7 Things I've Learnt As A Parent

Since the very first moment I held my newborns in my arms it has been an incredible learning journey. You may think as a parent you're the one teaching your child as you raise them but you certainly do develop and change as a person too. You grow as your little one does.

Here are seven things I've learnt as a parent...

Your best is good enough
Parents really give themselves a hard time but you should know that you're doing a wonderful job and you are a good parent. If you're worrying about how well you're doing that alone is a sign that you care enough to be concerned and you're therefore a pretty good mum or dad.  It's okay for your child to have chicken nuggets and chips from time to time and you shouldn't feel guilty, it's okay to raise your voice or get grumpy when you're sleep deprived and it's okay to leave the dishes on the side for a day. People may judge you at times for your choices on breast/bottle feeding or disposable/cloth nappy usage but if your kids are happy and healthy that's all that matters.

Valentine's Day: Love Bug Pom Pom Craft

Minxy received lots of beautifully coloured yarn at Christmas so we decided to use some for a themed craft activity while it was wet at the weekend. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and these cute and lovable pom poms are actually really simple to create - we made some as key rings and bag accessories too.

Materials

Little Live Pets My Dream Puppy Review

With Christmas fast approaching now is the ideal time to pop together those wish lists for Santa and discover what your little ones would love to receive this year. Character Options have always had a great variety of interactive products so I wouldn't be surprised if Snuggles My Dream Puppy takes the top spot!

The 'Little Live Pets Snuggles My Dream Puppy' is aimed at children aged 4+, although I'm sure younger children would also appreciate and be able to use this toy with ease as there aren't any small pieces to worry about. Initially it is set to demo mode within the box, which nicely resembles a pet carrier, but you can set it to 'on' or 'off' with a click of a switch on the back right paw. 4 AAA batteries are required which were included so it was ready to go from the moment the packaging was removed.

Christmas Gift Giveaway #4

Give the gift of learning this Christmas and start the new year with a qualification, thanks to NCC!

Whether you want a change in career or something to fill your evenings when the children are in bed home learning is incredibly rewarding.

The winner of this great prize can pick from the following courses: 

Earn Points with Pampers

Let’s be honest, changing nappies isn’t exactly our favourite pastime and as a mum of two, aunt and godmother I've changed more than my share over the last few years! However, Pampers have come up with a great way to turn the moment when you spot that familiar #pooface into a far more enjoyable experience - they’ve launched an exciting new app called Pampers Club which rewards you when you purchase Pampers. So poop now means prizes!

Puddles Win Prizes

Budding photographer in the family? This might be the competition for you. With the arrival of autumn and the colder weather on the horizon there will be many opportunities for some puddle jumping fun - just make sure you take your camera to capture the outdoor action when you go!

WELLY foods invites you to grab your boots, head outside and snap pictures of your favourite puddles for the WELLY foods Puddle of the Year photography competition.

Magical Family Fun for Halloween

Gross Magic is a much sought after favourite of tricksters everywhere! This set features props and ideas for more than forty revolting magic tricks and illusions so your little ones can impress their audience (or should we say victims) this Halloween with the practised use of a ‘clean to dirty’ toilet and ‘poo paper’, hatching cockroach eggs, slime in a dustbin, jumping and vanishing bogies, pretend veins and a squidgy telepathic brain, to name but a few.

These conjuring feats are guaranteed, with a bit of preparation, to produce groans of nausea from friends and family.

Silent Sunday

A rainy walk back to school today. When did my boy get so big?! *sobs* 💕 . . . #ukparentbloggers #pbloggers #celebratingmotherhoodig #theirwonderfulworld #simplychildren #childofig #worldoflittles #themagicofchildhood #curiouslittleexplorers #cameramama #simplepleasures #pixel_kids #simplethings #thehappynow #littlestoriesofmylife #myhappycapture #noordinarykids #backtoschool

A photo posted by Emma (@theminimesandme) on Sep 5, 2016 at 1:14am PDT

Celebrating National Organic Month

September is National Organic Month and to celebrate we will have a number of giveaways where you can win organic goodies right up until the start of October.

The first prize comes from Discount Supplements and we have four fabulous products up for grabs!

Returning to Hatton Adventure World

Hatton Adventure World in Warwick is just a matter of minutes from our home so we make regular visits, especially during the summer months when it is generally a little warmer - we should probably get an annual pass thinking about it! It's a great value attraction when compared to many others at around £14.95 per person, less in off peak seasons or if booked in advance, so you can enjoy a full family day of fun for a pretty bargain price. 

We particularly like the fact that there is plenty to see and do both outside and indoors so even if the weather isn't on your side you can still have a superb day.

My favourite trio panning for gold at @hattonworld this morning. The Mini Mes were proud to collect their medals afterwards before going on the inflatables.

A photo posted by Emma (@theminimesandme) on Jul 23, 2016 at 2:20pm PDT

We packed a picnic as usual, although the cafe does have a good variety of both hot and cold meals on offer, and travelled by car for the 10am opening. After a stroll through the shopping village taking a peek at the homemade fudge and ales, we grabbed our wristbands and headed straight to the goats and guinea pigs for some feeding and handling sessions.

Head to Nick Jr for More Fun than Ever Before!

The Nick Jr website now has a cool new look and to celebrate we have a goody bag along with a Wacky Hair Dough kit to give away!

“Our aim was to rejuvenate nickjr.co.uk to match our young audience’s constantly evolving digital habits. We now have a platform which encourages and inspires children to use their imagination whilst providing them opportunity to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite Nick Jr. shows.” 

- Suzie Adams, Nickelodeon Digital Director

Back to School Books from Letts

With school shoes to shop for, stationery supplies to buy and and new routines to think about, finding the time to choose the best books for your child may not currently be a priority. With a 30% discount until 30th September 2016 however, now is the ideal time to pop over to the Letts website to browse their range of books and pick up a bargain in the process. 

Letts have a wonderful collection of engaging and motivating books to help your little ones get back into a learning frame of mind and with each read supporting the national curriculum you will know they are reinforcing what your child is being taught at school.

Silent Sunday

A photo posted by Emma (@theminimesandme) on Aug 14, 2016 at 5:49am PDT

Silent Sunday

We made a friend this evening

A photo posted by Emma (@theminimesandme) on Jul 31, 2016 at 6:51pm PDT

Family Fun from University Games

Whether you're at home or on holiday this summer this trio from University Games will help to keep the young, and young at heart, entertained.

Seagull Splat

Seagull Splat is the mischievous and hilarious children’s game that will have kids screaming with laughter. Are you lucky enough to dodge the poop? You may end up pooped out if you aren’t! For 2-4 players. 

Postman Pat Word Rhyming Game

A card game that helps children have fun while picking up the language and rhymes from the story. Players follow the rhyming patterns but have special cards to help them out. There is an additional, bonus card game inside where the characters in the story are collected and the first player to have the set wins.

Mini Games

If you’re planning on going away, take one of the Mini Games to keep the family entertained. These games can be played anytime anywhere, whether you’re travelling by car, plane or even boat. The collection includes: 5 Second Rule, Spot the Difference, Smart Ass, Who What Where Jr, Man Bites Dog, Pointless, and Sort it Out! 

Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake {Creative Summer 10}

This recipe has very quickly become a family favourite and Minxy loves to bake this delicious cake by herself - she has made two in the past week alone!

The lemon provides a nice citrus kick without being overpowering and the icing seeps into the sponge to keep it soft and moist. It's so simple and ideal for afternoon tea with friends.

Jam Tarts {Creative Summer 9}

These are quite a classic afternoon treat and one we hadn't made in some time so we decided to change that by making a batch at the weekend. The pastry on these is crisp on the outside with a nice crumbly centre and they are deeply filled with sticky raspberry jam - you could even make your own if you have been out picking berries this summer.

Make Your Own Lotion Bars {Creative Summer 8}

I often spend a small fortune on various bath bombs, melts and oils when shopping, so after successfully making our own lip scrubs recently I thought it would be nice to save a few pennies by creating some lotion bars in mini form.

These are deeply moisturising and they contain lots of lovely natural ingredients to keep your skin in tip top condition. They are also super simple to make so it's a craft I shall be returning to many times in the future and just tweaking slightly for different fragrances.

Delicious Family Recipe Ideas

Kids. Jobs. Life. When you’re pulled in a million different directions, how can you possibly please the whole family with food that is both wholesome and speedy? Bestselling author Jo Pratt shows you the secrets to make it possible.

The book is split into three main chapters:

Monday to Friday Survival

The Busy Weekend

Cling on to Your Social Life

This life-transforming collection is brimming with delicious recipes to make your life easier, and mini-recipes called ‘Lifesaver or Leftover’ which extend the lives of each recipe, making your cooking go further. Short prep, short cooking times along with tips on how to fill your freezer makes this the go-to book for the busy family.

DIY No Sew Tote Bag {Creative Summer 7}

Being busy bees over the summer it's useful to have a nice bag to carry your books, sun cream and snacks around in and this simple activity allows you to make your own from a t-shirt! It's a great craft for tween girls in particular - Minxy loves hers as it's ideal for sleepovers with her friends as an alternative to a handbag or backpack. It's also a nice way to reuse old clothes that no longer fit or you no longer need, like my Game of Thrones themed one below...