Clarks Summer Jubilee Collection

When Abby started walking, we decided that her first pair of shoes had to be special and good for her little feet. We didn't need to discuss and both agreed that it had to be Clarks shoes. The process from choosing the right pair of shoes to fitting was really pleasant, and the sales was ever so patient. She made it even more special by taking a Polaroid picture of Abby in her first shoes, which we have now kept it in her keepsake box.

After she grew older, we started to buy her shoes from other places. We have no doubt that Clarks shoes are better for her, but it would hurt our wallets a lot if we buy shoes for running, sandals, boots and wellies from Clarks, about twice a year.

Funny thing is, every health adviser and feet specialist we spoke to, all recommended shoes from Clarks by naming their brand. They are the best fitted and most supportive shoes that helps children's feet to develop.

Although we can't afford to buy all our children shoes from Clarks, we certainly will buy them whenever possible.

At the moment Clarks are doing a Summer Jubilee kids collection, and they are really adorable!

This Rio Wish (£32.00) has two gems at the front, making it all sparkly and angelic. The Active Air cushioning makes it even more comfortable to wear.

Sunset Love (£30.00) is one of my favourite, as it is pretty and stylish! They have added a zip at the back to make it easier to put it on, which is very clever. They also do a lovely light pink one, matching the name perfectly. Very romantic!

Aren't these cute?! Cruiser Time (£24.00) is no doubt the most suitable first shoes for the little feet!

I wonder whether these will be Clay's first shoes when he starts to walk, I love the name Piranha Boy (£16.00) and the little feisty Piranhas on the shoes. Love the colour combination, and the price is not bad either!

Awwww look at these Diplosand (£26.00) in Tan colour! I just bought Clay an orange top and this will go perfectly well with it! The navy one is £10 off though, hmmm decision decision.

All this online shopping really makes me want to buy a pair now, but for better fitting, it's best to pop into their shop.

Homemade Baby Food vs Baby Food in a Jar?

Image from Cow&Gate website

Since young I have been told that we were fed baby food from a jar. I never thought that it was wrong, nor do I ever wondered why I wasn't fed with homemade food for all my meals. In fact, I thought it was quite cute, the food smelled nice and the sound of the spoon clinking against the jar really bring back some flashbacks. So when it was my turn to become a mummy, my mind was set to buying baby food in jars.

But I was bombarded with opinions from other mums. 'Why don't you cook your own? It's very easy and you just need to freeze the rest' 'I only give homemade food to my baby' 'There are lots of additives in the jars aren't there? Best to cook your own' etc etc. 

Although annoyed, they have never changed my mind about feeding baby food in jars. If I grew up with these, why can't I feed my baby with them too? If I have cooked my own it would be plain mash of one or maximum two types of vegetables. With these jars, there is a huge variety and each with interesting ingredients, eg Shepherd's Pie or Banana Custard.

My first one was happy with the potted food I gave her. If it wasn't because my second one didn't like pureed food but went straight from milk to whole grain rice, I would have given him the same food. (Wasted all the jars I've bought, must pass them on soon)

On Monday Fiona Wilcock, an independent public health nutritionist and food writer, published a report called Lifting the Lid on Baby Foods. She investigated food practices by Cow & Gate, from the source, farmers, to processing and when the food reached the babies. After reading the report (it's very interesting, you should read it!) I'm tempted to make both my children go back to eating baby food in jars! (By Cow&Gate at least)

Not only does Cow & Gate stick to strict guidelines for making baby food, they have added their own additional guidelines to ensure that their baby food are of best quality and perfectly safe to eat for babies.

They made sure that their ingredients came from farmers who has "food for babies" in mind and works with specialists in growing baby grade food, in a location that has the least contamination with the perfect growing condition and still close to the processing plant to ensure freshness. Food are grown and reared for quality and safety, but not how they look, which means minimal pesticides, much lower than the legalised amount of 10 parts per billion (equivalent to a drop of water in two Olympic sized swimming pools) in baby food, although you won't be able to source them from a supermarket because of the looks (wonky apples, bananas that might be too straight, blemished skin on fruits, etc)

They do not use organic ingredients, as they are more focused on creating their own baby grade ingredients, which are even better. Did you know that there are no legal control on nitrates, mycotoxins or heavy metals in supermarket organic ingredients? And how safe do you think it is to eat free range chicken and egg, when they are free to roam and eat whatever is on the ground, which could be covered with contaminated soil?

Cow & Gate rear their chicken in a large barn that has plenty of room for the chicken to stretch and roam, which means that they have a life that is almost as good as a free range chicken, but no contaminated meat.

They also use no salt at all in their baby food, and there are no sugar in their savoury food. Sugar in desserts are minimal, but majority of their dessert recipes has excluded sugar already, while they are working on the rest to exclude sugar entirely from their range. There is no need for preservative because of the high heat (maximum of 125 degree Celsius) cooking after the food are jarred, ensuring longer shelf life.

Nutrients such as Vitamin C might be lost during the heating process, but they have preserved as much nutrients as they can at each stage, while nutrients lost weren't prevented as much from store bought ingredients we keep around in the room or fridge until we cook them.

I don't know about you, but after reading the report, and looking at our own lifestyle, I really do think that the baby food from a jar sounded much better than what we eat (salt, sugar, sauces...)

Disclosure: I was not paid in any way to write this post. I wrote it out of personal interest and a feel for redemption; all opinions are honest and my own

Stuck on You Personalised Children Toiletry Bag Giveaway

When there was just me and my hubby, we had a  tidy  tidier house. After having Abby, the stuff we have started to grow. Now that she's almost going to primary school, she has even more belongings, and our bathroom is running out of space. So when Stuck on You offered me a children toiletry bag to review, I was really excited. Another storage solution perhaps, even when we are not travelling?

When I was told it was personalised, I thought they meant that I can put her name on. Apparently you can choose the colour of the bag as well as the design that will be ironed on the front as well.

I was fascinated with the amount of designs you can choose from on their page. They were all so pretty and cute that it took me and Abby a while before deciding on a cupcake with her name on (I would have gone for a bird house but oh well). There are three bag colours to choose from, blue, red and pink, and you can add a name on within 10 characters limit.

When you make a change to the bag, it will immediately show on the preview, so you will have a good idea what you will be getting, instead of guessing which pattern will go with what colour.

The bag is strong, being made from durable poly canvas, and it is fully lined inside as well. I love the stripy pattern inside, making it more interesting, and there is plenty of spaces to put bits and bobs in.

Not only is it great for travelling, we can just keep Abby's toiletries in the bag, so we can have more space for our clutter. And when we do go on a holiday, we won't need a huge toiletry bag to put all our toiletries in, and then try to dig deep into the bag just to look for an electric toothbrush head.

Stuck on You is an Australian brand, specialises in personalised children products, from stationery and bags to household items and puzzles. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

The lovely people at Stuck on You are giving away a personalised children toiletry bag of your choice to one of my lucky reader. Simply follow the instructions in the rafflecopter, design your own bag and let me know what your chosen design will be. Terms and conditions are listed inside the rafflecopter as well.

This giveaway will end on Tuesday 20th June, 2012. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! x


Disclosure: I was given a toiletry bag to review; all opinions are honest and my own

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My Baby is One Today

A year ago, I was in the hospital pushing an 8lb baby out with epidural that did not work. I still remember a doctor (there were so many going in and out) telling me that the baby was suffering and I must push. It turned out that the baby was fine and the doctor actually specialised in C-section. I was her first natural case.

The first few months was hard. He would not feed without chewing my nipples off, and I almost gave up breastfeeding him a few times. His cries in the middle of the night echoed throughout the house, and we constantly wondered whether the neighbours have moved bedroom so they can get a better sleep. I was also getting upset as I was spending less time with my daughter and I felt really sorry for her.

Then suddenly, everything has settled down. We all got used to our life and routine, and time flew by so quick that it only seemed like yesterday when he was still a baby that could only lie in his cot, watching the sky.

One year later, this baby can already call dadee, mama and tzetze (big sister), waves at Baby Jake's brothers and sisters, hum out of tune songs, sit, crawl, stand, climb, walk with his walker, and stand on his own subconsciously. Within this year, he has grown so much we wish he could slow down a bit, stay as a baby for a bit longer. But seems like this baby can't wait!

No matter what, we wish the coming year will be filled with fun, excitements, happiness and laughter.

Happy Birthday! 

From your dearest mummy, daddy and sister xxx