Sunday 21 September 2014

Mamas and Papas Armadillo Stroller Review



Mason was starting to look squished in it and I was tired of pushing it and having to take it apart....the travel system had to go! It all started after pushing a lovely lightweight compact stroller on our holiday in June. The travel system seemed sooo cumbersome afterwards. My hunt for new wheels began in earnest and the majority of strollers on offer had umbrella folds and for me looked and felt a little flimsy!

Then I found the Mamas and Papas Armadillo! 

We have been using this nearly 3 months now and I can't fault it. 



Things I love:

•Full recline
•Large comfy seat
•Massive hood
•Massive basket (3 bags of supermarket shopping!)
•Smooth ride
•Easy to steer even one handed
•Compact one handed fold
•Lightweight (8kg)
•Rain cover included
•Peek a boo window
•Car seat can be attached using adapters.



This stroller needs all our needs in a smaller, lighter and easier to fold package!  



Some things to consider:

•Other reviews state the yellow hood attracts bugs! (Hence our black one!)
•Fold may be bulkier with a footmuff attached. 
•Forward facing only. The stroller can be used from birth but for this reason I would be reluctant to use it before 6 months of age. You can however attach a car seat using adapters that is parent facing. 
•Handle height cannot be adjusted. I'm 5'4" and find it a good height.
•Price. At £199 it's expensive for a stroller but in my view worth it! 


http://www.mamasandpapas.com/cat/armadillo-campaign/?cm_re=InteractiveBanner-_-Armadillo-_-CampaignSlide1

Silent Sunday #2



Saturday 9 August 2014

Holiday Essentials

Apologies for the long break! Holiday, work and a newly mobile baby have taken my time! 
So, at the end of June we embarked on our first family holiday!
We had a fab time and Mason was such a good boy all week. Mostly because he is the best but possibly aided by some of the great items we had with us to make life that little bit easier! So here is my run down of our fave baby holiday products! 

Koodi Sun and Sleep shade.
This was so handy! It packs up so small and comes with a hook to attach to your stroller handle. When opened out it is very easy to fit and covers the whole stroller providing Spf50 protection to baby whilst enabling them to see out! We used this when we were out and about in the sun but also when Mason went to sleep in his stroller in the evenings. It took away an element of stimulation and made it lovely and dark so he'd nod off pretty quick with it over him. Happy mummy indeed!

Grobag 0.5tog travel sleeping bag.
Mason is so used to his bedtime that we wanted to try to maintain it as much as possible while we were away, without sacrificing meals out in the evening! The nights were very warm so 0.5 tog was all we needed but what really made this sleeping bag is the travel feature. It enables baby to be fastened into their car seat or stroller whilst wearing the sleeping bag. So on our evenings out Mason was bathed and popped in his bag and off we went! Fastened in and with his sleep shade he slept the whole time we were out! When we got back to the villa it was a quick unbuckle and into his cot! No change of clothes needed and a peaceful night for mummy and daddy! 

Munchkin microwave sterliser bags.
Mason is under a year old and so it's recommended to still sterilise his milk bottles. We had the bonus that by staying in a villa we had a microwave. And with these fab bags there was no need to pack a bulky steriliser or Milton etc. Each bag will sterilise one bottle at a time but can be used 20 times! Two of these lasted us all week. Great product. I also keep one handy in our change bag for impromptu sterilising at friends and family's homes! 

Verbaudet Uv sun tent.
There are many sun tents on the market (argos, Jo Jo etc) but this one not only looks good but is pop up! Super fast to erect (takes a few goes to master folding back down!) and very lightweight. This came to the beach with us and was set up in the villa garden and provided Mason with a shady area to play with his toys/nap. It does have a diameter of 50cm when folded flat so won't go in luggage, we just said it was a pop up travel cot so didn't have to pay extra to take it! 

A mention also has to go to our stroller! 
The Joie Nitro was compact, great to push, robust and lay flat. It is now Nanas pram since our return! It's currently half price at Argos for £50. Bargain! 

Tuesday 3 June 2014

My new fave haircare!


I am a serial hair dyer. Browns, reds, blondes, homedye, salon...my hair gets a battering! My current leach dip dye has really tested my hairs condition leaving it at times dry and (eek) frizzy. My normal hair products were just not cutting it and on the search for something new I discovered the Ultimate Blends range by Garnier. 

The range includes an array of products tailored for six different hair types. I chose 'dry and frizzy'! First thing to say is the products smell amazing. My friends all know about my slight obsession with all things coconut, this is a yummy blend of coconut and coco butter. 

Having quite fine hair I have found anti frizz products in the past have made my hair a bit lank and greasy faster than normal. No such problem here! The shampoo foams really well and leaves hair noticeably softer. I have used the 1 minute treatment once a week for a smooth boost and the hair oil is fantastic used both before and after blow drying and doesn't leave hair greasy looking. 

After a number of weeks using this range my poor bleached ends look healthier and smoother! I'm a convert! 

Available in chemists and supermarkets. 
http://www.garnier.co.uk

Saturday 17 May 2014

Working mummy!

Right from the outset it was always my intention to return to work after the birth of my baby. I remember working out when my maternity leave and thinking how far away work seemed! After Mason was born I had a few blissful months where work didn't even register in my mind.

Then came arranging CHILDCARE. Me and my partner liked the idea of a nursery, interacting with other babies, reliable and we knew some in our area offered flexible days to fit in with my shifts. After looking around three we made are decision and forked out a small fortune (especially on mat pay) for Masons enrollement.
Masons trial days went like a dream. He ate, slept and played at nursery and had 0 meltdowns! One relieved mummy! I got to know the staff a bit and the whole thing really did make me feel much better about leaving him there. 

So the first day back. If I could sum it up, it was like any other day! With a little new background sensation that would rise to the surface in moments of quiet and bring feelings of missing my boy. I'll admit I had a few sneaky moments of gazing at pictures of him! And I had my phone glued to me 'just in case' nursery needed me! 
Me with my other 'hat' on! 

And it's been like that since. I don't appear to have forgotten everything as I somehow feared. In fact I've been quite surprised at the little things such as passcodes that have pinged back into my brain! And *gulp* I've quite enjoyed myself....

Friday 2 May 2014

Skip Hop Dash Changing Bag

I hadn't really spent a great deal of time thinking about which changing bag to get but on yet another preganancy browse in Jojo Maman Bebe this just lept out at me! For a start Masons gender was still a mystery so I didn't want the usual pinks or blues and as our pram was black (definitely needed jazzing up!), this was perfect in the looks department!


This had been our changing bag for 7 months now and in that time it's good looks have been matched with its practicality. It's so roomy, fitting in everything I've ever needed with me, it has many so compartments to stash your essentials in, including a handy mummy section (saves on a handbag!) and insulated bottle compartments. It has a good size change mat included. The fabric is weather proof and is super durable, I think you'll agree that this dosnt look like it's been used every day for 7 months! 


But possibly my favourite feature of my Dash bag is the buggy clips! Absolute genius. How I feel for mums with their lovely looking bags banging against their dirty pram wheels and into their shins! This little number simply clips round my pram handles and sits neatly at an easily accessible position! 


Skip hop produce this bag in a number of lovely prints, and this print is available in I the other bag styles too. For stockists visit: http://www.skiphop.com/home/storelocator/