MUMMY TO THE MAX

Diono have children's safety as their number one concern and offer a number of safety products for your children to keep them safe throughout the summer. We have been travelling with Maxwell in the car and the sun has been a issue. I was excited when I learnt Diono offer a Solar Eclipe Sunshade. We were recently sent one to see what our thoughts were on it.

Pat Clifton aka Postman Pat, enjoys his work as a postie and there’s nothing he likes better than to chat with people and help out wherever he can. A happy, friendly man, Pat usually has a smile on his face and loves a good joke. Pat lives at Forge Cottage in Greendale with his wife Sara and son Julian. As head of the Special Delivery Service he delivers anything, any time, anywhere. You can always count on Postman Pat!
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Sammy's Great Escape is the sequel to A Turtle's Tale - Sammy's Adventure, however you do not have to watch A Turtles Tale to enjoy this film

This week I was lucky enough to review the brilliant card game Dobble, You can read our review here.

Dobble is a fun card game which is fun for all the family and is compact ready for families to take away on their holidays. Dobble consists of 5 mini games.

Mummy To The Max are giving you the chance to win your own Dobble Card Game! All you need to do is enter the rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!!

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Maxwell loves reading and is into lots of children's stories, one book he loves is Winnie The Pooh. Winnie the Pooh is a well known family friend who has been around for years so when TOMY sent us 3 brand new toys for Maxwell to play with, we were both very excited.


Cuddle And Glow Pooh:
Cuddle and Glow Pooh is a soft cuddly toy designed for children to take to bed. He is suitable for children from birth. When Pooh is cuddled his cheeks glow red and if you press his nose he plays 5 different lullabies. You are able to listen to Pooh snore and yawn or use the soft glow night light with or without the lullabies to help you child sleep.
The Cuddle and Glow Pooh is very clever and has a automatic timer. You are able to set the toy to run for 10 or 20 mins and the toy will then turn itself off for the rest of the night. I like this design as it means I do not have to go and disturb Maxwell to turn it off once he is asleep.
Batteries are included in the Cuddle and Glow Pooh so he is ready to go as soon as you get him. The battery compartment is easy to find so changing the batteries is not a problem. Being able to change the batteries means that Cuddle and Glow Pooh will last for years to come.
Cuddle and Glow Pooh is the perfect size for Maxwell to cuddle and he is soft. Maxwell likes the night light that is in it and I found that the light that pooh gives off in his hat and cheeks is soothing and the light is not too bright and not too dim.
Spin N Play Acon Train:

1.  Maxwell has been enjoying more foods
2. Maxwell has a new friend
3. Maxwell has become mischievous
4. Maxwell is showing a interest in TV programmes
5. Maxwell has started to make collections

This weekend we attended my sisters birthday BBQ. The weather was fantastic and we had a great day but come evening when the children were in bed we were all looking for some excitement. We turned to a brilliant card game which I was sent to review called Dobble.


Dobble is a fun card game that comes in a tin. It is a game which requires concentration and speed. The tin consist of 55 cards and each card has 8 colourful cartoon pictures on. Each card has one picture the same as every other card in the deck. The aim of the game is to match the pictures, however they are hard to spot as the pictures are all different angles and sizes!

Dobble consists of 5 fun mini games

• Fill the Well
• The Towering Inferno
• Hot Potato
• Catch them all
• The Poisoned Gift

Our favourite mini game was the "Hot potato". The object of the game is to be faster than the other players at getting rid of the cards. The game lasted around 15 minutes and we all enjoyed ourselves. It is not a game I can see adults or children getting bored with.


Dobble is suitable for aged 6+ and is recommended for 2-8 players. The game is compact and it is easy to take away with you on holidays or long car journeys. It would be the ideal game to prevent boredom and with a RRP at just £12.99 I think it is a bargain. The cards are good quality and are quite thick so they are not easy to bend and rip. The game would last many years. This game encourages families to spend quality time together whilst having fun.


You are able to purchase Dobble via Amazon at the bargain price of £9.74. If you also love Dobble and would like to stay up to date with the latest information on the game, you can visit the recently launched Dobble UK Facebook page.

A few weeks ago Maxwell and I were lucky enough to review the brand new Neil The Seal Toy by Tomy! You can read our review here.

We loved Neil and found he was a lot of fun. He is the perfect friend for any energetic toddler out there. Neil is the perfect toy for the summer and winter and any child would be lucky to have him.

Tomy are giving you the chance to win your own Neil The Seal! All you need to do is enter the rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!!

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At the beginning of the year I wrote a prize wish list which I wanted to win for our family before Christmas. I have had not had so much time to enter competitions recently however, I have had some fantastic wins this year.

I wanted to win:

A Holiday/ Weekend Break

A Day trip somewhere    I have so far managed to win some tickets to go to Paultons park and I have also managed to win some tickets to go to Wembley stadium for a tour!

Some toys for Maxwell   I have managed to win quite a few toys for Maxwell so far.  I have won a few which are a little old for him however I plan to leave them in a box for next Christmas.

Disney Car Stuff

A cool Kitchen Gadget   I have half completed this task as I won a ton of bakery stuff at the beginning of the year however I also managed to win a cool yogurt maker! I hope to win a electrical item before the end of the year.

Some shopping/food vouchers  I have managed to win a few hundreds worth of vouchers this year. Fantastic ones include Nandos, Tesco, Amazon and Costa. I love winning vouchers as they always come in handy.

A posh dinner somewhere

Some Recipe books/ Cooking class

A new changing bag/Pushchair

Some Fitness Equipment

Some Clothing

Something Pandora related

Anything Caravan/Yacht related for my parents

Anything house related for my sister

Christmas/Birthday presents for people I have managed to win a few presents so far this year and have not spent much on Birthday presents however I need to start winning more for Christmas.

As you can see I have a little more things to complete but anything is possible before the end of the year. I need to focus on entering more competitions!

I am always excited to try new foods and when I went to London for Britmums Live 2013, I had something to look forward to. I was lucky enough to visit Nandos for dinner which was a real treat for me and I was accompanied by the lovely Jada from Unique Young Mum. I have tried many foods in the past but I was a Nandos virgin and after hearing lots of positive things, I could not wait to try there food which so many people talk about.


After a busy day, me and Jada headed back to our hotel to get ready for our exciting date night. We checked on the Nandos handy app on my iPhone for the nearest Nandos restaurant and found that we were closest to Nando's Spitalfields. We were pleased to see the restaurant closed at midnight so this gave us plenty of time to get ready and eat our food with plenty of time to spare.

When we arrived we were greeted by cheerful staff. I looked round and was surprised at how great the restaurant looked. It was smarter than I thought and I loved the red and black colour schemes it had which matched everything down to the staffs uniform. Me and Jada were shown our seats and were given our menus. The tables were clean as were the floors and we were placed in the middle of the restaurant around other people which made a change from being stuck in a corner which I have experienced at so many other restaurants.

After having a look at the menu I was drawn to having the double chicken breast fillet wrap with added cheese and two regular sides; a side salad and chips. I also ordered a drink of coke which was a unlimited refill and I was treated to a selection of sauces. My meal came to £13.25 and my drink was just £2.45 and I was excited to see what it tasted like.



Our meals came quickly and we waited around 15 minutes. Whilst my food was being cooked I was impressed to see that the kitchen was open planned. I was able to see how my food was being prepared and cooked. When our food arrived I noticed it was beautifully presented, hot, fresh and smelt wonderful. After taking my first bite I instantly fell in love and I will definitely be visiting again. The food was simply delicious.

The chicken tasted wonderful and melted in my mouth. I loved the taste that it gave off. I liked the fact I was able to choose sides and I found that my salad was a quite generous potion. The chips were also lovely and I was really impressed.



Whilst at the Spitalfields restaurant I was happy to see that it was clean and that all the visitors were made to feel welcome. Everything was perfect and even upon visiting the toilets I was happy to report they had enough toilet roll and soap. The restaurant also had disabled facilities and baby changing.

I was surprised to see that Nandos offer a takeaway option and one day I would love to go to my local store and pick up a takeaway for me and Ben to enjoy.

To find your nearest Nando's and find out information please visit their website, alternatively you can find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

FREE doughnut from Greggs. Chocolate lime, raspberry coconut ice, banana shake. Print this voucher and take it to your local Greggs shop. FREE bar of Elizabeth Shaw Milk Chocolate Butterscotch Crisp (100g) at Sainsburys with voucher. Print off voucher and take to your local Sainsburys.  FREE bag of walkers deep ridged crisps from Nisa. Click on the banner in the middle of the page. Print voucher to claim your free pack. Eastbourne Airbourne Free International AirShow August 15th - 18th. Click here for more info.  Kirtles, court and kitchens Weoley Castle, Birmingham Sun 28th July 2013. Click here for more info. Bournemouth Air Festival 2013 - Thursday 29th August - Sunday 1st September. Click here for more info.

Maxwell is a huge fan of bath time however before giving him a bath I often worry that the water may be too hot for him. I normally use a duck which tells me if the water is to hot but it gives me a inaccurate reading which is not clear. I was delighted when Brother Max recently sent me a Ray Bath and Room Thermometer to use with Maxwell.


Ray is a practical yet fun character who has been designed not only to use in the bath but also to use in your babies/children's bedroom. In the bath Ray floats around like a toy but also doubles up as a handy gadget to parents by telling them how hot the water is. If Ray reaches over 39 degrees the LCD will blink "HOT".This is when you know you need to add cold water.  In the bedroom Ray can be used as a room thermometer. Ray can help reduce cot death and Ray will advise parents not to let the bedroom get over 19 degrees.


Ray is quite large and features a clear LCD display screen which makes it easy to read. Ray is brightly coloured and is very appealing to children and parents. I found Ray was easy to grip when drenched in water as well as being the perfect size for Maxwell's little hands to play with. From a parents view Ray was reassuring, accurate, safe and reliable.

Brother Max have thought of many things when designing Ray. Ray is a simple product and has been made so he is easy to use. One of my favorite facts is that Ray is battery powered meaning Ray will last years as replacing the battery will be easy.


The Brother Max Ray Room & Bath Thermometer is available in many retailers and at an RRP of £14.99 I think Ray is a bargain.

1. Maxwell is making a lot more sounds
2. Maxwell enjoys going for walks
3. Maxwell has started having tantrums
4. Maxwell gets more helpful everyday
5. Maxwell is coping well with the hot weather.

Ingredients
1 tbsp oil
500g minced beef
1 sachet Discovery Taco Seasoning Mix
Discovery Tacos Shells

Since I gave birth to Maxwell, I have always struggled with not being able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. My problem is I enjoy snacking and also enjoy drinking fizzy drinks which is not great for my health. Recently Aspire got in touch with me to ask would I like to try their drink that promise to burn calories, I thought I would give it a whirl.


Aspire is lightly carbonated and helps burn calories at any time of the day. Aspire contains justs 5 calories (Kcals) per 100ml and contains a combination of carefully selected beneficial ingredients such as Guarana Extract,Green Tea Extract and L - Carnitine. The drink also provides a good source of vitamins and minerals.

I have to be honest and say I did not really enjoy the drink. The problem is that it only comes in one flavour - cranberry flavour and didn't like the taste. I found the cranberry to be quite tangy and maybe a little bitter. On a positive note however the fizziness of the drink was perfect. It was not a drink that made my eyes run due to being too fizzy.

The drink is best served chilled and when served chilled I believe it gives it a more refreshing taste. After drinking a can, although I was not full I did not crave any snacks I normally do. The drink also made me have a little more energy and I did not feel tired after drinking it.


The idea of the drink being in the can is a great idea. It means that you can transport the drink to work, on a picnic or to the park with the children. It is hassle free. The cans are a average size so you do not have to worry about drinking the drink fast and worrying if you don't drink it all it will be going to waste.

To improve the Aspire drink, I think Aspire should bring out a range of flavours as then the drink would be open to more people as I am sure I am not the only person to hate cranberry.

The drink retails at £1.79 a can and is available at a number of retailers like Tesco, Holland and Barrett and Waitrose.
You can follow Aspire Drinks on Facebook and on Twitter.

Dear Katie,

Maxwell is a happy and energetic toddler who loves to run around inside and out so when we were recently sent Neil the Seal by Tomy to review, Maxwell was keen to try it out.


Neil The Seal is an activity toy aimed at children 18 months +. Neil is part of the play to learn range from Tomy and he is here to help your child's dexterity. Neil loves to balance his beach ball on his nose. When you push Neil along you need to catch the ball in his flippers. Once he catches the ball in his flippers, Neil magically goes on to balance the ball onto his nose. The ball spins as Neil is pushed along!

Swap your old electric toothbrush for a new Colgate ProClinical C200 with Absolute Radio. From today (Monday 8 July) you'll be able to swap your electric toothbrush, by registering on this page, then posting it to us free of charge.

Maxwell and I are always interested to try new foods and we especially love snacks. We were happy when Deli 24 sent us a box full of snacks to to get our taste buds tingling. Deli 24 produce snacks which are ready-to-eat, chilled and savoury.


The snacks are ideal for lunchboxes and picnics. They are individually wrapped and come in singular packs. The packaging is funky, brightly-coloured and appeals to children. Upon opening the snacks you are able to find a cheesy treat wrapped in meat.

The snacks are thin and long so I had to cut them up for Maxwell to enjoy, and surprisingly he loved them. I thought he would be put off by the meat but this was not the case. I also loved the snacks and was amazed at all the different flavours they came in. There is a snack for everyone to enjoy.

Each snack is healthy and they are all:

• High in protein
• The meat has no added water
• Made with real cheese
• Are reduced in salt
• Low in sugar
• No Artificial colours or flavours.

When visiting Deli 24's website I found a recipe that I wanted to try. The recipes were based on using the Deli 24 snacks. I was keen to try one so I tried the ham, pepperoni and cheese salad.

Ingredients (serves 2)
2 Deli 24 Cheese and Ham sticks, sliced
2 Deli 24 Pepperoni and Cheese sticks, sliced
2 tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
4 big handfuls mixed salad leaves
1 green pepper, sliced
1 red onion, finely sliced
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

For the dressing
¼ of a clove of garlic
½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Mix salad leaves with the chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, pepper and red onion. Add sliced Deli 24 Ham and Cheese sticks and Pepperoni and Cheese sticks and mix well. To make the dressing, peel and crush the garlic and add to a clean jam jar with the Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper and put the lid on the jar. Shake well and pour over the salad with some sprinkled parmesan cheese.

A few weeks ago Maxwell and I were not very well. We both had colds and felt horrible but we were soon cheered up when a large parcel arrived. We opened the parcel and were amazed to see a huge hamper sent to us by Warburtons. We were sent Warburtons sandwich thins, Warburtons Seeded bread, Warburtons half and half square wraps and Warburtons sandwich pittas.


Maxwell and I digged into the seeded bread first. We had toast for breakfast and we both enjoyed it. I lightly toasted the bead and buttered it. I was a bit worried that Maxwell would not enjoy it as he is used to white bread which is unseeded but he loved it.  I like to see Maxwell try new foods and it looked like he really enjoyed trying the new textures.

Ben joined us for lunch and we dug into some delicious bacon sandwiches. We used the sandwich thins and the sandwiches tasted delicious. The sandwich thins are a thinner type of bread and are a smaller shape compared to regular bread. I thought they were the perfect size for Maxwell and I would love to continue to use them in the future.


For dinner Ben and I used the sandwich pittas to make some chilli chicken pittas. They tasted divine and we really enjoyed our meal. We stuffed the pittas with chicken and salad and we were impressed by the quality. Normally when I buy pittas they fall apart however this was not the case they held well even though they were full to the brim.

The next day for lunch we tucked into the square wraps. I have been a fan of eating chicken wraps since I was smaller. I eat them normally for lunch and I find they are rather filling. My favorite is Cajun chicken. When making the wraps I found that they were easier to roll than the normal round shaped wraps you are able to buy as they were square they were also easy to fold.

You can visit Warburtons website to check their amazing breakfast range.

You can also follow Warburtons on Twitter and become a fan of Warburtons on Facebook.

I have made a list that I hope Maxwell, Ben and I will get round to doing one day. I have added it to my to do list and I hope to tick off as the year goes on.

Maxwell, Ben and I live in our flat. We have family members, friends and even pets in. We have cream carpets and they end up taking a lot of abuse from our dirty shoes, a clumsy toddler and spills as well as crushed in crumbs.

We were recently sent a set of sprays to review from Rug Doctor. We were sent Odour Remover, High Foot Traffic Cleaner and Spot and Stain Remover. I knew instantly the Spot and Stain Remover would be used first and I decided to put it through its paces.


The Spot and Stain Remover is great for using on carpets or upholstery. It is great at tackling fresh stains such as food, beverage spills, crayons, chocolate and grease. I decided to try it on the carpet where Maxwell had mushed a banana in. I was keen to remove the stain as it had left my carpet all brown.
Directions:

Organix have launched an online video to help mums understand the role of finger foods in the weaning stages of a child’s development journey. The campaign,supported by research from a team of experts in child nutrition and development, aims to support mums with information and advice on this crucial stage. The ‘Learning to love food is as easy as ABC...’ video also informs parents about social skills, and how mealtimes can help babies’ development in this area.


“Many of us are aware of the nutritional benefits our babies get from eating a variety of foods, however it’s not as widely known that giving your baby foods of varied shapes and textures can help the growth of areas such as hand and eye coordination, chewing skills, mouth muscles, essential gripping skills, and speech development. Exposing a baby to a wide range of finger foods at a suitable early age can get them on their way to start practising everyday skills, such as using their pincer grip with their thumb and forefinger, an essential life skill to pick up small objects,” comments Dr Frankie Philips, a nutritionist specialising in child development.

Finger foods offer children a great way to explore food and the world around them as they can handle the food themselves, look at it, put it into their mouths to discover texture, taste and flavour, and to learn that their actions can have an effect. They are also an essential part of a baby’s diet, required to help learn the physical, emotional and social skills children need to feed themselves and to have a positive engagement with eating.


Child psychologist, Dr. Angharad Rudkin, says: “Parents tend to focus on their little one eating everything on their plate, or whether they’re walking or talking, leaving out an important area of development – social and emotional skills. Having a friendly interaction at mealtimes is just as important as getting them to eat all of their meal. The biggest thing parents want from their child is to be interested in what they eat and that they want to try new things. It’s this area of development that will come from enjoyable mealtimes enabling your baby to feel confident to try new tastes, shapes and textures.”

In line with the launch of the video, Organix has introduced two new finger foods to the baby food category - Strawberry Rice Cakes and Multi Grain Hearts with Strawberry. Suitable from seven months, Organic Strawberry Rice Cakes are carefully designed to encourage babies to develop more complex self-feeding skills and progress from grabbing with the palm of their hands, which is the first grip position a baby learns. The texture is firm to hold but gentle enough for a baby’s developing gums.


Organix is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a months supply of the new Strawberry Rice Cakes and Multi Grain with Strawberry. The winner will get 8 packs of snacks altogether.

To win this fantastic competition please complete the rafflecopter form below.
Good Luck!

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