiful six-cup stove top espresso maker.  Finally to finish off your coffee serve it in the two espresso cups included. 

Luxury Ladies Tea Gift Box • £37.50

If your mum loves nothing more than a good catch up with friends and family over a cuppa this gift box could be the ideal choice for them.

Enjoy a cup of Ringtons premier Kenyan Gold tea in the beautiful blue floral chintz fine bone china cups and saucers while indulging in a piece of the delicious Ringtons Ginger Cake, bar of Beech’s White Chocolate (60g), Beech’s Milk Chocolate (60g) or tea party design chocolates.

It all comes beautifully presented in a Ringtons luxury two-piece gift box and is guaranteed to be a hit on Mother’s Day.

Clean Living Loose Tea Gift Box £39.99
This Clean Living Loose Tea Gift Set has been specially put together for the modern tea-drinking mum who is health-conscious and interested in well-being. Contains a funky lime green ceramic loose teapot and a glass mug.

Ringtons’ Master Tea Tasters have hand-picked a selection of green teas (which have many health-boosting properties) plus the naturally decaffeinated herb infusion Roobios (sometimes known as Redbush) for this health-boosting set. Includes 125g China Green Sencha, 125g Green Dragon, 125g Jasmine Green Tea, 125g Pure Organic Roobios. Comes in a card presentation tray.

Luxury Great British tea fuser gift box • £22.99

This exclusive gift box is ideal for mums who love nothing more than a good cuppa!  The stylish set includes three of Ringtons speciality Signature loose teas – Afternoon blend, English Breakfast and Classic 1907 – and a Ringtons tea infuser to help prepare and bring out the full flavour of the expertly-sought Signature teas.  Three further samples are included so your mum’s can enjoy even more of this range

Chocoholics Gift Box • £17.99

For chocoholic mums out there, Ringtons’ Chocoholics Gift Box is bursting with treats! This affordable and indulgent gift is guaranteed to achieve any chocolate fix, and if you’re lucky your mum might even give you a biscuit or two! Delicious Ringtons goodies include Chocolate Caramel Wafers, Chocolate Brazil Biscuits, Triple Chocolate Biscuits and Hot Chocolate drink. This gift also includes a box of Whittaker’s Orange Crèmes. This set is a lovely indulgent treat.  It also comes in a luxury two-piece gift box.    

43 Questions for Hugo

Age 3 years & 1 month old.

1. If you could live in a house shaped like anything, what shape would it be?
a circle like a football

2. What do you think is in outer space?
a House is on the moon

3. What is your favourite colour?
Blue

4. Where is the most wonderful place you've ever been?
London & in an Aeroplane

5. What are you good at?
Fixing cars

6. What's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?
I love you

7. What are you most proud of?
Footballs

8. If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
Play football

9. What is the worst smell in the world?
EEEEWWWWWWWWW POOOOO!!!

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?
 BIG

11. What makes you cry?
When I play babies I cry like a baby

12. Where do babies come from?
in tummy, my mummies tummy

13. What are you scared of?
Monsters

14. If you could, what two animals would you combine?
A horsey & a robot  

15. Who is your hero?
My mummy.

16. What is your favourite song?
Toy story 'You've got a friend in me'

17. What is a friend?
a friend holds my hand & plays cars with me

18. What is your favourite memory?
Swimming on holiday

19. If you could, what type of animal would you be?
a horsey

20. Who is your best friend?
Big Jack

21. What is your favourite thing to do with family?
I love to go to the farm

22. What is the most important rule?
no hurting my friends 

23. If you had a million pounds, what would you spend it on?
 A fast car!!!

24. Why do people get old?
Because they die.

25. What is love?
Love is my big sister Eah. (Emilyn)

26. If you had super powers, what would they be?
I want to be spiderman

27. What's the best thing about being a child?
Playing football when I want to

28. What makes you happy when you're sad?
Cars.

29. Do you have a favourite number?
8,9,10

30. What is something that you don't understand about grown ups?
Grown ups are confusing

31. What do you think is the most important thing in your house?
my cars.

32. What is your favourite word?
food

33. If you had your own country, what would it be called?
cars

34. What do you dream about when you sleep?
Monsters & spiders

35. If you were in a band, what instrument would you play?
a Keyboard

36. What 3 words would you use to describe our family?
Crazy, fun, silly,

37. What's something you'd like to learn how to do?
ride my bike without stabilisers like Eah

38. If you had to give away all of your toys but one, which one would you keep?
my fast car 

39. What do you think Heaven is like?
I don't know, a bit like church ?

40. What is something that you're thankful for?
Food and fast cars

41. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to do?
wear my boots and bar. 

42. Do you think that telling the truth is always right, even if it hurts someone's feelings?
yes, I always tell the truth

43. What's the greatest thing about being you?
How much I love cars.
  

Turkish luxury now delightfully simple for families with under-fives‏

Tots to travel

Families with children under five who have struggled to find a luxury tot-friendly resort in Turkey are now in luck, thanks to award-winning baby-and toddler-friendly holiday company, Tots To Travel.

Working in partnership with five-star multi award-winning Hillside Beachclub in Fethiye, Tots to Travel has expanded its exceptional villa and resort portfolio into Turkey for the very first time. 

Using their expertise in creating tailored family holidays, Tots to Travel has helped create a range of extra benefits at this beautiful resort designed to make travelling with little ones a joy. 

Because safety and luxury can go hand-in-hand, the family-friendly company has selected only the most appropriate accommodation best suited to very young children: balconies, access, window security will all have been checked in person. Rooms are carefully chosen so that there is a separate living space allowing adults to unwind when the kids have gone to bed. 

To save on parents’ much needed luggage allowance and reduce the stress of packing, Tots to Travel’s Essential Kit Guarantee has been introduced. This ensures all key baby provisions – from Blackout blinds to cots, hand blender to high chair – is provided on site. A Tots Toy Hamper has been added into all rooms, filled with age-appropriate toys for the under-fives. 

Wendy Shand, Founder of Tots To Travel said: ‘We’re thrilled to extend our portfolio out to Turkey, at such a stunning and popular destination that offers the height of luxury. Our aim, as with all our villas and resorts, is to take as many of the stresses away from parents when going on holiday while not compromising on quality. This enables families peace of mind so they can relax and enjoy time together and takes the pressure off pre-holiday packing: so much of what you would normally take is already waiting for you!’

Hillside Beach Club has long been a favourite destination with families who have younger children over four. The choice of room type, range of restaurants, pools, three private beaches, spa and wellness centre - even a floating cinema and a kids club - have made it a clear choice for families year after year. Wendy continues:‘we are the only company that have designed this offering at Hillside Beach Club for our youngest customers, at no extra cost. We know it’s going to be popular!’ 

Tots To Travel will be featuring three room types at Hillside Beach Club. The Hillside Family Suite with Terrace, which sleeps four in two bedrooms, plus one infant in a cot, starts at £1842pw. The Hillside Family Room with Terrace sleeps two in one bedroom, plus an infant in a cot, starts at £1474pw. The Hillside Family Room sleeps two in one bedroom, plus an infant in a cot and starts at £1474pw. All prices are on a full-board basis. Flights are not included.

To book Hillside Beach Club, or any of the five-star resorts and villas in the Tots To Travel collection, visit: www.totstotravel.co.uk. Or call the team of family travel experts on: 0800 014 2770. 

Keeping Your Kitchen Clutter-Free

Kids and adults alike love niche, but arguably useless, kitchenware. It's all too easy to be tempted by that half-price espresso machine, or to be bullied into buying a popcorn maker in the discount store by a pleading little one. 

Are strange shapes jamming your utensil drawer shut, and dusty appliances filling the cupboards? How do you prioritise   and organise, but keep your kids interested in the kitchen? It may be time to have an honest (but child-friendly) declutter. Here’s how: 

Assess your mess 

It's a good time to think about whether all those odd items that are supposed to make your life easier are actually making it harder. Do you really need that specialised boiled egg net, or would the pasta spoon do? That's one less utensil tangling with the cheese-grater. Take a look at Cleanipedia for tips on how to declutter this spring.   

Multi-tasking tools 

When it comes to buying kitchenware, for yourself or for the family, try to limit yourself to multi-function items – the costs should even out. For example, rather than buying a pod-based espresso machine, a filter coffee maker, and a milk frother separately, save your money and buy one decent coffee machine that does all three. Your kitchen counter and purse will thank you. 

Keep things simple 

When it comes to kids’ kitchen products and fads – if, for example, the TV adverts and peer pressure can't be avoided – make a point of spending a little more on a decent product that everyone can enjoy. Buying something too difficult to use will see it sitting in a cupboard for ten years until you finally declutter and send it to the car boot sale for the crowds to coo nostalgically over: “I had one of these, it never worked!” 

Do your research 

Of course, getting kids interested and involved in cooking and eating is very important, and a fun kitchen gadget can be a great way to get them started. Some appliances, such as dehydrators, are great for making healthy snacks, and interesting for small children to play around with too. Try dehydrating different fruits and vegetables. Products actually aimed at children need not be one-hit wonders either. The key is to research, and be realistic.  

Kitchen

Mix things up 

If your problem is a lack of interest, perhaps you'd like to try “Smoothie Sunday” - each week your little ones choose the fruit they want in their Sunday smoothie, and they get it for breakfast in the morning. Appliances like smoothie makers and juicers need to be integrated into your day to day routine to become worthwhile, so try making it a fun family tradition – and don't be afraid to let the kids experiment. The health benefits are a welcome side effect! 

Seasonal swaps 

Seasonal appliances need not be a waste of money either. If your little ones really can't live without a slushie machine this summer, take the time to research what's on the market, and plan where it's going to be stored over winter. At the end of the day, a good-quality, kid-friendly kitchen gadget can provide years of fun and learning. Just make sure you declutter to provide cupboard space first, swapping your old gadgets for those shiny new ones. Always remember that someone else might sorely appreciate your unwanted popcorn machine – there's no reason for it to take up needed space in your kitchen, unused, when you could do another family a good turn by passing it on!