Jackson Reece Launches in Boots!

When Freddy was a baby we loved using Jackon Reece's Herbal Wipes as they are so pure and 'kinder by nature'.  They give you the convenience you need when dealing with a baby in need of cleaning up, but are also free from the nasties associated with some other brands, being made from 99% naturally derived plant based ingredients.  They also do Unscented Wipes, ideal if you have a baby with particularly sensitive skin or eczema.  Jackson Reece also produce the brilliant Nose Nuzzles for cleaning and soothing little noses, when children have a cold. They are greener, safer and kinder products to use on our precious children's skin.

The brand has gone from strength to strength, since being developed by parents Colin and Janet on their kitchen table, gaining overwhelming positive feedback worldwide and winning over 20 industry awards. 

Now, you can buy Jackson Reece products from Boots stores nationwide, making them even more convenient!

Product range available at BOOTS

Nose Nuzzles RRP £2.49

Unscented Baby Wipes RRP £2.00

Herbal baby Wipes RRP £2.00

Back At School - Products Round-Up

We're two weeks in to the new school year and Freddy has caught his first bug.  Poor little man is riddled with cold.  My Back To School wall chart from Boots has hints and tips for keeping little ones well and recommends the Boots Cold and Flu Defence Spray as a good way of reducing the severity and duration of a cold.  It might prove a good investment!  You can find the FREE chart online here.  It has some great advice (including a little gem of wisdom from yours truly regarding keeping little ones well hydrated!)

Boots also sent me some handy items for my medicine cabinet.  This has come in handy as we have had a cut knee to deal with already after Freddy fell off a scooter.  A First Aid Kit is definitely a must-have when you have children!  The Boots Complete First Aid Kit has a great selection of bandages, wipes, plasters, dressings, tape etc. so you can deal with everyday accidents from grazes to burns to sprains.  The first aid booklet is very useful and everything is contained in a handy zip up case. (rrp £19.99)

At the moment, a clean school uniform stays looking smart on Freddy for approximately 30 seconds.  We have seen paint splodges, school lunch spills and dirty knees already.  Dr. Beckmann have helped save the day thanks to their Stain Survival Kit that I was sent to try. It can help keep the kids' uniforms clean by treating stains caused by felt tips, pens, crayons, yogurt, fruit juice, carrot, egg, ink and a whole host of other common stains using three of their specific stain removers. (rrp £3.99)  I'll be trying out the in-wash Stain Remover and Hygiene White next week (rrp £1.99 and £2.25 for 5 sachet packs) as Kizzy is off on a residential, activity trip on Wednesday where she is guaranteed to get covered in mud.  That is one load of laundry I am not looking forward to!  You can take a look at their product range, information and testimonials online.

www.dr-beckmann.co.uk

I went to the Tots 100 Blog Summit at the weekend and took part in the Cow & Gate #fruityfun blindfold taste test, trying homemade fruit purees against their new 100% Fruit pouches.  I was first to take the challenge and tried the apple purees.  My favourite one was surprisingly the Cow & Gate pouch.  It had a far fruitier taste than the homemade puree which was quite bland by comparison.  Later on I tried the Banana and Strawberry puree and again found the Cow & Gate pouch far fruitier and fresher tasting.  Maybe it is because the ingredients used by Cow and Gate is baby grade, especially sourced fruits which are of the highest quality.  Nothing is added apart from a little extra vitamin C. I picked up a few freebies from the Cow & Gate stand and will definitely be looking out for these instore.

I love the convenience of the pouches and although they are marketed for babies, my older kids still love slurping them straight from the pack.  They are excellent for lunchboxes and Freddy will be more likely to eat and enjoy a fruit pouch than he would a whole apple (which can be tricky for a 4 year old with baby teeth and the lure of a playground calling). Anything that makes packed lunches easier for him to eat get a thumbs up from me.

Sistema Lunchboxes have proven to be a godsend so far this term.  The compartments keep food separate and safe and minimize the need to pack things up into plastic food bags which is good for the environment and for my pocket.  The drinks bottle doesn't leak and is a good size.  As it's refillable we are again saving money and as we're not buying individual cartons and bottles we are being eco-friendly.  I went a bit mad before term began buying loads of Sistema stuff for all three of my school and college kids.  But I'm so glad I did as it is proving to be more cost effective long term.  The Quad lunchbox is on sale for just £2 at my local Asda so I may have bought a couple more for spares!

Perfect Winter Boots

In winter, I really want a good pair of comfortable boots which don't hurt my feet.  I want a pair that are warm, cosy,  sturdy enough to walk in, supportive and that fit perfectly.  In the past I have really struggled in this quest and have ended up with boots that are either painful, give no support or are not warm.  This year however I have found the perfect boots!

Keds Sunny Side Boots are extremely cosy faux fur lined boots with suede uppers.  They have a cushioned insole, a thick outer sole and have side zips making them easy to get on and off.  They look fabulous with velvet lace detailing.  Most of all though they are incredibly comfortable, even after walking around in them all day long.

Keds sent me a pair to try and at first when my package arrived, I was worried that they would not fit.  I have had trouble buying shoes online in the past because of my odd shaped feet!  However, they slipped on effortlessly and felt really good on.  

The detailing is lovely.  From the labels to the stitching to the decorative embellishments, everything is high quality.

The soles are robust and thick and I have found them great to walk around in indoors and out.

The toffee brown suede has contrasting black faux fur and look really stylish.

The zip-up ankle boot design works really well providing comfort and support.  They look great with jeans and are a fashionable and practical addition to your winter wardrobe.

I am so pleased to find a pair of good looking boots that fit me so easily and are so comfy and cosy.  I didn't realise that Keds make boots, associating them more with summer pumps.  But now I know, I will definitely check out their winter boot ranges next year.  I am that impressed!

The Sunny Side Boots are available in Toffee Brown and Gray.

They are currently on offer for just £48 on the Ked's website. (RRP £80) for sizes 3.5 to 8.5 with free UK shipping until 17/12/12.

My Beautiful Baby Boy

Having Freddy in my forties was such a blessing.  This little bundle of beautiful baby boy came at a time when my two eldest children were leaving home for new challenges.  Joe was off to live with his girlfriend and Megan was starting university.  Fred's arrival made my nest feel less empty!

Freddy has brought so much fun, love and laughter to our lives.  He is a real character who loves being the star of the show.  His personality shone out from the start.  When Boots and Tots 100 challenged bloggers to share their favourite baby photo, I immediately knew which photograph I would use!

In October 2009 Freddy was 3 months old.  Although he is my fifth child, the whole process of being a new mum was just as exciting, just as intense and just as nerve wracking as it was when I had my first child over two decades earlier!  I felt so protective over my little man, cherishing the opportunity of being able to do it all again.  Another chance to mother a newborn, nurture him, watch him grow.  A brand new addition to the family that I adore.

 I've always believed in wrapping my babies up warmly against the chilly weather.  I'm a bit of a worrier and want to keep them safely snuggled up and protected from the cold.  As a parent to five kids, being frugal is a consideration too, so I've always believed in buying clothing with a bit of growing room.  When I combined these two aspects of my parenting techniques, the result was inevitable!

Putting my winter-clothing-clad baby boy in his car seat resulted in Freddy disappearing into the excess of fabric.  As Freddy peeped a single, sparkling eye inquisitively out of his furry hat and oversized coat combo and attempted to latch on to the zip, tantalisingly positioned in front of his mouth, his personality shone out.  It made such a comical, cute and characterful image.  He made us laugh and you could just tell he knew he was being funny.  This trait has continued as Freddy loves being the family comedian, making us all giggle with his often hilarious antics.

I love this photo because it sums up so much about my parenting techniques (and my all too frequent  parenting fails) and Freddy's gorgeously curious nature and his fabulous sense of humour.  It never fails to make me smile!!

This blog post has been written as an entry into the Tots100 competition in association with Boots Mother and Baby

Christmas All Wrapped Up With Boots

I have always thought of Boots as my favourite high street store.  From being a Saturday girl there in my teens to being a young mum buying all my baby essentials, I've always had a soft spot for Boots.  Nowadays I love to clock up points on my Advantage Cards to treat my older girls to perfume and make-up for free!  However, it is their Christmas range that always excites me the most.  I'll pick up the catalogue in store and pour through page after page of fabulous gifts.  They always have such lovely gift packs for everyone from tots to teens to grown-ups to grandparents!  A real added bonus is the 3 for 2 offer on stickered gifts that can end up saving you a fortune!

This year Boots sent me a sneaky peak of some of this year's gifts along with some samples to test out.  As ever I was delighted to look through all the imaginative box sets matching each one to someone on my 'to buy for' list!  Here are some of my favourites.


The Champneys Spa range includes some beautifully packaged luxurious bath products perfect for spoiling a loved one or for indulging in some much needed festive me-time!

The Oriental Opulence Collection of sandalwood, ylang ylang and patchouli fragranced bodycare treatments include bubble heaven, shower cream, body polisher and body glow.

I received some samples from the range to try.  The scent is heavenly and they feel rich and luxurious on the skin.  The body glow is a very exotic scented scrub with a gentle cleansing texture.  It really makes your skin glow and I felt so pampered after using it in the shower along with the rich, thick shower cream.  I felt radiant with skin like velvet...this range really lives up to its name Oriental Opulence!  Finished off with a spray of Body Mist you'll be enveloped in the gorgeous scent all day.

The Gift Box is just £12.  The full size products are priced between £8-£12.  All are available from Boots stores or online and are included in the 3 for 2 offer.

Another product I loved was the Glitter Babes Giant Pamper Box.  Any little girl would love this pamper set complete with 15 fabulous items that will let them shimmer like a star.  Peelable nail varnish, sparkly lip gloss, shimmer lotion, body glitter and a range of accessories will let any little princess feel pampered.  The products are very girlie and childlike, they are not trying to be 'grown-up', which I like.  It is pure pretend play with gentle sparkly products...your 5 year old won't look like an American pageant winner with this collection.  For £15 and included in the 3 for 2 offer, this is a lovely gift.

There is a brilliant range of branded merchandise that got me embarrassingly excited!  The Nando's Kitchenware including a Hot Stuff Oven Glove and Sauces set, a Chilli Planter Set, a Basting Set or a Peri-Peri Salsa Set, bring a taste of  Nando's to your home.  Starting at just £8 and 3 for 2 this range will see any Nando's fan delighted.  Other great foodie gift sets include some brilliant Jamie Oliver kitchenware, some brilliant Marmite products and some Starbucks Mug gift sets that I would love to find in my Christmas stocking this year!!

For the Disney Fans, this year to co-incide with the release of Cars 2, a brilliant range of Cars merchandise has been brought out.  One of which is the creative Klip Kitz Deluxe sets.  You get to clip together pieces to build your favourite Cars character, and then lock the elements into place using a special key .  You can then customize your Cars character using the stickers and decorate the background to make your own individual creation.  No glue, no mess, no painting and no fiddly bits to contend with...this is an innovative, creative set with no fuss!  A real bonus is the fact that you can unlock the pieces to change bits and customize your car, keeping the play element fresh.  It is great value at £13 and also available in the 3 for 2 offer!!

We were sent a Mater Klip Kitz Deluxe Set for the kids to test out.  Kizzy loved the fact that you can adapt Mater to look how you want him by colouring in and decorating him.  The finished model can be displayed on a scenic base which Kizzy really liked.  You can display the finished character with pride!

When you start your Christmas shopping this year, whether you are buying for tiny tots, work colleagues, loved ones or friends, look no further than Boots.  There really is something for everyone...toiletries, cosmetics, food gifts, toys, gadgets and games...with thousands of gifts included in the fabulous 3 for 2 offer!  And don't forget, Boots put your purchases in descending order, so however many presents you buy, you'll get every third one free!  Brilliant!

That's why I love Boots!

Going Potty with Boots

Freddy is now 26 months old and getting ready to take his giant leap into big boy-dom!  We are about to embark in earnest into the potty training stage.  We have had a few false starts.  I also thought that the Summer Holidays were not the best time to begin.  We did so many outings, day trips and short breaks, adding the demands of a nappy-less toddler to the proceedings would have been a nightmare.  I remember the frantic searches for toilets and the disaster of incidents involving soggy trousers only too well!  I'm in no hurry to make my life more difficult than it needs to be until I am good and ready!

But with the kids back at school this week, me and Freddy will be at home throughout the day which is a great opportunity to try again.  The lovely people at Boots are helping me out and have sent me some of their potty training products to try.  I received a Potty and a Padded Trainer Seat...both in pink!  Although Freddy is of course a little boy, in the name of gender neutral parenting I was perfectly happy to introduce Fred to his new pink accessories!  After all they are only going to be pooped on!

The potty is a basic model which is a bargain at £3.05.  You could keep one upstairs and one downstairs, have one in the car and a spare at the grandparents' house at that price!  It is functional, a good size with wide back and sides for comfort.  It's cheap and cheerful!  Available in pink and blue...but remember you don't need to conform to gender stereotypes!!

The Padded Trainer Seat fits onto the adult toilet seat giving a comfy place for your toddler to sit.  Freddy actually seems happier perched on the big toilet than sat on a potty for pro-longed periods.  And although he is yet to perform, his confidence is encouraging.  The seat is just £7.15 which is reasonable.  My only concern is that the part of the seat that sits on the adult toilet seat is quite small, meaning that it can slide around so I wouldn't leave Fred unattended (lest he slid off the loo!)  Otherwise it is a really good product, especially as it is so soft making it perfect for little botties to sit on!

Boots also sent me a Caryy Pack of their Active Fit nappies to try out.  They are designed for both rest and play allowing baby to move freely.

The nappy has extra stretchy sides for a secure and comfortable fit, an ergonomically designed shape with elasticated leg cuffs that prevent leaks and allow movements.  A super absorbent core locks away moisture keeping baby dry.  They have a cute animal character design and velcro tabs.  I was very impressed by the performance of the nappy and at just £4.99 for a pack of 26 Maxi size (for 15-40lbs) they are a good alternative to more expensive brands found in Boots.  Hopefully our nappy days will soon be over, but until then I'm happy to use these on Fred.

To top it all, Boots are currently offering 3 for 2 on a range of thousands of mix and match baby products (the cheapest is free!)  Full details can be found on the website here.  And don't forget you can collect Advantage Points too!  Another great reason to shop at Boots!

Mini Club Clothing

Freddy is a lucky boy!  He has been sent a gorgeous Springtime outfit from Mini Club.  Mini Club is a Mothercare clothing range stocked exclusively at over 300 Boots stores.  It offers contemporary, stylish and affordable clothes for kids aged 0-6 years.  Designed for children who love life, they are made for playing in, growing in and living in.

Fred was sent a pair of long denim shorts with a belt, a gorgeous T-shirt with a cool nautical design, a striped hoodie and a pair of green and white checked swimming shorts.  The colours are bold and bright, bang on trend for this season.  The designs are fun with strong graphics and the fabrics are top quality.

Today, as it is Mother's Day, my little man is dressed in his new outfit.  He looks adorable!  The 18-24 month size is plenty big enough for him at 20 months.  I love the quality of the garments and the attention to detail is great.  The shorts are 3/4 length on Fred.  They are made from a soft denim and have an adjustable waist band.  The pockets on the knee are really trendy and the canvas belt is a lovely addition.  The T-Shirt transfer is well applied and the seams are stitched well.  Its a great quality cotton that is tumble drier safe.  The hoodie is gorgeous with bold stripes of orange and stone with pale blue detailing.  It zips up and looks so comfy on Freddy.  The green and white long swim shorts have a drawstring waist band and will be perfect for when the summer sun returns!

The Mini Club prices are affordable (the T Shirt is £4, the Hoodie is £12, the Jeans £11 and the Swim Shorts £7).  They are great quality and really well designed, stylish, modern classics with a fun, contemporary twist.

Freddy loves his new outfit and it is comfy, casual and easy to wear.  Check out this video of him out and about in his cool, trendy new outfit!

  

Follow Mini Club on Twitter or Like their Facebook page for up to date news, competitions and fun. 

Bath Time Fun with Boots

Freddy absolutely hated bath time up until a few months ago.  They used to be a battle, but now they are a source of fun!  He splashes in the water, getting covered with the warm, bubbly water.  It is so important that the products we use are suitable for our little ones.  We've enjoyed trying out a lot of different bath products and tonight it was the turn of Boots Baby Sensitive Range.

Developed in consultation with a leading dermatologist, it is the mildest, gentlest product for baby's skin.  They leave skin feeling soft and smooth and stop irritation before bed time.  They are 100% colour free, fragrance free, hypo-allergenic and dermatologically tested.  They are mild enough to use from birth and are suitable for sensitive skin.

Boots sent us the Sensitive Moisturising Bath, priced at £1.99 for 400ml.  It provides gentle and caring cleaning.  When added to water it gave dense, small bubbles giving a creamy consistency to the bath.  It was fragrance free so left no perfume on Freddy's skin.  He splashed everywhere but didn't mind it going in his face and eyes.  His skin felt soft and he smelt fresh and clean.

Our daughter suffers from eczema and has flare-ups on her arms and legs.  She bathed in the Boots Sensitive Moisturising bath and it did not inflame her skin at all.  This is a real plus for us because she loves to relax in the tub, but it is difficult to find completely fragrance and colour free products that give bubbles but do not aggravate her.

Boots also sent us the Moisturising Baby Lotion and Baby Oil in this range.  They are perfect for moisturising baby's delicate skin.  Again these products are also good for Kizzy's sensitive skin.  And at £1.99 are a really cost effective option.  Also available is a Head to Toe Moisturising Wash and a Conditioning Shampoo. This is an excellent range at a really affordable price.  Worth checking out if you have an eczema sufferer in the family!

The Boots Fun Animal Sponge is a man made sponge that is specially made to be ultra soft.  We were sent a super cute blue elephant to try.  It has a really squidgy, soft texture and feels gentle as it glides across the skin.  It goes hard when dry, then softens up again in water.  At £2, it is a good cheaper alternative to natural sponge.

Boots also stock a fun range of Corine de Farme Disney Winnie the Pooh products that are ultra sensitive and created to be soft, soothing and safe from birth.  They leave skin soft and moisturised.   Each product has a cute picture of Winnie the Pooh with his Hundred Acre Wood pals on, which is sure to delight little ones!  Priced at £2.69 they are exclusive to Boots.


It's no surprise that Boots have been voted the UK's Top Family Brand, with their wide range of products to help parents at every step of their journey with their babies and children.  With a huge range of products especially for bath times, Boots make bathing baby safe and fun!  Check out the website for current special offers on toiletries.