WIN a Year’s Subscription to Azoomee

Azoomee is a digital entertainment service for primary school-aged kids offering TV shows, games, audio-books and an art studio all in one safe app, allowing users to watch, play and learn online. 

The app’s partnership with the NSPCC means parents can relax in the knowledge their kids are secure from harmful content, ads and hidden in-app purchases, whilst the company’s focus on engaging users curiosity means Azoomee has curated only the most educational and exciting selection of content. 

Innocent Alphabet Champions - X is for...

I'm a big fan of innocent as a brand. Not only are their smoothies and veg pots really delicious and convenient when on the go, but they make sneaking in a couple of those well needed 5 a day a doddle, especially when it comes to the kids! They use plenty of fruit in their drinks so they are bursting with flavour and they even make tubes which are 100% puree and juice that are ideal for lunch boxes. I couldn't really ask for more, especially with them currently being half price in many supermarkets too. We certainly took advantage of the offer recently.

Back To School With Smiggle - WIN A £50 Bundle

The fresh uniforms are ironed and labelled, the fridge is stocked with lunch box goodies and the new bags are hung up above the shiny shoes. Although selecting all of these new items is fun, getting the stationery and pencil cases is our favourite part of going back to school and we like to seek out the most fun and quirky products available. It makes writing those stories and drawing those pictures a little more exciting doesn't is? 

Smiggle certainly helps with this!

Preparing for School - The Uniform Edition

As the summer holidays approach many of us will be thinking of days at the beach, playing in the garden and picnics at the park but it's important to be prepared for September, whether your children are returning to school or starting for the first time. Being organised early enables you to enjoy the break without worrying last minute about purchasing shoes and blazers, when the size and style you require could be out of stock. 

Our school uniform guide should help you to remember everything you need!

Polo Tops and Shirts

Some schools prefer one or the other so ensure you order the correct style and in the necessary colour. If you opt for shirts then it might be wise to get a few long and short sleeved versions, or even

The Cost of Going Back to School

Kitting the kids out for school over the summer can be an expensive ordeal and quite often by half term things need replacing so you can find yourself forking out money yet again!

 I'm lucky that so far nothing is broken, ripped or missing, and therefore I don't need to purchase new stationery or uniform, but some extra costs have popped up already since the beginning of the school year.










Minxy will soon be going swimming - she will need a swimming bag, new costume and cap to wear.
Jamster will soon be doing outdoor activities - he will need jogging bottoms to replace his shorts.
Minxy is playing the cello again and any damage could cost me up to £400, hopefully she will take good care of it as she normally does, although accidents do happen!
Jamster is getting more and more homework and could do with a tablet or laptop for his research.


Although we don't pay for education all of these little thing still add up and no doubt they will both have a growth spurt just after Christmas and school shoes plus plimsolls will need buying! I also have the cost of school trips and cake baking this Friday, which could be classed as optional, but I don't want the Mini Mes to miss out so it's just another expense that needs paying. There is a lot of pressure on parents to provide and although I don't personally struggle financially there are families that do.

BrightHouse surveyed over 3000 parents with children of Primary, Secondary and College age to see how much they spent on going back to school. You can view the interactive animation with all off the findings here:

http://www.brighthouse.co.uk/cost-of-back-to-school/.

As children get older it would appear that it generally costs more for them to go to school with the average spend on a primary aged child being £140, on a secondary aged child being £250 and a college aged child being £325.

How do you feel about the costs of going to school?


*In collaboration with BrightHouse*

The Funny Things Kids Say and Do... Doodles

The Mini Mes had a successful start to the academic year with them both settling in to their new classes well and liking their new teachers - woohoo! 

At the end of last week Jamster returned home with some of the artwork he had created during the first two days at school. He told me that he was allowed to draw whatever he wanted. 

So he drew a Kangaroo... 

A dog covered in spikes... 

And his friend stood on the toilet peering over into another cubicle...

Apparently this didn't actually happen (thankfully) but his friend is in fact a spy and this was his secret mission! 

I love his imagination. 

How have your children settled in at school? 

I'm linking this with...

 

Reasons to be happy - Movies, Back to School and Weddings

I have very mixed feelings about today as the Mini Mes return to school. At the same time as looking forward to the end of the bickering, a healthier bank balance and some form of routine I will miss them so much! Both of them seemed reasonably pleased at the thought of going back this morning and the chance to see their friends so fingers crossed that they will have a good day.

We didn't get to complete our bucket list but we can always extend it into the Autumn which is something nice to look forward to!


Tuesday was a lovely evening for the Mr and I. We firstly picked up our new car, a beautiful Insignia, before going out for dinner and then on to the cinema. With huge pots of Ben and Jerry's we took our seats on the back row.... before realising we were in a subtitled viewing! I actually found it quite amusing that the Mr, who had looked at the screenings for the film Elysium, hadn't noticed. I do like a good sci-fi/action movie so it was still enjoyable even if the words were a little distracting.

I've had my nails done with glitter tips and 3D roses as this weekend we are off to Liverpool for my brother's wedding - the first wedding in our family for 20 years! I'm not looking forward to dressing up, I really don't like formal events, but I am very excited to see the Mini Mes and Mr in all of their beautiful new outfits, celebrating a special occasion and having a catch up with family that I haven't seen in a while.

Good times!

What reasons do you have to be cheerful this week?

Back to School - Brantano Shoes

Getting the Mini Mes school shoes is a task that I leave as late as possible over the summer as they always seem to have a last minute growth spurt! It also means the crowds have calmed down a little too so I have a lot more time to browse brands and styles without the dreaded queues.

We went to our local Brantano at the end of last week to try out their free fitting service and I was pleasantly surprised by how stress-free and organised the process was. Our nearest Brantano, situated at Riverside Northampton, is part of a retail park so there is plenty of free parking and lots of other stores and restaurants nearby too.

Upon arrival we headed to the children's shoe area where we were greeted by a friendly member of staff who added our name to his clipboard so we could wait to be served in order - I don't think I've ever experienced this before but it was a great idea!

After just a few minutes we were guided to seats and the assistant measured the Mini Mes feet writing down the sizes so I could take my time looking at the shoes without worrying that I would forget. Minxy was between a 13.5 and a 1 with a G in width and Jamster was a size 12G.

The variety of shoes was superb and Minxy picked out several pairs of Clarks and a pair of Skittles to try. Jamster also picked up several pairs of Clarks and a pair of Start-rite shoes with impressive added scuff protection on the front. 

Once the shoes were selected we returned to the seating area to have them fitted properly by a lovely assistant named Beth who remained with us until the process was complete. She spoke to us and the children, felt around the shoes explaining what she was doing and kept us well informed about how shoes should be fitted correctly. She then asked the children one at a time to go for a walk around the store to check that the chosen footwear was comfortable and to ensure that they weren't slipping on the heel/ankle. She checked the shoes again and actually advised us against certain styles of shoes (the children both have wide feet but small ankles), honesty that I really appreciate as a parent. After only a few minutes the Mini Mes had tried on all of the pairs that they liked and found the perfect fit.

Beth was very patient, polite and helpful and seemed to really care. I didn't feel pressurised to buy anything had I not of wanted to which is the kind of shopping experience that I like.

She labelled and placed the boxes behind the counter for us so I could pick up a few stationery items with ease before going to the checkout to complete the purchase.

The shoes we bought...

Girls Clarks Daisy Rain £38

Boys Start-Rite Arachnid £45

We were provided with 2 cards, each with details about when the children should be measured next and a 15% discount on the reverse which was a nice bonus. The huge range of shoes combined with good service would definitely encourage me to return to the store in the near future.

WIN

For your chance to win free school shoes for a year all you need to do is email your back to school photos to backtoschool@brantano.co.uk For every photo received Brantano will donate 10p to children’s charity Tommy’s, to help raise vital funds towards their lifesaving research into stillbirth, premature births and miscarriage. 

Have you tried Brantano's fitting service yet?

*We received 50% off our footwear for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own*

Motivation and Meal Planning Monday

The Mini Mes return to school this week so I've stocked up on lunch box goodies and popped some of their favourites onto the menu...

This weeks menu

Lasagne and garlic ciabatta
Roast chicken with stuffing, roast potatoes and vegetables
Pepperoni and cheese stuffed pasta with tomato sauce and salad
Salmon en croute with new potatoes and vegetables
Slow cooked chilli con carne with rice


With the kids going back to school it also means I can step up the exercise and hopefully lose some more weight. 15lb down and a few more to go!

My weight loss motivation for the week is...

What is on your menu? What motivates you?

Have a great week!

Encouraging Kids To Eat (At School)

When you aren't around to encourage them to eat or when they are eager to get outside to play with friends, you may find your little one brings a lot of their packed lunch home but there are ways around that!

Over the years, 5 now since Minxy started school, I've tried various methods to ensure the Mini Mes come home having eaten properly and hopefully my tips will help ensure your little ones get the nutrients they need each day too. Children can be fussy eaters at the best of times so whether your little ones are returning to school this September or starting for the first time it's a good idea to make their food fun...

Lunch boxes

Try to pick a lunch bag that is both practical (easy to clean and stores everything inside) and interesting. Let your child choose their favourite character if possible so even when school may be slightly daunting they have a recognisable figure nearby! There is a large selection available at the Internet Gift Store, some of which come with a water bottle too, which includes Moshi Monsters, Skylanders, Hello Kitty and Jamster's favourite; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Notes

Leaving little messages for your loved one is a nice surprise and will let them know you are thinking of them when you aren't around. They may feel a bit home sick after a 6 week holiday so this is a lovely way to let them know what fun you can have together after their day, that you care about them or that you are proud of their achievements.

Stickers

Rewarding good behaviour doesn't have to only happen at home, you can pop a well done sticker in with their lunch too as a way to praise them - another way to encourage them to eat! If you wanted to, you could even have a miniature chart on the inside of their lunch bag which they can fill in each day once a meal is complete then give a bigger reward at the weekend!

Get them involved

I've learnt from experience that children generally eat more if they have been involved with the preparation so let them give a helping hand if they want to. Preparing lunch the night before gives them time to butter bread or arrange items nicely inside their bag without a mad morning rush.

Variation

Providing the same food day in and out isn't particularly exciting so offer different meals each day. Even if it's a salad instead of a sandwich or a wrap instead of a roll, variation will make lunch time much more appealing. Try to offer different fillings and different flavours and test out a few new ideas over the summer to see what they do and don't like in advance. Making the appearance more attractive will help too - use cutters and food picks to make a meal they can't wait to see, and hopefully eat.

 

How do you encourage your child to eat?

*Sponsored post*

Back to School - Top Tips

The summer holiday may have only just begun but being organised is the key to a stress-free return to school next month! 

Sainsbury's have taken the hassle away all term long with their high quality and great value easy-care school clothing, but hopefully my tips will help the transition in September go as smoothly as possible.

Uniform

Buy your uniform as early as possible. You don't want to be searching for the right size and shade at the last minute, when stores are low on stock, and remember you will still need time to label everything too. Write a list of the items needed in advance so you don't forget anything and shop about for the best deals which includes your local supermarket. It's also a good idea to take advantage of the changing rooms and make sure everything fits properly!

Shoes

Shoes are something you can leave until a little later on, especially as children's feet grow so quickly and they are one of the more expensive items you will require. Ensure you have both suitable school shoes and any footwear needed for sports which may be trainers or plimsolls. Get them fitted by staff in the store and wear them at home a few times to make sure they are comfortable - you don't want them rubbing and causing blisters!

Timing

You may be a little more relaxed with bed times and getting up over the summer but try to get back into the habit of setting an alarm for the last week so that everyone's body clock is back to normal. 

You don't want to be dragging sleepy and grumpy children to school on the first day or arriving late.

Travel

Plan your route. If you have had little ones at school for a few years already you will know how long the school run takes and when to leave home. If you have children starting school for the first time though it's a good idea to have a practise walk or drive to see how long the journey takes and add a few minutes on for parking or delays just in case.

Stationery

Although stationery is mandatory for some children and it's often nice to pick out themed pencil cases and colours, don't buy them if they aren't needed. Smaller children, those in reception and year 1 in particular, may not need them so check with the school and save the money for an extra trip out over the summer instead. 

Storage

Children often opt for backpacks and lunch boxes with their favourite characters but make sure that they are practical for carrying their things in. Are they large enough to hold everything? Is there space for a water bottle? Think ahead so nothing gets squished come September.

What tips do you have for going back to school?

You can find some great back to school products here:
http://www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/occasions/back-to-school/

*Sponsored post*

Back to School - The Gallery

That time has come. The day where the Mini Mes have gone back to school, to begin year 2 and 4. An uncomfortable silence lingers with the memories of the summer holiday before I head back off to work this afternoon and normality returns.

Preparations for this day started a few weeks ago however. I had to purchase new uniforms, bags and stationery and their dad got their new shoes last week.

I always wash their new uniforms before they wear them so that they smell fresh and here are all (12) of their little polo tops hung out to dry!

I cant believe how fast the summer holiday went!

Or how fast they are growing...

Back to school today!

The Gallery theme this week is Back to School - you can link up your posts over at Sticky Fingers.

If your little one is starting school or returning this checklist and tips post may help!
Alternatively you can link up your favourite summer fun posts.

The Best Bits

Today is the last day of the summer holidays for us and the ideal opportunity to look back over the past 6 and a half weeks at all of the fun we have had.

You can link up your posts below to share too.

The Best Bits...

"My favourite part of the holiday was camping and then Lollibop" Minxy

"I loved the Skylanders at Lollibop and camping too. And my new Lego Batman. Ooo and Duxford with Dad" Jamster

I personally enjoyed just spending quality time with my family. The lazy mornings with no rushing about getting ready for work and school were lovely. Enjoying the garden in the sunshine (when it did make an appearance) and seeing the kids happy with all of our day trips, crafts and baking makes me happy too. The past few weeks seemed to have flown by though don't they! I am however looking forward to Autumn with Halloween closely followed by Winter, although you might need some rainy day ideas for nearer the time!

Our summer in pictures...

What was the best part of your summer?

What are you most looking forward to now that the summer is over?

If you have written a post on the summer in general or on a particular day trip, activity or holiday you can link it below if you like and I'll pop over for a look!

Smencils - Scented Pencils

With the Mini Mes returning to school next week we have been busy purchasing new bags, uniform and of course stationery. 

We were recently sent some Smencils to review from Learning Resources and we will definitely be popping them into their character pencil cases to take in with them!

Smencils are made from 100% recycled newspaper and are the world's only scented pencils. They have their own biodegradable tube to guarantee freshness for two years and come in 25 scents. You can buy them in colour and graphite and there are also black ink ballpoint pens known as Smens available too!

We received a starter set of 5 original Robinsons Fruit Shoot Smencils to try. The scents included were blackcurrant and apple, summer fruits, tropical, apple and orange. They all smell delicious, just like the scent that they are meant to. After having a sniff the Mini Mes got a pad of paper out to test them, discovering that they sharpen and draw well and the rubber to the end is handy for errors - they were keen to doodle for much longer than usual due to the yummy smell.

Smencils can be purchased in sets or individually so you can soon have a collection of all of your favourite scents. They are great value so ideal for both party bags and to use pocket money on with seasonal Smencils available too for Halloween, Valentine's Day and Christmas.

Learning Resources currently have a competition where you can win 1 of 10 sets of Robinsons Fruit Shoot Smencils. You can enter here before 7th September - Smencils competition. Good Luck!

Project 366, 230/366 - Back to school

Having popped to Tesco to pick up some salmon for dinner, I came across the back to school range and thought I would pick up a few bits for Minxy. I already purchased Jamster's Spiderman goodies for September and as she is a BIG Hello Kitty fan these were ideal!