Tommee Tippee explora's new range of Animal Antics Cups

Animals on Board!

Introducing the all NEW Animal Antics collection from tommee tippee® explora®

The animals are in town and on their way to an Asda store near you!  A new collection of decorated cups to make drink time even more fun!  The Animal Antics range consists of nine new characters each with a unique skill from podium balancing to tightrope walking!

The range of cups from the UK mums’ number one choice, tommee tippee®,  is carefully designed to help baby develop drinking skills without the spills.  The cups have the same patented non-spill easiflow® valve for easy drinking and unique soft-flex spouts to protect gums.*

The new characters are available across 6 cup types including 4m+ 1^st transition cup, 7m+ beaker, 12m+ Sporty and 12m+Sports Bottle. 

Meet the characters and colour them in for your chance to be one of 12 lucky winners to appear in our 2014 Animal Antics calendar.…

NAME: Rory

TALENT: Podium Balancing

ABOUT: Rory has been balancing his whole life and takes pride is his performance. Rory likes to make lots of noise during his act, displaying his strength by roaring fiercely and shaking his mane. 

NAME: The Tempo’s

TALENT: Singing

ABOUT: The Tempo’s are a bird and hippo musical double act. These two have been singing together for many years with birdies sweet voice complementing hippo’s dulcet tone to provide jazzy songs for the crowds to enjoy. 

NAME: Theodore

TALENT: Ball dancer

ABOUT: Theodore is the Master of Ceremonies and has the very prestigious task of introducing all of the acts. He is also a very talented dancer using a special star ball as part of his act and he always finishes with a loud and clear ‘TA DAH!’. 

NAME: Sarah

TALENT: Podium Balancing

ABOUT: Like Rory, Sarah is an expert balancer. She can take a run up and push herself up to jump and land gracefully on top of her podium. She is known for her elegance when performing and when the crowd applauds her she enjoys clapping her fins together. 

NAME: Ellie

TALENT: Tightrope walking

ABOUT: Ellie is the star of the show and the act the audience loves to see. When Ellie performs, she shows daring acrobatics as she tip toes across a tightrope that is suspended at a great height.  

NAME: Chuckles

TALENT: Juggling Unicycle

ABOUT: Chuckles is particularly clever as he is able to ride expertly on his unicycle and juggle at the same time. But because Chuckles enjoys having a good laugh he is always playing jokes that make him laugh so much he can fall off his unicycle. 

NAME: Jazz 

TALENT: Juggling

ABOUT: Because Jazz is a Panda, he has amazing climbing abilities and this has helped him become a great juggling artist. He is able to juggle more quickly than Chuckles and he also likes to juggle along to The Tempo’s lively music. 

NAME: Lulu

TALENT: Jumping hoops

ABOUT: Lulu is one of the great stars of the Animal Magic show. She is able to run fast and jump very high through hoops and is known for her lovely hair and costumes that she makes herself. 

NAME: The Tumblers

TALENT: Tumbling

ABOUT: The Tumbling family have been busy performing their remarkable pyramid for many years. The ants are able to build on top of each other to reach lofty heights then one by one they jump and flip and are caught by their fellow team-mates to safely land. 

The Animal Antics cups are part of the tommee tippee® explora® range, which caters from 4 months to 3 years and includes cups, spoons, tableware and bibs – all affordable, yet fun, bright and high quality from an award-winning brand you can trust.

The tommee tippee® explora® Animal Antics cups are available at Asda priced £4.49 for the First Transition Cup, and £3.99 for all other cups, from 21st October 2013.  They are dishwasher, microwave and steriliser safe and BPA-free.  To find out more and download your colouring sheets for your chance to be in our 2014 Animal Antics calendar, please visit

www.tommeetippee.co.uk/animal-antics

(This is press release. I was not compensated for posting this, I did however, receive a sample to review at a later date.)

Keeping Your Home Clean with a Baby*

As per my blog moniker, C was premature. The first few weeks of his life we were constantly disinfecting our hands before we went anywhere near him. I think this is why I'm more aware of germs and dirt in the house. 

In our household, we have a dog, a husky and he sheds. A LOT. C is at the stage now where he crawls about exploring and picks up anything along the way to put into his mouth. I once caught him trying to put a tiny stone in and yes, a clump of dog hair! With the dog shedding so much I find that we need to vacuum a lot. A brush just doesn't cut it. The white hairs are everywhere. We've owned a lot of cheap vacuums before but my Dyson vacuum is great. 

Source

I genuinely believe that you should invest in your vacuum cleaner. I don't see the point in buying cheap ones that break down every other year. I'd like one that will last throughout C's entire childhood (and maybe even longer!) 

Do you have pets? How do you keep your homes free from hair? 

This is a PR collaboration. 

JD Sports Nike Trainers Review

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to review a pair of trainers of my choice from JD Sports. After much deliberation, I chose a gorgeous pair of Nike Blazers Lo's (worth £65) in size 6. JD Sports are my first port of call when choosing trainers so I was very pleased.

I couldn't wait to receive them and fell in love as soon as I opened the box.

I am usually a size 6 and these fitted really well. The soles are so comfortable it is like walking on clouds (I'm really not joking!). This may sound bit strange, but I do get annoyed at lace length. Many a time, I've been tying my laces and they've been either too short or too long but I have no complaints with these trainers.

My skin is very sensitive. Not just on my feet but all over my body. Every little thing irritates or itches me (I always have to cut the labels out of my t-shirts) and initiall, I did have a bit of a problem with rubbing. I wore them around the house as soon as they arrived then I headed for a 1 hour walk to college. The backs started to rub on my ankles and they did bleed. As I said, I'm used to this. It happens with almost every pair of shoes that I own. I could either keep wearing them until I broke them in or find a solution. I found a solution. Heel grips. I stuck heel grips inside the shoes and I fell in love with them all over again. I never have them off my feet!

You can find JD Sports at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this item in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

All About Me

I was tagged by Deborah over at Super Busy Mum to take part in the super fun All About Me tag which was started by Gina over at Cold Tea & Smelly Nappies.

The rules are easy - answer the questions and then tag five bloggers to take part!

First of all, tell us your name and what you do:

My name is Rebecca and I'm a SAHM to my lovely 13 month old boy. I am also doing a night class in A Level Psychology.

I live at home with:

My two favourite boys! My partner Chris and son, C.

My favourite thing to do is:

Boring answer coming up - spend time with Chris & C! I enter a lot of competitions and I really enjoy that. It's always nice to have a win. Lastly, I have to say, blogging!

My favourite thing to eat is:

This changes all the time! Before I fell pregnant with C, I would have said cheese & tomato toasties but then the pregnancy aversions kicked in and I haven't had one since! I guess at the minute it would have to be Chris's scrambled eggs. I have no idea what his secret is but they're bloody amazing!

When I get cross I:

Blow my lid. Say things that I shouldn't say. I really need to think before I speak. Or count to ten. I cannot control it.

Sometimes I worry because:

We could be here for a long time with this one! I worry about everything. Things that most likely won't happen to me, silly things that aren't worth worrying over... Not a day goes by where I don't say, "Chris, I'm really worried." Today's worry was that C won't stand anymore. He goes straight to his knees.

My favourite book is:

Anything by Chuck Palahniuk. 'Choke', actually. Check him out if you haven't already.

My favourite toy is:

My iPad mini. Oh lordy, best invention ever!

I dislike:

People who don't indicate when driving, people who park their car on the pavement leaving no space for me to push my pram through, ignorance, narrow minded people, vanilla, headaches, liars, confrontation, arrogance, peeing anywhere other than the comfort of my own home, egotistical morons, hypocrites, people grabbing my wrists, hiccups, attention seekers, people who incorrectly use semi-colons, Bono.

When I grow up I want to be:

Happy & stable. Jobwise, I have no idea. But that's okay :)

And there you have it - me!
I tag:

Tara at Thoughts of Tara

Anni at Tales of an M.E. Mummy

Laura at My Life as a Mummy

Kim at Northumberland Mam

Helen at Mummy to the Max

Christmas Shopping

A few days ago, I started to panic as I saw a lot of people writing that they had almost finished their Christmas shopping whereas I had barely started! That night, I purchased a Mega Bloks Steer Me Steve on Amazon and a Sing & Giggle Mickey and felt a bit calmer. I could officially say that I'd started my shopping. 

Chris had the day off yesterday so we decided to get some bits in. 

Mickey Mouse Remote Controlled Car - £9.99, Mickey & Friends Train - £14.99, Mickey Mouse plate - 99p all from B&M Bargains

C is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We watch at least three episodes a day. B&M Bargains, I find, in the best place to find Mickey Mouse toys. We purchased these for him as I know he'll love them. 

Mickey & Friends wrapping paper - £1 each (Poundworld), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Advent Calendar - £2 (Matalan), Santa Plate & Cup - £6 (Matalan)

I had seen this wrapping paper before so I knew I needed to get some in just in case I left it too late and couldn't find any anywhere! I said to my mum yesterday that I planned on getting C an advent calendar this year and just struck lucky by noticing this one. The Santa Plate & Cup was another item that I saw a while back. I want to have a tradition of leaving Santa's treats and milk out and this was so cute that I just had to buy it. 

I had heard that Sainsburys were having a 50% off sale on their toys. I suggested to Chris that we should pop in to have a nosey and we ended up grabbing a basket. The offers were just too good to pass up.

Stacking Fish - £2.49, Spinning Top - £2.49, Felix the Frog - £4.99, First Rescue wooden vehicles - £2.49 each, Little bath swimmers - £1.00 each, Wooden learning books - 2 for £3 

Fantastic bargains! Altogether the total should have come to £36 but we got everything for £20! I'm so pleased especially with the wooden toys. The sale is on instores until Tuesday. 

Had to buy bits for us too! 

Check out our cool new retro canvases! 2 for £4 in B&M Bargains. 

Have you made a dent into your Christmas shopping yet? Have you come across any great toy deals? 

Let me know!

Twin Mum & Dad's Charity Raffle

In 2014 , Twin Mum and Dad from Our IVF Journey will be taking part in a number of events to raise money for Cancer Research UK and for Bliss.

Their first event will be a skydive! Neither of them have done anything like this before, so to say they are nervous is an understatement!

They are hoping to raise £2000 for each charity, but they need your help!

Their first fundraising event is their Fabulous Charity Raffle!

What You Can Win

• £50 Experience Gift Voucher to spend at Experience Days
• £25 voucher to spend at Bunnie Knitwear
• A personalised word art print of your choice from Baby Cakes Treasures

• 2 x Forest Jump vouchers at the Celtic Manor Resort (worth £18 each) courtesy of Giggle Giggle Activities
• A5 plain brown men's leather monsieur notebook courtesy of Ink Thistle worth £12.50

Miller heart pendant and Bubba Bangle from GumiGem worth £21.90 (colour depends on stock) 

• 5 gift vouchers (5 winners) to spend at Personal Planner
• Dancing Fairy Cushion from Little Ragamuffin LTD worth £13.95

• £50 voucher to spend at Teeny Beanies
• Prize (TBC) from The Early Years Boutique
• Make your own sock money kit from Presents for Men worth £6.99

• Bottle Starter Set from MAM worth £30.00
• £20 Voucher to spend at Little Gems Boutique
• Pourty Potty and Flexi Fit Trainer Seat from Pourty worth £24.90
• Pink Snoob Scarf from Snoob worth £25.00
• Resusable Nappy from Baba+Boo worth £9.25
• Mama Bear and Papa Bear Soft Toy from Little Bird Told Me worth £30.00

How do I enter?

Tickets cost £1 each

Important - Once you have donated either online or by text message YOU MUST email:twinmumanddad@virginmedia.com with your FULL NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER and THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE DONATED. This is to allow them to confirm your donation and so that they can contact you if you win.

You can enter by any of the following methods

By Text Message

• (Cancer Research UK) Text TMAD47 to 70070 with the amount you would like to donate, e.g: if you would like to buy one ticket simply text TMAD47 £1 to 70070, if you would like to buy two tickets simply text TMAD47 £2 to 70070, if you would like to buy three tickets simply text TMAD47 £3 to 70070 and so on

• (Bliss) Text TMDB60 to 70070 with the amount you would like to donate, e.g: if you would like to buy one ticket simply text TMDB60 £1 to 70070, if you would like to buy two tickets simply text TMDB60 £2 to 70070, if you would like to buy three tickets simply text TMDB60 £3 to 70070 and so on

Online

• Click here to donate to their Just Giving Cancer Research UK page. If you would like to buy one ticket, simply donate £1, for two tickets donate £2, for three tickets donate £3 and so on.

• Click here to donate to their Just Giving Bliss page. If you would like to buy one ticket, simply donate £1, for two tickets donate £2, for three tickets donate £3 and so on.

REMEMBER - Once you have donated either online or by text message YOU MUST email:twinmumanddad@virginmedia.com with your FULL NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER and THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE DONATED. This is to allow them to confirm your donation and so that they can contact you if you win.

Terms and Conditions

• This raffle is open to individuals resident in Great Britain aged 16 years or over. Any person found to be under 16 years of age automatically forfeits the right to any prize. Proof of identitiy may be requested
• Tickets cost £1 each
• Monies raised by the raffle will go to the work of CRUK which is a regisitered charity in England and Wales (1089464) and in Scotland (SCO41666) and also to the work of Bliss which is a registered charity in England and Wales (1002973) and in Scotland (SCO40878)
• Payment for participation in the Raffle can be made by debit card via our Just Giving pages or via text message
• We take no liability for entries from which the prize winner cannot be identified
• The closing date is 25th December 2013. Tickets after this date will not be entered into the draw and monies will be treated as a donation
• The Raffle draw will take place on 4th January 2014 at Twin Mummy and Daddys residence
• The winners will be the drawn at random from all entries received by the closing date and prizes will be awarded in order of selection
• The results of the raffle draw are final and communication about them will not be entered into
• Winners will be notified by email or telephone no later than 11th January 2014
• Prizes are shown above
• All prizes are also subject to the terms and conditions of the prize provider
• By entering the raffle, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (which may be amended at any time by Twin Mummy (aka Emily Higgins). Any entries not complying with these terms and conditions will not be valid
• If you have any queries or complaints please emailtwinmumanddad@virginmedia.com
• We reserve the right to award any prizes not claimed after three months to an alternative winner
• A list of the surnames of the winners will be available on this page by 31st January 2014
• We reserve the right to reject any entry (and award any prize to an alternative winner) if we have grounds to believe the entrant has breached any of these terms conditions, acted fraudulently or illegally or on other reasonable grounds