Christmas Gift Giveaway 2013

Wouldn't it be lovely to save a few pounds this December? 

After the success of our Christmas Gift Giveaway last year I thought it would be nice to arrange another for you, so once again I've teamed up with some great brands to offer some amazing prizes!!

Each day throughout November a new giveaway will begin with your chance to win a variety of products that would make perfect presents this year. There is something for mums, dads and the kids so no one is missed out. That's right, there will be 30 giveaways in total making the build up to Christmas even bigger and even better!

To make sure you don't forget to enter you can subscribe to the blog using the options on the right. 

Look out for the tweets and Facebook statuses each day ...and good luck!

What would be the perfect gift for you this Christmas?

View the competitions here when they are live

Christmas... In July

I'm usually quite organised when it comes to buying Christmas gifts but I've never started purchasing presents as early as July! However, many of the big stores will be thinking about what toys will be the biggest sellers this year and Argos, the UK's number 1 toy retailer, is one of those.

With Christmas being 5 months away and the year speeding by already, you can take a sneak peek at which products Andrea Abbis, chief toy buyer for Argos, feels with be most in demand this December. You can also learn about how important toys are in child development with author and parenting expert Anita Naik and have your questions answered.

See the show live here:

Show date: Wednesday 24th July 

Show time: 4pm

What do you think will be on your child's wish list this year?

Summer Bucket List

It won't be long until the summer holidays are here so like previous years we have created our bucket list; things we want to do before the Mini Mes return to school in September.

 

It's a great way to work out in advance how much trips will cost and to plan your activities around the weather forecast. It ensures the Mini Mes are kept busy and happy for the full 6 weeks so there are no (or few) tears and tantrums!

 

Summer 2012

 

 

 

2013 Bucket List

Camping

A day at the seaside

Play croquet

Kite flying

Strawberry picking

Lollibop festival

Bike rides with picnics

Gruffalo wood

Zoo

Farm

Go on a ferry

Water park

Balloon festival

Cinema

Bowling

Thorpe Park

Fair

Theatre

Country park

Badby Woods

Stanwick Lakes

Visit Ducksford, Shoe and History museums

Stoke Bruerne Canals

Make a womery

Make an ant farm

Crabbing

Chessington World of Adventure

Circus

Zorbing

Something for charity

 

 

Last year we managed to do quite a lot of the things on our list but I'm hoping this year we manage to do everything! We will be scrap-booking along the way to record the activities and as lovely keepsake for the memory boxes too.

 

 

 

What is on your summer bucket list?

 

Lollibop is back!

LolliBop, The Big Bash for Little People, is returning for 2013 to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London – and will take place on August 16-18th!

Returning LolliBoppers will see old favourites mixed with new attractions for 2013, including:

 

LolliBop Live – playing host to some of the biggest names in kids entertainment, with live music and performances from stars of stage and screen. Headliners coming soon…

Lollipalladiam - is a live theatre tent showcasing performances from pioneering and internationally renowned companies and artists.

The LolliBop Kitchen where creative little cooks will have the chance to learn new skills from live demonstrations and interactive workshops.

Tween Town will host a number of activities including street dance, hula-hoop, and beat-box workshops.

Imagination Stations - A hub of creativity with lots of mess and mayhem thrown in! From clay modelling, puppet making, customised fashion workshops, balloon modelling, graffiti painting, face painting and much more

Science Zone - Make a rocket, hold a dry ice cube, or get messy with gooey slime in the LolliBop lab - brimming with exploding experiments for pint sized guests to try!

Run wild and have fun in the LolliSports area. With activities including retro favourites like swingball, hula-hoop and frisbee to football tournaments and sports day style races.

The pre-school 3ft & Under area is also returning, along with the Enchanted Forest and The Village Green with live music, craft stalls and street theatre, making it an ideal spot for a picnic.

Extensive covered buggy parks, baby changing and breast-feeding areas will be available.

Event Manager, Jenny Kane said: “We are really excited to be taking LolliBop to the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This is the first children’s event to take place in what looks set to become one of the premier event locations in the UK. It has so many benefits for our visitors, including great transport links and family friendly tube stations.

“LolliBop has gone from strength to strength since our first event in 2011 and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park gives us the opportunity to create an even more exciting and dynamic family day out. It’s an amazing opportunity for LolliBop to be part of such an important legacy ”

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park said: “This summer at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park there will be something for everyone. We are delighted to be welcoming LolliBop to join this year’s line-up. LolliBop encompasses some of the best loved names in children’s entertainment, as well as quality theatre, crafts and activities. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park begins to open from July 2013 and will be fully open from spring 2014. We are on track to deliver a fantastic summer events series and a great legacy for east London.”

 

For more tickets and more information: http://www.lollibopfestival.co.uk

 

To read our review from last years festival: http://www.theminimesandme.com/2012/08/lollibop-family-fun.html

Update your wardrobe with SS13’s key colour trends

SS13 brings a whole raft of new trends to play with, and this season’s catwalks showed something for everyone. Women’s jackets took centre stage with bomber styles heralded as the shape to be seen in; other key pieces included Chanel inspired boucle jackets in pretty pastel shades and masculine tuxedo silhouettes cut in pristine white fabrics. Other key pieces include cropped trousers, pencil skirts, statement trainers and low heels. Oriental inspirations were translated into kimonos, obi belts and origami shapes, whilst animal influences were seen in iridescent mermaid style dresses and snakeskin prints.

With an overwhelming choice of shapes, styles and cuts to choose from, often the simplest way to bring your wardrobe up to date is by investing in key pieces that nod to this season’s key colour trends.

Monochrome

One of the easiest trends to emulate, with many of us typically owning existing pieces in black and white to work with. Daring graphic prints were one of the strongest monochromatic looks seen this season, with bold stripes at Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger, and grid formations used at Emporio Armani and Louis Vuitton. Think ‘linear’ or be daring and go with a checkerboard print.

Alternatively - and this one’s not for fake tan fanatics - mimic the immaculate, fresh all white look seen at Roberto Cavalli and Missoni. Try teaming masculine tailored pieces with a bold red lip, and an oversized statement bag.

Pastel

Think spearmint green, fondant pink, baby blue, violet and lemon – these sweet and ‘frothy’ shades were seen at Christopher Kane, Mulberry and Valentino. Keep the colour to one element of your outfit: oversized slouch jumpers in pastels, paired with black jeans and simple pumps, are a great way to embrace the trend without feeling like a sugar plum fairy.

Neon

Hot pink, grass green, cobalt blue and orange shades were seen at Matthew Williamson and Missoni. Make an impact and colour block your outfit in neon bright shades, or incorporate one statement piece into an all white look. Alternatively add a colour pop to your outfit with accessories in neon – colourful, transparent bags and shoes will win you plenty of fashion points.

What trends do you look forward to wearing this summer?

*Sponsored Guest Post*

MAD Blog Awards - Nominations open

I'm certainly not going to beg, borrow or steal for nominations, that would be against the rules anyway, but I would like to highlight the fact that nominations for the MAD Blog awards are open for those of you that may not have heard of them.

Last year I was a newbie to the world of blogging so I had no idea what they were but they are pretty important when it comes to 'Mum And Dad' blogging. This will be the fourth annual awards in association with Parentdish.co.uk and with over 100,000 nominations received it is quite a big deal to even be a runner up!

If there has been a particular post that has helped you and your family have fun, a recipe or craft that you have enjoyed or something you have found inspiring then you can vote here if you feel I'm worthy of an award, perhaps in the Family Fun or Family Life categories.


http://www.the-mads.com/vote/

Click the image

(You don't have to vote in every category)

As my blog almost turns 1 (Sunday eeee!) I'd like to thank all of my followers for your support.

Weigh in #2

After a week of long walks with the dog, aerobics in my lounge and calorie counting I was looking forward to getting on the scales this morning. I felt positive for the first time in what felt like forever that when I stepped on the Wii fit board to see the damage it wouldn't say 'one at a time please' to me in horror. 

I have lost 3lb this week and I am very pleased with that.

I still had the odd treat like a few mini eggs and a can of coke here and there as I find if I deprive myself completely I will have a massive binge eating session and raid the fridge like Pac-man! I've found it's all about moderation and the odd slice of cake is acceptable if I have put the effort in 95% of the time and burnt some calories off too exercising.

How have you done this week?

What motivates you?

2013 - promises to myself

Each December I think of resolutions, improvements for myself as a person, as a partner and as a parent to try to achieve an even better year than the one previous. At times they can be difficult to stick with for one reason or another, afterall chocolate can be a little too tempting at times can't it and time isn't always on our side, but this year I'm hoping I can reach my goals and by writing them down I think it will keep me motivated.

Have more fun outdoors
I love the sunshine so popping on flip flops and going for a stroll in the summer is never an issue but when it's cold, windy or wet I'm not usually as keen. However, after a few recent trips out in the rain I've realised it is actually really fun to puddle jump and to get stuck in mud so I'm planning on spending a lot more time in the great outdoors as a family regardless of the weather.

31st December 2012 - Ending the year as we mean to go

Spend more quality time with the Mr

We get weekends together and every evening and although it's nice to watch a movie together and have a glass of wine I would really like to try to make that time more special. I want to play more games, have a giggle, get out together more frequently for date nights, paintballing etc as a couple. Just enjoy eachothers company a little more without technology getting in the way.

Lose weight

This one tends to pop up most years! In order to lose weight I'm on a mission to reduce sweets and chocolate, eat healthier and exercise more. I'm aiming to work out 3 times a week for 45 minutes either Zumba, a DVD or popping on the cross trainer but keeping active links in well with my other resolution to get outdoors more too which should help!

For January I am also raising funds for Cancer Research by not drinking alcohol. All sponsorship is greatly appreciated for this worthy cause so if you can help out, then please do!

What are your resolutions this year? 

How do you plan to stick to them?

This is my entry for the ‘Get Fit Feel Epic’ competition hosted by Kate on Thin Ice

Happy New Year

I'd like to say a big thank you for all of the support we have received during 2012. 

For the comments and emails, chats on Facebook and Twitter and companies I've worked with for reviews and giveaways.

I'd like to wish you all lots of luck, love and happiness for 2013!

Love

Emma, The Mr, Minxy and Jamster

x x x x