We recently sparked a debate on our facebook page ( www.facebook.com/littlelilypadco ) about celebrities and their choice of baby names. Now being a parent myself, I understand how hard it is to choose the perfect baby name.

 

If you are anything like me, you will remember the horrible child at school with that name or love a name but know that there there will be 5 of them in the same class, so when does unusual become unkind.

 

Myleene Klass has taken the brave move of choosing "Hero" for her new baby girls name, while Kym Marsh has gone for the more traditional "Polly". I know my mom would start singing "polly put the kettle on" but isnt there a song for every name now? (Including Enrique and "Hero").

 

On the Lilypad, we can personalise gifts for any name but I know from my own experience that if you choose an unusual name, your child will probably have to spend half its life explaining how to pronounce or spell it.

 

There is alot to be said for traditional or old fashioned names, although where would we be without quirky and unique? Well for one, we would be without a topic for this blog post but that is besides the point.

 

The naming of the Little Lilypad Co was derived from my daughters name, so not only has the choice impacted on her personally, it also has spilled through into our professional life too.

 

Everyone has a different opinion and with baby showers being really popular now, there are all sorts of games and ideas for name selection. But as we all know, naming a child is an important role as they are pretty much stuck with that name forever, unless you fancy a name change due to becoming a pop star!! I dont suppose Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanot's parents thought she would end up as Lady Ga Ga!

Blogging is a very personal choice, some choose to use it as a forum to promote their business or services, some use it to vent their anger and others simply like to talk (which is the category I think we fall into).

 

Prompted by the topic on #mumpreneurhour and after being chastised by both Frog In the Field and AceInspire for not blogging enough, we have hopped into action.

 

It was clear from the discussions that blogging comes more easily for some than others. I suppose this is like a child learning a new craft or skill, some children take to it like a baby to water, whereas others struggle to grasp the concept or indeed the point.

 

There was a general consensous that blogging is a necessity and once you have committed to doing a blog you need to remain so. It gives your website regular content updates and could be valuable promotion for your business.

 

As a mere little frog in a very large pond, we are certainly not the oracle of knowledge on this topic but there are some great e-courses available and lots of knowledgeable mumpreneurs to offer support.

 

Having the ability for readers to subscribe to your blog, keeps them returning to your site and hopefully browsing around your products at the same time. Social media such as Twitter and Facebook increase interaction with clients and like minded business folk but sometimes a status update or 140 characters is not quite enough!

 

To be honest, 140 characters is never enough for this Frog but thats mainly due to my love for chatting, so we solemly promise, a special froggy promise, to blog more often ..... as long as you promise to come back and croak  ... I mean chat too??

We dont usually review products that are not stocked on the Little Lily Pad but when Toyjeanius asked us to review the Haba Wooden Tea Bags we agreed for three main reasons:

 

1. 5 yo daughter LOVES to play tea parties

2. Toyjeanius have a great range of products

3. Jean is a genuinely lovely lady!

 

So when the perfectly packaged parcel arrived, we were a little excited and then hugely dissapointed when 5 yo looked at the tin and said "what is THAT?" However it only took a few moments for her to open the little tin and say "mommy, these are like the tea bags in hotels"  I was concerned that she made this correlation but would just like to suggest that she is maybe just well travelled??

 

                               

5 yo has daily "tea parties" in the bath with "little einstein" figures, "baby born", princess and anyone else she can find that wont go soggy in the water! I was initially worried that the wooden tea bags wouldnt stand up to the test of the relentless "dunking" in to the tea cups (and the bath) but she brings out the little tin each day for her tea party and they are still perfect!!

 

She loves the dinky container and they have added a new "grown up" element to her tea parties. They are a lovely little gift and would go great with some of the other wooden items available on Toyjeanius, such as the wooden cartons of milk.

 

So all in all, its a thumbs up from our tea party loving 5 year old and would suggest anyone who has a penchant for good quality toys, to go and check out www.toyjeanius.co.uk You wont be dissapointed!!

 

 

I dont think I appreciated my parents until I became one myself. Did you?

 

I grew up thinking that my childhood was strict and my freedom limited. As a parent now, I think that my own parents probably gave me more rope than I actually deserved.

 

Dont get me wrong, I wasnt naughty, on the contrary, I was a good girl, said please and always but always wrote thank you notes for Christmas presents or birthday gifts. I used to think my family was unusual compared to many as we spent weekends away in a touring caravan together, rather than all doing something different.

 

By 14 I was tiring of this and "according to my mum" turned into a horror by this age and I cringe at the memory of my behaviour (let alone my hairstyle choices).

 

Dont get me wrong, I love my parents, always have and always will but you dont REALLY appreciate what they do, they sacrifies they made and the love they have shown until you have your own children.

 

When my daughter was born, my mum was devastated that she wasnt there to see the arrival of her newborn baby grand daughter but this hasnt stopped the bond between them.

 

The relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is unique because it is one of patience, love, tolerance and somewhere to go to do painting!!!

 

I havent felt too great this weekend and my parents have been a godsend, from entertaining the little lady, to cooking Sunday lunch.

 

So rather than the usual blog of wit, sales or general ramblings, this is purely a thank you to my parents. For being great mentors, parents, friends and the best grandparents a little 5 year old can ask for!