MUMMY TO THE MAX

When I was preparing for Britmums Live I found I had a problem, the problem being I did not have a suitcase to take to London with me. I searched high and low for something that was small, fashionable and something that was practical for me to get on and off of trains and tubes with but I could not find anything. Luckily Revelation by Antler came to my rescue and provided me with a Revelation Zygo Animal Print 2 Wheel Cabin Suitcase which fitted all the categories I needed it for.


The Revelation Zygo Animal Print 2 Wheel Cabin Suitcase comes in either a snow leopard design or a golden leopard design. It features a locking trolley system for easy travelling and control and has a tough ABS construction to provide strength. The case is quite small at 55 x 35 x 20 cm but I managed to fit 3 days worth of clothes as well as 4 pairs of shoes in my case. The case I was sent retails at just £60.

Positives about the suitcase:

• The suitcase is lightweight weighing just 2.7 kg without having anything in it. This definitely helped me travel with ease as it would have been a nightmare having to carry heavy loads of clothes as well as having a heavy suitcase on public transport.
• The suitcase has a nice mesh design in the lid. I kept my shoes in this so they were separate from everything else in my suitcase. 
• There was a lock which was attached to the case. This made me feel like my stuff was safer when traveling in London. I had a 3 number password and I was able to change the password with ease. 
• The suitcase is fashionable and stands out, If you were at a airport you would be able to identify your case easily as it has a unique design.
• The case has an internal pocket which can separate your clothes from your toiletries if you choose to. This made me feel confident that my stuff in the case would not get damaged say if something was to leak.
• The suitcase comes with a 5 year warranty which makes me feel that the suitcase was built to last. 
• The suitcase can carry quite a lot considering its size. It has a packing capacity of 30 ltr.

Negatives about the suitcase:

• I found the lining of the suitcase got stuck in the zip at times. This panicked me a little as I had to push open the suitcase with force and I was scared the zip on the suitcase may break. 
• I think the suitcase would benefit from having a small handle on the side so it is easy to pick up instead of having to pick it up with the handle at the top of the case. 

Britmums Live is the biggest blogging event of the year and is dated in most blogger's diaries. It is not an event to be missed and is highly spoken of. In February 2013 I learnt I would attend the event and this post starts with me saying a huge thank you to my amazing sponsor Silentnight, without your amazing sponsorship  I would have never made it to Britmums 2013, I would have not created some amazing memories nor would I have been able to learn any of the valuable information I have learnt. 
I heard a very inspirational lady speak at the weekend who opened my eyes to how amazing and brave people can be. She inspired me and made me think about certain things in life. Katie Piper, a lady who was a survivor of a acid attack spoke openly and bravely about how her life changed in just a few seconds. She spoke with such emotion, power and braveness, it is something I will never forget.

Maxwell has just turned 18 months and has been needing some new summer clothes which are suitable for day to day wear. I always think clothing says a lot about a persons personality and always makes a impression when you meet people. I like Maxwell to dress smart.

Maxwell recently went to A. Rachel's house whilst I was away at Britmums, so he needed some day outfits and nightwear that would make him look his best whilst visiting. I wanted to buy him something which would be of good quality however I did not want to spend much.

I came across Tesco's F&F range for children and I was impressed with the ranges of clothing they did for boys. There is a lot to choose from and all the clothing varied in ranges of prices which made it affordable for everyone.

I picked 2 outfits and a set of Pj's for Maxwell and it came to the bargain price of £30.


The first outfit I chose was the Blue F&F Roll-Up Lightweight Trousers teamed with a F&F plain brown T shirt. When Maxwell had this outfit on, he looked really summery. The trousers are lightweight and would be great for Maxwell to wear around the house or whilst playing outside. The trousers can be worn full length or rolled-up with button fastening tabs and they are adjustable at the waist. Maxwell looked very grown up in this outfit.


I then went on to team the F&F Slim Leg Chinos with a F&F Blue T Shirt. The chinos have turn-up cuffs and are adjustable, which is perfect as they are a little too long for Maxwell at the moment. The chinos also feature an elasticated waistband which gives them the perfect fit. This outfit makes Maxwell look smart and is perfect for when he's out and about.

Bedtime is a important time for Maxwell. I like to think he is always comfortable and I worry in the summer he may overheat however I managed to purchase a 2 pack of PJ's which featured shorts and t shirt which keeps him cool at night. The PJ'S feature a friendly robot designs and colourful stripes. I love Maxwell in bright colours so these are a bedtime essential.


I have so far managed to wash all the clothes and I can say that they wash up well. I always worry that the colour of the trousers will fade however I can say so far they have stayed the correct colour. I also worry that the PJs may misshape when washed but again I was proved wrong and they are still in their original shape.

Has anyone noticed the date today?? Its under 6 months until Christmas!!!

A few months ago Maxwell and I were lucky enough to work with Stuck On You. We were sent some items which we thought would benefit Maxwell on a sleepover. We really enjoyed the products and thought they were great quality, so when we were asked if we would like to review some products which would make swimming time easier we happily accepted.


Maxwell enjoys going swimming however sometimes when we are in the changing room we find it hard to identify our belongings, not only that but its hard to keep all our swimming things in one place.

We were sent -
Drink Bottle
Library Bag
Beach Towel
Iron On Clothing Labels

First up I took a look at the drinks bottle. I loved the unique style of it being stainless steel. The drink bottle features a clever design which includes a pop up lid. Maxwell found it easy to open the lid himself and found it easy to drink out of. It kept his drink cool whilst we were swimming.

The iron on labels we were sent were perfect to stick on to Maxwell's swimwear. They were easy to apply and it only took a few minutes. After Maxwell had gone in the swimming pool the labels were still attached to the clothing perfectly. You get 50 labels in a pack and they will grow with Maxwell as he ages, they are well worth the money.

The library bag we were sent has many uses, which makes it great value for money. Since Maxwell has had the bag we have used it to go swimming, on a picnic and he has taken it to his A. Rachels with a few toys in. It is large enough to include a towel, swimming trunks, water bottle, and toiletries that Maxwell would need. It would make a perfect swim bag/gym bag for children attending school.

I am in love with Maxwell's towel. It is very fluffy,soft,large and covers Maxwell when he gets out the swimming pool. It keeps him warm and is of good quality. I have washed the towel three times and it has washed up well. Being able to personalise it is great as I know for a fact Maxwell will never be able to loose it as it is unique to him. It will also be easy to find when he goes on swimming lessons and has to leave a towel out.


Overall I am really impressed with Stuck On You Products. They help children identify there belongings which is key when children are starting school/after school lessons. Stuck On You products are high quality and they are priced well. As Maxwell grows older I will be buying him lots more things from the Stuck on You range.

For more information please visit there website or their Facebook or Twitter

Its Mummy To The Max's 1 Year Blogiversary and we have a brilliant prize to giveaway to one of our lucky readers. You are able to win a 3 tier nappy cake in either pink, blue or neutral from Memorable Baby Showers.

As we all know, leaving the house with a baby means packing practically everything but the kitchen sink! To make life a little easier, we’ve teamed up with Nelsons Teetha® to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a gorgeous Cath Kidston changing bag, complete with change mat and insulated bottle cover, along with a bundle of Nelsons goodies worth over £100!


Nelsons Teetha Granules, a homeopathic remedy, is specially formulated for the soothing and calming relief of the symptoms of teething. Contains Chamomilla 6c. Always read the label.

Nelsons New Teetha Teething Gel has all the benefits of the Nelsons Teetha Granules in a handy gel format. It is a homeopathic medicinal product used within the homeopathic tradition for the symptomatic relief of teething pain and the symptoms associated with teething which are sore and tender gums, flushed cheeks and dribbling. Contains Chamomilla 12c, Belladonna 12c, Aconite 12c. Always read the label. Suitable for babies over 3 months.


Nelsons Teetha is the only teething brand to offer consumers the choice of both granule and gel formats. Nelsons Teetha Teething Gel is priced at £4.95 and Nelsons Teetha Granules costs £5.10 Available from Boots.

To win this amazing bundle simply enter using the Rafflecopter Form below. Good Luck!

In the blogging world, new bloggers often celebrate their one year anniversary of blogging by acknowledging it as their “blogiversary.” Today is my blogiversary.

What is Post Pals?

Post Pals is a charity which invites members of the public to send cards, letters and little gifts to seriously ill children and their siblings to make them smile and feel less isolated.

As many of you may have read recently, I have had trouble getting Maxwell to eat certain foods as he refuses to eat unless he can feed himself. He loves fruit, veg and salad as snacks however it has been the full main meals we have been struggling on.


Birds Eye offer a range of meals which are packed with flavor but can be made in a matter of minutes.  The meals are made with fresh ingredients and are perfect for all the family.

Maxwell and I visited our local Tesco's recently to see what we fancied from the Birdseye range. We came to the conclusion that Maxwell would enjoy Birds Eye Rice Fusions and Birds Eye Fish Fingers together.  Birds Eye rice fusions are a delicious combination of long grain rice, vegetables and herbs and spices. Birds Eye fish fingers are free from artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and are made from real Fish Fillet.


When making Maxwell his meal I found the instructions on the packets easy to follow. The meal was easy to prepare. The rice took a matter of minutes in the microwave whilst the fish fingers took a little longer in the oven.  The meal took roughly around 25 mins to make and I was excited to see Maxwell's reaction to it.

I sat Maxwell down in his highchair and gave him a bowl of rice with fish fingers cut in chunks on top. Maxwell digged right in and looked as if he was enjoying his meal.
I was pleased to see a generous amount of veg included in the rice and Maxwell enjoyed eating the fish fingers. They were soft and had a nice thin layer of batter around them.

Maxwell ate most of his dinner however he left some rice and then decided to play with it. The meal was a success.


Are you looking for something a little more filling? Why not try making a cheesy fish finger and leek pie.

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Serves 2

Ingredients:

6 Birds Eye Fishfinger
15ml Vegetable Oil
2 Leeks
8 Baby Carrots
1 Courgette
2 Large Potatoes
75g Cheddar Cheese

Method

Name: Helen

Blog: http://www.mummytothemax.co.uk/

Twitter ID: @MummyToTheMax

Height: 5ft 0ish

Hair: Auburn a posh name for Ginger, I sometimes style it to look like Rory the lion.

Eyes: Browny, Green or maybe something in between?

Is this your first blogging conference?
Yes, its exciting but scary!!!

Are you attending both days?
Yes I am, although Maxwell and I have never been apart for such a long time which makes me sad, I am excited. I am staying at the Hoxton Hotel overnight and I am looking forward to it.

What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live 2013?
Meeting people I have spoken to on the net... I love the blogging community and the friendly folk that are involved in it all around the world. Its a very close community.

What are you wearing?
Jeans/Leggings - Nothing to dressy but I did treat myself to a new bag and a few Pandora charms for the special occasion!

What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2013?
I hope to learn lots of new things and I am also hoping to meet some fantastic brands. I like to put names with faces.

Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows
I was the first person in Hampshire to get a coloured filling. It was pink and glittery! I have kept it in a special box.

Yesterday was a great day for the Mummy To The Max household. I managed to save over £50 simply by using coupons and getting great deals on reduced items.

First off I popped to Boots to get myself some toiletries to take to London with me for Britmums. I went into the shop and went to the Kiosk to get the best deals off my Advantage Card.
There were some great deals including bronzer makeup down to £2.50 instead of its £5.50 price tag and 10% off deodorants/body sprays.
I then headed to the reduced section and was amazed at what I saw. Shampoo down form a £1 to 50p and dry hair shampoo from £2.50 to £1. I picked up 2 of each and headed to the checkout along with some body spray and my bronzer.
I paid for my items and once I had left the shop I found that I had been charged 50p for the dry shampoo instead of £1 and they had taken 20% off the body spray instead of the original 10%. I managed to save over £10 on my Boots shop and I also got advantage points as well as a voucher for half price sunglasses.

We then headed to Tesco, I had no plans of what to buy but my purse was full of coupons so I went around the shop working out what I could buy with my coupons and getting some shopping to feed us for the week minus fruit,salad and veg which I buy from our local market.
I had £4 Walkers coupons, £3 Fox Biscuit coupons and £5 Pampers coupons to use... I also had a lot of £1 coupons and some coupons to use from my Bzzagent trials to use.
Whilst in Tesco I spotted that they had a fab deal on Huggies Baby Wipes - 9 packs for a small £6.28 which is a great saving as I normally only see the wipes on offer at £1 a pack. Before I left my house I also spotted that Tesco were selling there jumbo boxes of Pampers nappies off at £5 so I asked for them to look out the back and to my surprise they had a box - 68 nappies for £5!!

When I went to the checkout I was unsure how much my shopping would cost as I had walked around the shop working out the price in my head and had calculated I would need to spend around £13 of my own money once I had used vouchers.

My shopping came to £49 and I got it for £11.79 which is a amazing saving! I got paid to take the Pampers nappies away as I had a £5 voucher from P&G and also a £1 voucher when you buy pampers nappies in Tesco. I also got paid to take some of the cheese's away as the voucher was more expensive than some of the products. I had a £4 off voucher for a £40 spend as well.

I had a great day of shopping and managed huge savings.


Freebies for this week:

Marwell Zoo is in the heart of the beautiful Hampshire countryside, just eight miles from Winchester, five from Eastleigh and twelve from Southampton. Last week Maxwell and I were invited to visit and attend the Sunset Party in the Park.

This year Maxwell has decided to make a small list of items he would like to gift to his Daddy for Fathers Day. At 18 months old he has good reasons to pick these items.


My Daddy needs a...........