CHRISTMAS PUDDING (DARK) MAKES ONE PUDDING- FOR A TWO PINT PUDDING BASIN 85g raisins 55g currants 100g sultanas 40g chopped mixed peel 110g mixed dried apricots and figs, chopped 145ml brown ale 1 tablespoon rum grated zest and juice of half an orange grated zest and juice of half a lemon 55g prunes, stoned and soaked overnight in cold tea, then drained and chopped ½ dessert apple 110g butter, softened 170g soft dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon of treacle 1.5 […]

I really like winter, especially the build up to Christmas but I always worry about the cold and my children not being wrapped up enough. I can’t stand it when you see a child being pushed in a buggy done up to the nines with a coat, hat and gloves but then their legs are left uncovered! I always think they must be chilly so I like to make sure my little ones have lots of layers which can be […]

As with all the Sassy Toys we have (and we have a few cause they’re fab), the one we’ve been trying out most recently has impressed me no end! Jimmy has until recently (when two came through) been really struggling with his teeth and before long the next round will start and this particular toy will be oodles of help (as well as fun for him)! It is, of course a teether, but a rather fab one at that, it has […]

In the past I have only ever practiced yoga from a flashy gym. As part of the membership I had prior to having children, when time and money were not really much of a thought let alone a problem, both my husband and I were avid gym fans! I mainly went because I liked the sauna and steam room and would push myself through a punishing workout with that as a reward at the end. I tried (and ended up […]

Askamum love my blog, ooo-errr how exciting! Has anyone else got a bloody cat like mine? I often wonder but I think he’s actually one on his own if I’m honest! Ok, so part of the problem might be because we live in the upstairs flat of a converted terraced house and he doesn’t have his own garden but boy does he make a meal of it! So we got this cat, Bollo is his name, when we first bought our […]

Gosh we had a lovely time trying out the new 2013 range for Chicco this morning. Sampling all the new products and we had to literally drag ourselves away as we were enjoying it so much! Not to mention Brendon Cole and his heavily pregnant wife turning up which made us want to stay even longer! Florence and I actually had a little chat with Brendan about how much we like the dancing but I was too shy to ask […]

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t heard of a Pillow Pet. Even if you haven’t got a television and seen the advert with its catchy jingle then I’m sure you’ve still seen them somewhere! Children absolutely love them. When Jimmy was born we gave Florence the Comfy Panda Pillow Pet as she’d been after one for ages and we wrapped her some new pyjamas inside him for if she had to stay at my or Jonny’s parents houses over night. […]

I’ve been reading a lot on Twitter about the ‘outrage’ (said quite sarcastically from me there) regarding the Asda Christmas advert this year! It depicts a Mum organising the whole of Christmas with very little help from the rest of the family and at the end says something along the lines of  ‘Thank Mum for Christmas’. So some people have taken this as a massive sexist hit at women and the ‘how dare they’ brigade have been out in force… […]

I can’t believe it but I’m actually feeling quite Christmassy! It’s a little early I know but hey, it’s the most exciting time of the year right? I love the festive season and in our house it’s a very busy time so we need to start early. On top of Christmas it’s also my Father in law’s birthday and my and Jonny’s ‘first becoming a couple’ anniversary on Christmas Eve, Florence’s birthday on New Year’s Eve and then Jonny’s birthday […]

For a month or so now we’ve been using ‘Botty Bliss‘ by Mama Baby Bliss! It’s a delicate cream for the blissfulness of your little ones botty and we’re keen, just as we are on the Mama Baby Bliss classes which we have tried out in the past. This nappy cream is made with bee’s wax, coconut and sweet almond oil as well as other natural ingredients and has a lovely fresh smell which lasts until the next change. As […]