So this is where I'm at. I'm off to New York on Wednesday morning and I have 24 hours to cram in as much of New York as possible before BlogHer begins.
I've never been to New York and whilst I'm sad that Yan won't be with me I'm really excited about experiencing it for the first time.
When I started to think about it this morning I started to panic... a lot... so much to see, so many places that I want to visit but I have to make the best possible use of my time and I am really begging for you assistance.
I'm staying on the Avenue of Americas. So that's my base point. What are the absolute must go places - how far away are they from my hotel and where the hell am I going to find a shop with Blythe dolls?
All assistance gratefully received.
Tuesday 27 July 2010
Monday 26 July 2010
The Gallery..... Nature
Another great theme from Tara for this week's The Gallery and a Green & Blacks hamper of goodies for the winning post.... what more could anyone ask for?
Nature - The dead tree
I love trees. I love taking photographs of trees and I have been saying for months that the tree in our front garden is dying.... it seems I was right.
Nature - The dead tree
I love trees. I love taking photographs of trees and I have been saying for months that the tree in our front garden is dying.... it seems I was right.
Press request Boots Health & Fitness mag
What's been your favourite Christmas gift?
Boots Health & Beauty magazine would love to hear from women aboutChristmas gifts they've received in the past and why they liked them so much. Maybe you got given a perfume from your
partner that makes you think of special times with him every time you smell it? Perhaps your favourite present was a beloved first toy when you were really little? Or maybe it was the straightners that your
friend gave you that rid you of bad hair days forever! Sentimental, funny, or just sweet - all stories are welcome!
Please email jessicapowell (dot) freelance (at)gmail (dot) com with a bit about your favourite Christmas present and why you loved it. Please include a phone number.
NB. We would especially like to focus on the kinds of gifts that are stocked in Boots (make up, pampering products, perfume, cameras, electronic products, toys, kids clothes, fitness equipment etc)
although it doesn't actually have to have been bought at Boots.
Boots Health & Beauty magazine would love to hear from women aboutChristmas gifts they've received in the past and why they liked them so much. Maybe you got given a perfume from your
partner that makes you think of special times with him every time you smell it? Perhaps your favourite present was a beloved first toy when you were really little? Or maybe it was the straightners that your
friend gave you that rid you of bad hair days forever! Sentimental, funny, or just sweet - all stories are welcome!
Please email jessicapowell (dot) freelance (at)gmail (dot) com with a bit about your favourite Christmas present and why you loved it. Please include a phone number.
NB. We would especially like to focus on the kinds of gifts that are stocked in Boots (make up, pampering products, perfume, cameras, electronic products, toys, kids clothes, fitness equipment etc)
although it doesn't actually have to have been bought at Boots.
Hot product alert
I think that everyone knows that I LOVE working with Stokke. I'm a Stokke mum through and through and had already bought into their philosophy before I started working for them seven years ago.
I love being one of the first to know about exciting new products and I'm really proud of Stokke Lovers, the online community that I have created for other Stokke obsessed parents.
So hot on the heels of the super sexy new 2010 Xplory and iziSleep car seat I have another beautiful addition to share with you....
A new purple Tripp Trapp.
I love it. FACT.
Tripp Trapp is an amazing product. It's so much more than a highchair and due to it's adaptability it can be used by the whole family - and I mean the whole family. FunnyGirls best friend is the daughter of an ex England Rugby player and he is big, but when he comes to my house he sits on Tripp Trapp along with the rest of us!
The new purple Tripp Trapp is available from September.
If you own anything Stokke do join our Facebook page and follow the StokkeLovers blog.
Did you know that each Tripp Trapp is formed from the Tripp Trapp forest of coloured beech trees - each one waiting patiently waiting to be lovingly crafted into the latest addition to your family?!
Friday 23 July 2010
Win 12 months of fun...
Ahh.... the joys of the summer holidays. As I type I hear FunnyGirl slamming a door whilst screaming at her big sister and the twinkling tunes of Pokemon something or other emitting from Sonny's gameboy.
A fabulous fun filled day out is what we all need!
The Sun are running this great competition to win a Merlin Annual Pass that gives you 12 months entry to all of their top attractions.... All you have to do is take a look at the pic below and guess which of Merlins attractions it is....
Leave your answer as a comment to this post and everyone that guesses correctly will be entered into a draw to win the pass.
Simple....
Lego Discovery Centre
Thorpe Park
Chessington World of Adventures
Alton Towers
Warwick Castle
Madame Tussuads
Legoland
This competition is now closed.
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Did you struggle to breastfeed?
Did you struggle to breastfeed?
Mother & Baby magazine is looking to speak to a mum who struggled with
breastfeeding. We'd like to write a diary account of the ups and downs
and difficulties she faced and how she tackled them. Ideally she will
now be breastfeeding successfully. We hope the piece will bring some
valuable advice and tips to other struggling mums.
Ideally your baby will now be around 6 months old.
If you're interested in getting involved or want some more information
please pop me an email or leave a comment and I will pass your details on to the magazine.
Mother & Baby magazine is looking to speak to a mum who struggled with
breastfeeding. We'd like to write a diary account of the ups and downs
and difficulties she faced and how she tackled them. Ideally she will
now be breastfeeding successfully. We hope the piece will bring some
valuable advice and tips to other struggling mums.
Ideally your baby will now be around 6 months old.
If you're interested in getting involved or want some more information
please pop me an email or leave a comment and I will pass your details on to the magazine.
‘Do you suffer from Contender Syndrome?’
‘Do you suffer from Contender Syndrome?’
This is a new trend where women:
Constantly defines herself by what she’s not, and focus on what she hasn’t achieved.
Get depressed by the plethora of amazing deeds everyone else seems to be doing, rather than appreciate her own successes, This is exacerbated by Facebook and social networking sites filled with everyone else’s amazing achievements.
Dream of their big break, when the job, man, family dream all comes together (e.g. the perfect life other people have) rather than seeing how fantastic their life already is.
I am looking for a woman in her thirties who is either still having these feelings or has overcome them. Happy to promote projects / businesses.
If this is you and you.... a journalist from She magazine would like to hear from you. Please pop me an email and I will pass your details on.
This is a new trend where women:
Constantly defines herself by what she’s not, and focus on what she hasn’t achieved.
Get depressed by the plethora of amazing deeds everyone else seems to be doing, rather than appreciate her own successes, This is exacerbated by Facebook and social networking sites filled with everyone else’s amazing achievements.
Dream of their big break, when the job, man, family dream all comes together (e.g. the perfect life other people have) rather than seeing how fantastic their life already is.
I am looking for a woman in her thirties who is either still having these feelings or has overcome them. Happy to promote projects / businesses.
If this is you and you.... a journalist from She magazine would like to hear from you. Please pop me an email and I will pass your details on.
Tuesday 20 July 2010
The Gallery... A Novel Idea
Everyone knows that I am the biggest fan of Tara's weekly Gallery meme. I haven't missed a single week - but this week she had me fair and square. I was flummoxed. So I started trawling through my old images and I found this gem.
People I give you The Famous Five....
In this intriguing new novel the five head to Cornwall for fun, sun, sea, sand and lashings and lashings of ginger beer...
Left to right... Totally Sonny, Me, Yan To, ModelGirl, Funny Girl.
People I give you The Famous Five....
In this intriguing new novel the five head to Cornwall for fun, sun, sea, sand and lashings and lashings of ginger beer...
Monday 19 July 2010
When is the right age to let your kids out on their own?
It's the first day of the school holidays for us today. I have had my head down working whilst No1 son and his girlfriend look after the little ones but things are stirring. They have been for a few days and I'm not really sure how I feel about the situation or what the right course of action is.
You see Sonny (9) and ModelGirl (8) have been asking to go out together on their bikes for a ride around the village...... without me (or their father).
I know that ModelGirl is sensible. Sonny not so but that's primarily because he has an inability to think about anything other than Pokemon for more than five minutes straight.
We live in a quiet village that isn't a through road to anywhere, but the thought of them being out on their own fills me with dread.
When I was their age I got two busses to school and two busses home again on my own, had my own house key, walked the dog and quite often cooked for myself if my parents were late home. I have an older sister who was 'supposed' to take care of me but I think she missed that direction and I was pretty much left to my own devices.
My summer's were spent roaming fields, playing with horses, feeding stale bread to the ducks and stream jumping. It all sounds very idyllic now and it would have been if I'd had someone to share it with.
My children on the other hand don't get to venture further than the garden gate without full adult supervision.
I tested my own boundries yesterday by allowing them to walk the dog to the conker tree and back but then it dawned on me that they didn't have a watch and I hadn't specified how long they were allowed to be out.
Are we suffocating our children? Should we give them more freedom? What is the right age to let them out alone?
HELP..........
Thursday 15 July 2010
Chocco Tastic
Never one to turn down the offer of free chocolate I was more than pleased to be offered a preview of the new Wheetabix Chocolate cereal, especially as we are not big on family breakfasts due to the fact that we have all fallen into a pattern of getting up at totally different times.
FunnyGirl - always first to rise (usually at 5 something) heads straight for the kitchen as food is her primary goal in life.
She's followed by Sonny - who is woken by her plate clattering. Thankfully they have fallen into a joint habit of not waking us as soon as they get up but in reality what that means is that we are woken by the first major screaming match of the day as Sonny tries to switch the channel on to Pokemon something or other when Funny Girl is tucking into her xx bowl of cereal.
Yan is next up, then ModelGirl and me are usually dragged forcefully from our slumber. She gets her breakfast and I hit the shower so we never actually sit down for a family breakfast.
The Wheetabix was a surprise for my crew and I was amazed at their excitement and eagerness to tuck in to it.
If you follow my blog you'll already know that I have two very fussy eaters and a third that is all too easily influenced by her older siblings.
They all polished off their first bowl and all asked for a second and I have to say that we are now well into our third box. So thank you Wheetabix for banishing the coco pops and getting a bit of fibre into my children in the morning.
New chocolate Wheetabix £2.59 for 24.
So that was breakfast. Then the post arrived and to my utter delight I received a beautifully packaged bot of chocolate brownies from to try out.
Soft, moist and totally delish your box of Hill Cottage Bakery yumminess (OK so I know that's not a real word) contains twelve chunky squares of brownie delight gift wrapped in a way that I only dream of.
I'm not good at gift wrapping but that's only because I'm busy and getting excited about more exciting things like getting through the next round on Angry Birds... Anyway, that really is another post.
So. If you are looking for an amazing gift at the £15 mark, look no further that Hill Cottage Bakery. No1 son is trying to talk me into a monthly goodie package to uni.... as much as I like the idea - I am thinking he has a long way to go!
FunnyGirl - always first to rise (usually at 5 something) heads straight for the kitchen as food is her primary goal in life.
She's followed by Sonny - who is woken by her plate clattering. Thankfully they have fallen into a joint habit of not waking us as soon as they get up but in reality what that means is that we are woken by the first major screaming match of the day as Sonny tries to switch the channel on to Pokemon something or other when Funny Girl is tucking into her xx bowl of cereal.
Yan is next up, then ModelGirl and me are usually dragged forcefully from our slumber. She gets her breakfast and I hit the shower so we never actually sit down for a family breakfast.
The Wheetabix was a surprise for my crew and I was amazed at their excitement and eagerness to tuck in to it.
If you follow my blog you'll already know that I have two very fussy eaters and a third that is all too easily influenced by her older siblings.
They all polished off their first bowl and all asked for a second and I have to say that we are now well into our third box. So thank you Wheetabix for banishing the coco pops and getting a bit of fibre into my children in the morning.
New chocolate Wheetabix £2.59 for 24.
Soft, moist and totally delish your box of Hill Cottage Bakery yumminess (OK so I know that's not a real word) contains twelve chunky squares of brownie delight gift wrapped in a way that I only dream of.
I'm not good at gift wrapping but that's only because I'm busy and getting excited about more exciting things like getting through the next round on Angry Birds... Anyway, that really is another post.
So. If you are looking for an amazing gift at the £15 mark, look no further that Hill Cottage Bakery. No1 son is trying to talk me into a monthly goodie package to uni.... as much as I like the idea - I am thinking he has a long way to go!
Wednesday 14 July 2010
This week I'm loving...
Howdie....
I've been feeling a bit at odds for the last couple of weeks so I've decided to do away with words and go on a bit of a fashion tip.
I love clothes and I love to shop and my inbox has been jammed with all the fun of the sale today. So here is my pick of the bargains..... be sure to act now if you like what you see....
Top Shop Cape £85, Top Shop Army Cape £55, New Look Ruffle Dress £8, New Look Blue Dress £8, New Look Stripe Maxi Dress £12, New Look Shopper £2, All Saints Mercer trousers £63, All Saints Escape Cardigan £37.50
The Gallery.... what is it?
Another great theme from Tara at Sticky Fingers for this weeks Gallery. This week it is simply.... Can you see what it is yet?
So.... what do you think?
If you can't guess... you can pop over to my photo a day blog for the reveal.
If you can't guess... you can pop over to my photo a day blog for the reveal.
Sunday 11 July 2010
Who would you put on the naughty step?
I was tagged earlier in the week by my buddie Liz from Living With Kids in the Naughty Step meme. The idea is that you get to stick the person who is really causing you grief on the big bad naughty step to reflect on their annoyance.
I have to admit that I have found this pretty tricky. I don't watch much TV and I don't really want to get personal so it took me a whole glass of wine and pondering before I realised that this man manages to wind me up every single day.
People of the blogosphere, I give you GMTV's Richard Arnold.
Do I need to say more? I think not.
It's a meme so I'm tagging.... Rosie Scribble, Tara Cain, Claire, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, 20 Something Mum and Cheshire Mum.
I have to admit that I have found this pretty tricky. I don't watch much TV and I don't really want to get personal so it took me a whole glass of wine and pondering before I realised that this man manages to wind me up every single day.
People of the blogosphere, I give you GMTV's Richard Arnold.
It's a meme so I'm tagging.... Rosie Scribble, Tara Cain, Claire, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, 20 Something Mum and Cheshire Mum.
Wednesday 7 July 2010
The Gallery... Holidays
This has been a holiday free year for me but despite that I've managed to travel extensively on business. Cologne, Amsterdam, Oslo, Barcelona, Chicago, Oslo, Switzerland and Oslo again.
I so wish that we were going away but there's not a single window of opportunity now that our lives have to fall in line with the fashion show seasons....
So just to make me even more holiday sick - I bring you Kho Phi Phi Leh's Maya Beach where the Thai epic, The Beach was filmed.
OMG.... I have red hair!
The Gallery is brought to the blogosphere courtesy of Tara from Sticky Fingers.
3QCMB5U2TQZF
I so wish that we were going away but there's not a single window of opportunity now that our lives have to fall in line with the fashion show seasons....
So just to make me even more holiday sick - I bring you Kho Phi Phi Leh's Maya Beach where the Thai epic, The Beach was filmed.
The Gallery is brought to the blogosphere courtesy of Tara from Sticky Fingers.
3QCMB5U2TQZF
Monday 5 July 2010
New CyberMummy Badge
I've just created a new post conference CyberMummy badge.
If you were there, feel free to add it to your blog.
If you were there, feel free to add it to your blog.
Sunday 4 July 2010
Your words are needed...
I'm still on my way home from the conference but I've already seen lots of posts popping up as you all begin to share your experiences of CyberMummy.
I know that I don't want to miss a single word or a single picture that you have to say - so I've set up this Linky.
If you post please do pop back here and add your link.
I'm going to put my feet up for the evening and soak in the whole experience of CyberMummy in your words.
As I said yesterday... thank you so much for making the conference the special day that it was for everyone.
xx
And if you haven't already voted for me in the Simple search.... I would appreciate it if you did. Just pop over using this link.
Breast pads for all those that do - courtesy of our great CyberMummy sponsors Asda.
Ta!
I know that I don't want to miss a single word or a single picture that you have to say - so I've set up this Linky.
If you post please do pop back here and add your link.
I'm going to put my feet up for the evening and soak in the whole experience of CyberMummy in your words.
As I said yesterday... thank you so much for making the conference the special day that it was for everyone.
xx
And if you haven't already voted for me in the Simple search.... I would appreciate it if you did. Just pop over using this link.
Breast pads for all those that do - courtesy of our great CyberMummy sponsors Asda.
Ta!
Thursday 1 July 2010
But who bags the prize?
Only two days to go till the first CyberMummy conference. It's been hard work pulling it all together so I really hope that everyone has an amazing day.
Thank you to everyone who entered The CyberMummy Gallery, an even bigger thank you to Tara over at Sticky Fingers for letting me piggy back on her idea and to the lovely people at Photobox for turning this virtual gallery into reality.
Enough waffling I hear you say..... we want to know who bags the prizes......
In third place is the lovely Mirka (and Isabell) from All Baby Advice
They win a medium photo canvas and a personalised A4 photobook courtesy of Photobox.
In second place is How I Like my Coffee.
Who also wins a medium photo canvas and a personalised A4 photobook from Photobox.
And the winner is...............
Claire from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly with her pic of the very cute LG.
She wins an ornate framed canvas, a personalised photobook and a photo ted all courtesy of Photobox.
Well done to you all and thanks to Photobox for choosing the winners.
See you at CyberMummy.
Thank you to everyone who entered The CyberMummy Gallery, an even bigger thank you to Tara over at Sticky Fingers for letting me piggy back on her idea and to the lovely people at Photobox for turning this virtual gallery into reality.
Enough waffling I hear you say..... we want to know who bags the prizes......
In third place is the lovely Mirka (and Isabell) from All Baby Advice
In second place is How I Like my Coffee.
And the winner is...............
Claire from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly with her pic of the very cute LG.
Well done to you all and thanks to Photobox for choosing the winners.
See you at CyberMummy.
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