Cool Cardboard Eco Dolls House

I seem to be really drawn to these cardboard contraptions at the moment. I have all of these grand ideas about pulling out the big box of 'stuff' that lives in the cupboard in our playroom and sticking, pasting and painting to our hearts content.

Ok so I obviously never actually get to put my grand plan into action. That may be something to do with the fact that I have four children, a husband, two cats, one dog, one very full time business to run, no cleaner, quite a big house to clean and a gymnastics club to run buy hey we can all dream of a perfect life where we have time to be creative for fun.

I just love this dolls house. The girls and I have been searching for one for a while. It is - along with an old Silver Cross dolls pram the main thing that we search for every sunday as we religiously hunt at the car boot sale. But it has to be said that I am a tad fussy. I want an old 60's or 70's style one - not one of the new soulless moc Georgian ones that are all over the place.

So in the absence of my dream dolls house - I think that this one comes in a pretty good second.

I'm thinking Barbara Hulaniki wall paper in the lounge and a think shag pile carpet in the bedrooms - oh the joy!

Anyway you can play at your own 60 minute makeover for the very good sum of £26.95. It is made from recycled cardboard and open fronted for easy access.

It measures 75 x 38 x 74cm from ECOutlet

Stylish kids clothes from www.thehedgepig.com

The lovely weather here in the UK has made me start thinking about new summer clothes for the girls as all of a sudden it seems that Biba doesn't have anything that fits. Still on the positive side a growing girls means new clothes - so it isn't all bad if you love to shop like we do!

This dress from www.thehedgepig.co.uk has caught my eye. It is so cute, the only downside is that the sizes don't go big enough for my lot.

Designed by Plastisock it has a bright funky black and white apple field print and is simple but perfect. It's the kind of piece that can be dressed up or down and looks equally as good as a dress or over jeans or leggings.

Made from 100% cotton all Plastisock pieces are made to the strict Oekotex standard which means that they are free from any of the nasty chemicals that seem to surround everything these days.

The dress is available in sizes from baby to 4 years from £22.99

Whilst you are checking out the dress have a good look around the rest of the site. www.thehedgepig.co.uk have a fantastic collection of bright and funky kids clothes that will make your little one stand out from the crowd. They stock a great range of labels including Urban Elk, Smafolk, minymo and my other fav Sophie4Sophie.

A not funny thing happened on the way to the Annabel Karmel shoot

So here I was thinking that I was going to have a really nice day out with little Betty today. 

Being my fourth child I do feel guilty that we don't actually spend a lot of quality one on one time together, but in a big family with a business to run and kids to run around after it is pretty hard to have one on one time with anyone.

Today Betty had been booked to film a video to promote Annabel Karmel's new Cook it Together cookbook from Dorling Kindersley - well she had kind of been booked. Annabel called me to see if one of the girls could do it. Biba being the eldest (and the most experienced model) has done so much for her - so she was everyones obvious choice - but she has her SATS this week...

Betty didn't need asking twice on the stand in front and off we went to the filming. 

Morning started out OK, we were in a bit of a rush to get to the station but then that is pretty normal. We were on the fast train that should have got us into London in an hour but as we were passing through Bedford station the train felt kind of funny. Like it was going to de-rail or something equally not nice, a bang some thuds, shake, shake. Then there were the breaks and a very strong burning smell as the driver administered an emergency stop.

We now know that a man had jumped in front of the train - it was moving pretty fast at the time as it hadn't stopped at the station.

We all sat there - the full train of people, all with somewhere to go - for nearly three hours till the track was cleared and a new driver was brought in to take us to London.

So please excuse my lack of products today but I have been lacking in motivation. 

Nothing a good nights sleep and a glass of wine won't cure. 

I will be back on schedule tomorrow.

And we did get to the shoot in the end. 

Annabel waited for us (thanks) and they made the scrummiest fruity chicken curry - that me and Liz the naughty make-up artist tucked right into! Yum Yum. 

Annabel Karmel's Cook it Together Cookbook from Dorling Kindersley is out now £7.99

Stokke® launch new cup holder for Xplory® stroller

If you aren't the proud owner of simply the best, most stunning stroller in the universe - the Stokke® Xplory® - then you aren't going to be in the slightest bit bothered about this. 

But I am!

Any Xplory® owner will know the challenge of pushing the above mentioned dream machine whilst trying to hold a drink - but the Stokke® design team have not sorted this minor inconvenience. the new Cup Holder fits securely into the space within the handle with the use of an adapter. It can carry bottles or cups of all sizes up to 1 litre.

 Do beware though - as much as we all like a regular Starbucks - the cup holder is not meant to carry hot drinks.

Available to order now from your local Stokke dealer. For more info visit http://www.stokke.com

UK £17, US25 $ or 19Euros

Beautiful Limited edition dresses from Sophie 4 Sophie

OK guys back to it today. Little ones are all back at school so I have no excuse not to bring you some cool stuff this week.

Lots of you will know me from Twitter and these dresses are something that I have come across there - so obviously it is a good way of promoting your small business (if you were wondering).

Each Sophie 4 Sophie dress is handmade here in the UK, using limited run fabrics - so the chances are you won't run into another one when you are out at a party - but even if you did it wouldn't matter, as they are reversible! All you have to do is pop somewhere quiet, turn it around and the potential fashion disaster is diverted.

They are a simple one size fits all design that starts out as a dress for babies from around nine months and as your bambino grows the dress becomes a top that looks fab with a pair of jeans or leggings.

Perfect for summer or winter - just pop a long sleeved T underneath. 

So if you are looking for a credit busting designer dress for your little princess then look no further.

Available from www.juicytots.co.uk

Made from 100% cotton £24.99. One size from 9 mths to approx 3 years