Category: The Toddler Years

1. Can you buy children’s shoes online?

   Posted on 9:48am Friday 13th Feb 2015

   My husband doesn’t seem to share a love of shoes in the same way I do and apparently I am passing on my love of shoes to my two girls. In fact, I will let you into a little secret; the toddler possibly has more shoes than any one of us (but shhhh don’t tell my husband that).

   I am partial to a sky scraper heel, whereas the girls love trainers, party shoes, boots, pumps, sandals, in fact any style of shoe that matches the outfit of the day. So when you have three women in a household all with a love of shoes, we need to find affordable shoe options to feed our addiction. Buying shoes can be expensive and traipsing round the shops with two children isn’t my favourite idea of fun. The solution? Buying online!

    

   So when we were introduced to Pisamonas, we may have been a little excited! They are a gorgeous children´s shoes and accessories brand shoe store based in Spain and aside from the stunning classic shoe range, they tempt you with free shipping, free size exchanges, and high-quality shoes at low prices.

   

   Despite being despatched from Spain, at Pisamonas, deliveries are always FREE, with no minimum purchase required, and returns & size exchanges are always FREE too, no explanations needed. If the size does not fit, they will send a new one for free, just as if you were shopping at a high street store. (We may have done a happy dance when we found this out).

   

   So once you have got over the excitement of the FREE delivery and returns bit (I have to admit some other online retailers should take a leaf out of Pisamonas book) and take a look at the designs, you will find that they have an adorable classic look to them that is somehow both timeless and on trend.

   

   As a Welcome to the UK they are offering £10 off on your first order when spending over £40 so grab it while you can! And while my husband may insist that we don’t need any more shoes in our cupboard, Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes really can change your life!

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2. Konfidence Baby Swimming Bundle - RRP £50.00

   Posted on 9:37am Wednesday 11th Feb 2015

   We may have mentioned our love of baby swimming once or twice and one of the things we love about our swimming lessons, is that Water Babies always choose pools that are a minimum of 30 degrees or more as little ones can feel the cold when swimming and a shivering baby is usually not a happy one.

   So we have always been a huge fan of the Konfidence range of products for baby swimming and beyond and we love that this remains a family business based in the UK. We are therefore thrilled to be able to offer a Baby Bundle worth £50 to our readers. The prize includes:

   

   • Konfidence’s best-selling Babywarma Wetsuit
   • Konfidence’s one size fits all reusable  AquaNappy
   • Konfidence’s swim school approved Neo Nappy
   • Konfidence’s award winning Roll & Go Changing Mat

    

   The Konfidence Roll & Go Changing Mat is perfect for the poolside and changing room.  It is made from 3mm thick chlorine-resistant neoprene cushioned foam, with an embossed treaded underside, which provides grip so that it won’t slip or slide on wet surfaces.

   

   You have a choice of picking from one of the three colours and all you need to do is enter below:

   

   Good luck!

   a Rafflecopter giveaway

   Terms & Conditions:

   UK Entrants Only.
   The winner will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 5 working days by email
   Konfidence will be responsible entirely for the prize
   By entering this competition, you understand that your details will be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 28/02/2015 12am

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3. Can you really cruise with children?

   Posted on 11:27am Tuesday 20th Jan 2015

   Last year I had the pleasure of going on two mini cruises. One for my hen weekend and the other for our mini moon. Both were child free. However we have friends that cruise with their children every year and it has got me thinking about how practical and affordable it is to cruise with children?

   

   Safety

   As a paranoid mother, I always fret about the children wandering off (which they never do) but the beauty of being on a cruise ship is that whilst it may be vast, they can't actually go anywhere other than around the ship. The views on deck can be stunning but there is that little part of me that worries about them going overboard. I know that this is completely irrational and the safety briefly is compulsory, not optional for all passengers. (obviously having a nap during the safety briefing is frowned upon).

    

   Location

   You can cruise anywhere in the world but some children (and adults) have a fear of flying, so a cruise is the perfect option for a couple of days of luxury, Mediterranean cruises or a round the world trip. Just be prepared for the inevitable rocky seas through the Bay of Biscay. I *may* have done this with a hangover and was grateful for the luxury bed in our cabin to lie down on.

    

   Activities

   My girls are happiest in the swimming pool but it is good to know that cruise liners cater for the children too. It is not all about formal nights and playing bridge, they provide great entertainment and activities for the children also. It is worth noting that if you are looking to book during the school holidays, it is worthwhile doing it early. We tried to book a couple of breaks in August but the child places weren't available due to restricted numbers, which is frustrating but also good to know that they don't overbook the clubs and ratios.

   Cost

   This is the one element that parents fear. The cost of a break in the school holiday is enough to make the strongest parents quiver in their boots but the good thing about a cruise is that you have everything included. You don't need to worry about them not liking the food as there is a huge of choice in the many restaurants on board. Children do get discounted rates, so it is definitely worth exploring. 

   Personally, I loved cruising last year and would love the chance to do it again with the whole family ..... and when I say whole family, my parents want to come too!

   Would you ever consider a cruise with your children?

   

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4. New Year : New Projects : How to update a room in 5 easy steps

   Posted on 9:40pm Monday 19th Jan 2015

   The new year always brings the need to clean, declutter and refresh. I don't necessarily subscribe to the New Year : New You philosophy but I do like the idea of starting the new year afresh.

   I would really like a new kitchen but sometimes I have to reel myself in and realise that my cooking skills don't necessarily need a mitchelin star grade work space, although some new pots and pans  wouldn't go amiss after having mine for (ahem) some years. Buying new saucepans and a few accessories can't necessarily help my cooking skills but changing a few little things in the kitchen, or indeed any room in the house can make a massive difference. So here are my 5 top tips for achieving a new look in 5 easy steps.

   1. Choose a colour palette that the whole family can agree on. (unless you take the toddlers advice who wants everything pink). It is good to get the buy in from everyone (there is a method in this madness, trust me). Go and buy paint, talking about it is great but once you have bought the paint, it will sit there and look at you until you give in and put it on the walls.

   

   2. Don't wear clothes that you may want to wear again, ever. This is just a small word of advice when you have small children "helping" with the decorating.

   3. Buy enough paint brushes so everyone can get involved. However, expect small children to take a different view of painting to you. <insert smiley face>

   

   4. Make sure you have covered everything you don't want covered in paint with a suitable dust sheet (before you start number 3). Again this is especially prevalent when you have a toddler assisting you.

   5. Look despairingly at husband when toddler has created smiley faces all over the wall and ask if he can take over with the tween, while you take the toddler for a bath!

   

   Job done!

   Would you add any handy hints?

   

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