Christmas Gift Giveaway - Day 15

My Christmas Gift Giveaway is back! 30 days, 30+ fantastic prizes.

A little thank you from me to you.

WIN a Squeaky Jumper

Christmas Gift Giveaway - Day 4

My Christmas Gift Giveaway is back! 30 days, 30+ fantastic prizes.
It's great way to treat yourself or to win some gifts for friends and family.

WIN a Konfidence Swim Kit

Family Fashion - A House of Fraser Tea Party

We have quite a few mini things to celebrate at the moment; a successful start to the new academic year, great school reports and a nice break to look forward to in a few weeks time. We decided these were actually reason enough for a little party in the garden before winter arrives (not that an excuse is ever needed), and the lovely peeps over at House of Fraser let us pick out some new clothing. They even teamed their outfits with some goody bags too...

Win funky fashion with Boj

Boj is a brand new children’s animated TV series shown on CBeebies at 7.30am, 6 days a week. Perfect for those early risers! It is aimed at children aged 3-6 years old and it follows Boj, the cute main character who is a bilby; an endangered big-eared bandicoot from the Australian Outback. Boj has travelled to Giggly Park with his parent Pops (voiced by Jason Donovan) and Mimi, where they now live in their simple yet quirky underground home. It teaches the importance of manners and working together, something which all little ones can benefit from, as creative and messy Boj gets boj-ing to solve problems. It helps to encourage families to get crafty themselves and upcycle at home too which is great fun.

Summer Fashion For You And Your Mini Me: 5 Key Pieces For Both Of You

The years when your little ones are happy to wear whatever you pick out for them from the wardrobe that morning are all too quickly over. Soon, they’re as opinionated about their outfits as they are about what they will and won’t eat and which toys they’re happy to share with their brother or sister. But, there are some trends this summer which should keep both mum and even the most ardent little fashionista happy. Here are some of the best pieces this season:

The colourful loafer

Ballet pumps have been the flat of choice for seasons, but the tide seems to be turning in favour of the loafer. Once the preserve of the sloany set, the loafer has had something of a fashion make-over. It’s

The Wedding Season: Outfit Tips for Boys

It’s that time of year again, when you may be having invitations thrown at you left, right and centre, as more of your friends and family members tie the knot and ask for you to be part of their magical day. While most people love a good wedding, choosing what to wear can be a nightmare, especially when there are children involved. No matter how hard you try, kids will end up looking scruffy by the end of the day anyway, having been sliding around the dancefloor on their knees and playing outside if the weather (and venue) permits. 

If you’re stuck on what sort of thing a little boy can wear to a wedding, here are some great tips to help you choose, so that they will look smart and dapper (for the ceremony, at least!). 

• Choose something that will make them look ultra-smart and cool. Boys love to look stylish and a

Spreadshirt *Review and Giveaway*

Spreadshirt is an online store where you can purchase a wide variety of clothing and personalised products - you can even create your own designs, open a shop, and sell your creations! They have everything from novelty and quirky adult hooded tops, big sister t-shirts for when you have a new arrival on the way to adorable baby bibs and babygros.

They have something to suit everyone.

We received a voucher to order some items of our choice and with Spring approaching I thought a couple of t-shirts would be ideal for the Mini Mes for the warmer weather. I did initially have my eye on some funny (yet a bit rude) ones for the Mr but they aren't really appropriate with kids in the house!

Clearing out the closet

If I look to the back of my wardrobe, behind my regularly worn jumpers, jeans and a selection of heels, that is where you will find them. The brand new, beautiful items of clothing with tags still attached that I have purchased in hope that one day I would fit into them without the buttons popping off and zip jamming!

 

The perfect party-wear in a size smaller, stunning skirts and trousers that I've picked up in sales praying that my mummy tummy, bumps and bulges would one day shrink enough to wear them comfortably. But who am I kidding?! I love ice cream, chocolate and wine far too much and I very rarely turn down a pizza or curry. I'm not that fond of regular exercise so there they will remain unworn for years on end until they are usually passed onto slimmer friends or my sister.

There is also the collection of one hit wonders; outfits I've loved at the time but then not needed or had an occasion to show off again. Tops and jeans that I've once adored but are no longer my taste but perfect for someone else to give a loving home to.

 

 

 

Instead of letting the items gather dust or even giving them away you can get money for clothes by selling them. Money that will be handy for holidays, fun days out with the family or even to pay bills if you could do with the spare pennies. If I went through my cupboards I would find so much that I could make some cash from, even some really random items like catsuits from hen parties or bikinis that I no longer have the confidence to wear. It's definitely worth a spring clean and taking time to clear out the closet. You could make yourself a fortune.

 

 

Do you have clothes hiding in the back of your wardrobe too?

 

*Sponsored post*

Maternity fashion

I found it really difficult to find clothes while pregnant that were stylish, comfortable yet affordable  and I virtually remained in the same few boring tops and dark trousers for 9 months!

With the weather constantly changing from snow to rain and then sunshine, it also makes deciding what to wear to cover your bump quite tricky at times. Ideally it's nice to have a few key pieces that you can dress up or down to suit any occasion and Vertbaudet have some lovely items available that won't break the bank!

Jeans are almost an essential part of a maternity wardrobe and these great value straight-cut style ones come in white, blue and untreated for a bit of variety. Worn with trainers or flats they can create a casual look or when paired with heels or boots they make a great outfit for work or more formal occasions. With an adjustable waist these can expand as your tummy does and the wide stretch jersey panel and mock fly makes them comfortable with nothing to dig in to your bump. In sizes 6-20 there is something to suit most tastes and sizes.

This pretty pink top, which is perfect for the arrival of spring, will provide just the right amount of warmth from the winter wind with its long sleeves without the risk of overheating from the sunshine. The stretch fit and draped panel to the front provide added detail and support as your body changes. This would look lovely teamed with leggings or with trousers - a versatile top.

Being fitted for a bra is really important during the various stages of pregnancy to help cradle your bust properly. With lace trim, under-wire and breastfeeding clips this maternity bra has everything has everything you need from conception to feeding your baby once it arrives. It comes in 3 colours or black, white and coral in sizes 32B to 44F.

Vertbaudet have a lovely collection of maternity wear including dresses, lingerie, sleepwear and coats.

What items are essential for your maternity wardrobe?

Zaini review and giveaway

Now that the freezing weather has arrived with plenty of ice to scrape from the cars and slippery paths to dodge each day, it's time to wrap up really warm when on the move. 

Zaini began back in 2010 when ski instructor Miranda Harper started knitting hats for friends. The hand made products are now distributed across the world and one landed in our post box recently to review.

The fleece lining makes the hat super soft and Minxy commented on how comfortable it feels to wear. She has even been caught wearing it inside as she has wanted to keep it on! The hat is thick and great quality.

Although Zaini hats are available in a variety of sizes and colours we selected 'Eriskay' which is green and pink in age 7-11 to match Minxy's taste love of everything pink.

As the age range for each product covers a few years they should last quite a while and as it is machine washable any dirt can be cleaned away without an issue. The hats are made from 100% acrylic which is durable and great to protect you from the wind, rain and snow!

It can often be difficult to get kids to keep hates on but as Zaini are soft against delicate skin, funky in appearance and really warm hopefully it won't be so hard.

There are adult versions available too in different designs including fitted and baggy styles and they have a range of headbands, slippers, sunglasses and scarves. I quite fancy the look of 'Ness' for myself!

You can pick up your hat here: http://www.zaini.com

*** WIN ***

Zaini have kindly provided two hats to keep your little ones head covered this winter and you can enter to win one using the Rafflecopter entry form below. 

The giveaway closes on 18th December.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*We received a Zaini Hat for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own*

Christmas Gift Giveaway - Squeaky Jumpers

Squeaky Jumpers provide a quirky variety of crew neck sweatshirts with beautiful hand printed images. Established earlier this year all of their products are produced in the UK and feature fun prints which are inspired by the countryside - including frogs, pigs and dogs!

You may have even noticed X-Factor singers in them!

Not only are they funky and stylish they are warm too, so perfect for this time of year to keep your little one snug.

*** WIN ***

Squeaky jumpers have kindly provided a child's jumper in any size and style of the winners choice!

You can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below before 20th December 2012.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Use the Win tab above to view more competitions!

Yellow Mellon - Review and Giveaway

When you are looking for children's fashion you ideally want something good value, hard wearing yet stylish and Yellow Mellon provides just that. They design, manufacture and retail clothing from birth to 13 years of age (some goes up to 16 years) allowing them to keep the costs low for you. They also have a lovely range of brands available including Hello Kitty, Disney and Spiderman to keep your little character fans happy and a selection of toys and accessories, all at affordable prices, to keep you smiling too.

We had the chance to select outfits for the Mini Mes to review to see just how good their products were.

I selected a long sleeved top and some lace flack print leggings for Minxy to try as they are very much her taste. The sizing was spot on for her yet they still had a bit of room for growth and both items were great quality. The leggings are soft to the touch and the detailing is superb and intricate. The print on the top was great, it didn't alter after a few washes so I think it will last well. 

I feel this are great value for money as the entire outfit would only cost £12.98!

For Jamster I selected a stunning wool blend grey marl hoody and a pair of black turn-up jeans.

The hooded jumper is fantastic, it features three chunky buttons to the front which are perfect for little hands, a pocket to keep hands warm and a fleece lined hood which is super soft and snug. Jamster loves this, it's hard to get him to take it off! It's stylish and looks a lot more expensive than it actually is at £13.99!

The jeans have an adjustable waist which provides the perfect fit for his small waist and the stitching is very tidy. The deep pockets, two of which are buttoned, are great for storing all the bits and bobs he stores away.


As well as every day clothing Yellow Mellon offer a range of nightwear, including onesies, and occasion wear. I feel that the quality of their products and value is superb. I will be shopping here in the near future.


Discount Code
They have kindly provided a discount code for my followers for 15% off ! For a limited time you can use code EGYMD at the checkout to receive your discount

*** WIN ***

We have a £20 voucher up for grabs for one lucky person to spend on their little one(s).

You can enter using the Rafflecopter entry form below before 8th December 2012.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Polarn O. Pyret Review

Now that the ice has started to appear on the cars in the morning and the crispy leaves are blowing about in the gusts of Autumn wind, it's time to look at your child's wardrobe and stock up with warmer clothing.

Polarn O. Pyret got in touch and asked if we would like to receive some stylish clothing from their new season clothes collection, which was perfect as the Mini Mes really do need a few more items.

A few days later a lovely package arrived with goodies for both Minxy and Jamster.

Jamster was sent a dark green padded child's coat worth £79. Just upon unwrapping it I felt that it would keep Jamster really warm and that it was great quality by its weight. It has a soft fleece-like lining to keep Jamster snug and the hood is lined and adjustable for extra warmth too. The zip is quite chunky which is ideal for smaller hands to do up themselves at school. As the hem and cuffs are both adjustable it provides a superb, comfortable fit that prevents the cold getting in.

We took it out for an evening walk around the nearby fields and woods....

The reflective parts are especially great for this time of year when they dark hits earlier in the evening. The two zipped pockets to the outside and one netted pocket inside are great for storing bits and bobs like his wallet or toys that he takes on his travels. The zip cover makes the coat look smart and helps to prevent chafing and there is neck and chin protection which is soft against his skin.

From a parents point of view this coat is well worth the money as it really keeps your child warm and I feel as though it will last several years as it's quite durable, if he doesn't grow too much! If it gets grubby, as boys do, it can be popped into the washing machine. The sizing is spot on for his age too. They pretty much thought of everything with this product!

Minxy received a Russian Doll T-shirt to create a lovely layered look - this will be available to purchase from October. Initially I thought it was a little quirky and wouldn't be to Minxy's taste (she loves everything pink!) but she really likes being able to wear it over her vest tops, slighlty off the shoulder. The fabric is soft and it has come up well after a few washes already.

What Minxy says "I like that it's quite baggy and it's very soft and comfortable to wear."

Polarn O. Pyret is a Swedish company with 15 shops within the UK and an online store. You can have a look at their products here: http://polarnopyret.co.uk/

*We received clothing to review. The opinions given are our own*

Fun in the Sun with Vertbaudet

As the sun hasn't been around in quite a while we decided to make the most of the heat yesterday by spending the day in the garden. I inflated the pool, the kids popped on sun hats and cream and we headed outside with various toys and of course the poochie in tow too.

We were allowed to select some items from the lovely Vertbaudet summer range a few weeks ago and this was the best opportunity we have had as yet to put their clothing to the test.

The swimsuit was a lovely fit and the cross back meant there were no issues with straps falling down. It also came in a little bag which is ideal for storing the costume and the frilled waist was a nice little extra.
The T-shirt, hard-wearing shorts and GEOX trainers were loved by Jamster. The cotton was really soft yet strong which provided a comfortable fit, and they were the perfect sizes for him. There are buttons to the sleeves too again providing nice added detail.

The Geox trainers have a special perforated rubber sole which helps to keep feet cool - great for the summer and stylish too. The velcro fastening was secure yet simple to use for smaller hands.

After some time in the pool Minxy slipped into a bright pink backless dress and sat in the shade. The colour and fit were lovely and the elasticated neck band removed the hassle of tying bows to keep the dress up. It is lined which adds to the quality of the dress and had some lovely stitching to the top. This goes nicely with flip flops for a beach look or with sandles for an evening event.

Minxy next popped on a lovely vertically stripped sailor t-shirt with love heart detailing. I really like this top as the neck line is different to the majority of childrens tops and the buttons were a nice added touch. It's pretty and feminine and Minxy commented on how much she liked it. It's a top that could be worn either casually or dressed up.

We had a lovely time in the garden followed by an evening at the park and ice cream.

How have you been enjoying the sun?