New Children’s Menu at Yang Sing

Posted on March 31, 2014 by alison

Introduce your little ones to a taste of Chinatown

Learning about Chinese New Year has become an annual feature in many a school curriculum. So when Yang Sing announced that they were about to launch their new children’s menu – and invited us in to road test it, regular guest blogger Eve was up for the challenge.

Eager to introduce her fussy eaters to a different style of cuisine, Seth (6) and Louisa (4) were a tough audience to crack*. However a glimpse of the menu beforehand, some hands on dim sum action, chop stick drum sticks and delicious noodles saw Eve giving the new children’s menu at Yang Sing the thumbs up!

*The kids are a bit younger in the photo below.

Over to you Eve ……

My children are fussy eaters. It is the biggest test of parenting skills.

I have allowed food to be a battle sometimes and it is something I am trying to rectify.

Seth, my eldest is just about turning a corner and is becoming inquisitive about food. Just as he is about the world around him, he has realised that trying new food is fun. It is just wonderful for me to watch him keen to try new foods.

I am wondering if this will rub off on his little sister.

I am not holding out much hope. She is a fierce little girl and knows her own mind. Nothing much can change it. She doesn’t do bribes. She is not into material things. If she is not going to do something, then she is absolutely not going to do it. Getting her to try Chinese was going to be a challenge!

We’ve never been to a Chinese restaurant before

Taking all of this into account, going to a Chinese restaurant is not something we have ever done. We go out to eat a lot and the children love it, so we were really excited to be given the chance to go and try out the new children’s menu at Yang Sing (£6.50 per child).

Dim Sum
Make your own spring rolls
Complete dim sum making set with miniature chopsticks
Your spring roll set comes with pastry and filling
Simply fill and fold your spring rolls, then hand them back to us

.
Select a little main for
your little person
Stir fried chicken with beansprouts,
sliced onions and soft noodles
(vegetarian alternative available)
or
The classic chicken fried rice
(vegetarian alternative available)
or
Honey roasted char sui pork with
steamed jasmine rice & sweet soy

Dessert
Free ice cream with all children’s meals
Choose from: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate

The menu comes with instructions for how to fold a spring roll!

A trip to Chinatown

Seth has learnt about Chinese New Year for three years running and it is one of his favourite topics, so taking him to ‘Chinese’ as he calls Chinatown was a new adventure for him. Louisa doesn’t look so keen does she!

We arrived and the children loved the chopsticks. So much so, they were using them as drumsticks on their plates…thankfully there was no-one else near us.

The menus look really fun and the guys made a bee-line for them as they usually do when we eat out. Louisa being the colouring in connoisseur that she is, and keen to throughly road test her Chinatown experience, asked for crayons to colour and draw. I think kids expect them these days when they see a paper menu so we fed back that a stack of colouring in implements would be a good investment when they launch the new kids menu.

Make your own dim sum

The make your own dim sum for the children came really quickly.

Always a bonus with hungry children mithering you when their food is coming. Louisa was a bit concerned when she saw the ingredients, but Seth was interested in it and had a go at rolling his spring roll.

The waiter showed us how to do it and was so helpful.

I was useless at them, there is definitely a knack to it. Again Louisa was reluctant to get involved, but Seth took to it like a (crispy) duck to water.

They were taken back to the kitchen and arrived back with us in super-quick time. Again, a bonus. They were absolutely delicious and I was blown away when Seth ate and loved them. He would never have tried them at home.

Try your hand at chopsticks

Next up was the noodles. Seth really wanted to know how to use his chopsticks and the waiting staff were so lovely showing him and us how to use them.

Seth was definitely better than us. He woofed down his noodles using his chopsticks, again this was a sight to behold for us.

They were absolutely gorgeous and the portion sizes were not too overwhelming, just right for little people.

Ice Cream

The kids loved the ice-cream. Make sure you tell the staff your chosen flavour. We had vanilla which Seth said was delicious.

All in all, I was really impressed with the service and the menu and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to other families. Seth loved it, Louisa was more cautious, but all in all a thumbs up. My advice is to show your children the menu beforehand and be prepared to encourage them to try something a bit different.

Eve, Seth and Louisa x

Photographs: Eve Bell

Disclosure

Articles by Eve:

Nappy Natters

Potty training tips

Saving us from boring baby stuff

It’s Real Nappy Week 2013

Making jewellery with children

Baba+Boo’s gorgeous new Woodland Collection

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week 2012

Nappy Natters

Posted on January 29, 2014 by alison

Find out all about cloth nappies at Baba + Boo’s events

If you want to learn more about cloth nappies in a relaxed setting then head over to one of Baba+Boo’s free Nappy Natters events. You’ll even come away with a freebie or two to try out for yourself.

Recycle for Greater Manchester is partnering with Eve from Baba+Boo to encourage parents in Greater Manchester to use cloth nappies on their little ones from birth to potty.

The Nappy Natter events will take place throughout 2014 to help parents make an informed choice on using cloth nappies as an alternative to disposables.

Eve will demonstrate the benefits of using the convenient, snug, super cool cloth that make economic and environmental sense.

Disposable nappies can cost, on average, £1,000 from birth to potty, compared to £160 for a basic real nappies birth to potty kit, which could save parents up to £800.

Cloth nappies are the natural, washable and re-usable alternative to disposable nappies and there are plenty to choose from. The aim of the partnership between Baba+Boo and Recycle for Greater Manchester is to help to dispel the myth they are difficult to use.

Eve’s really excited to get out on the road to show parents the benefits of cloth nappies. Not only are they better for babies and their futures, they’re really cute!.

Baba+Boo will be visiting maternity units, coffee shops and baby groups across Greater Manchester and will have free samples too for parents to try them out. The first two dates are:

Chorlton Library

February 4th 2014, 10.30am-12.30pm
Manchester Road, Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester, M21 9PN

Bean and Brush in Sale

February 7 10.30am-12.30pm
The Old Sorting Office, 12 Hayfield Walk, Sale, Cheshire, M33 7XW

so make sure you keep in touch with Baba+Boo on their website and Facebook page to see where else they will be visiting.

Alison x (your 4Manchester Women Editor)

Photographs: Baba+Boo

Disclosure

Web site: babaandboo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/babaandboo

Twitter: @babaandboo

Phone: +44 (0) 7814 315385

Email: info@babaandboo.com

Articles by Eve:

Potty training tips

Saving us from boring baby stuff

It’s Real Nappy Week 2013

Making jewellery with children

Baba+Boo’s gorgeous new Woodland Collection

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week 2012

Kids bowl free on Mondays

Posted on July 31, 2013 by alison

During the school holidays at Dog Bowl

Dog Bowl is the new(ish) retro bowling alley – underneath one of the arches on Whitworth Street in Manchester city centre. We popped along just after it launched in April to give it the once over (read all about it here).

We visited again this week to see how they’ve been getting on – and to help them launch their Kids Bowl for Free promotion!

Yes, you heard correctly! Kids under the age of 12 can bowl for free between the hours of 12 noon and 6pm every Monday throughout the school holidays (July 29th – Sept 2nd). Children must be accompanied by an adult, though the adult doesn’t need to be bowling!

We went with Eve from Baba+Boo and her two star bowlers Seth (6 years) and Louisa (4 years).

After a surprisingly strong start – I was beaten handsomely by 4 year old Louisa, closely followed by the ultra competitive Seth! The kids loved it – and we loved the fact that the bumper rails at the sides came up automatically each time it was Seth or Louisa’s turn.

I’m delighted to report that our feedback last time has resulted in some baby changing facilities – all they need now are a few smaller tables and chairs at the bowling stations, and we’ll be able to pronounce them properly family friendly.

Happy bowling!

Alison x (your 4Manchester Women Editor)

Photographs: Alison Staples

We all bowled for free and the children had free food and drink. We were not asked to write about our visit and opinions are our own.

Saving us from boring baby stuff

Posted on June 29, 2013 by alison

Latest AW13 trends from Cosatto and Baba+Boo

When an invitation to preview funky baby gear company Cosatto’s latest collection dropped into our inbox, it was a perfect opportunity for 4Manchester Women guest blogger and advertiser Eve from Baba+Boo to get the scoop on what’s hot in babies! That sounds a bit wrong – but you know what I mean!

With Cosatto up in Bolton and Baba+Boo in Worsley it was great to bring two such creative and inspiring local baby companies together.

Their web site says “Cosatto, my dear friends, is 93% inspiration, 6% sparkle, 4% cups of tea and 2% genius.” – Willy Wonka.

Intrigued? We were!

Over to you Eve ……

As a Mummy Blogger for 4Manchester Women, I was thrilled to be asked along to the Bolton based nursery company Cosatto last week for the launch of their #patterntastic Autumn/Winter collection.

To say I was blown away by the whole thing would be putting it mildly.

When I was a first-time mum 5 years ago, I have to admit, I didn’t really do a huge amount of research into buying baby products.

I didn’t buy the magazines and social media wasn’t what it is now. So I went down the route of going with what friends recommended and basically got what they said.

Five years on and I am now in the baby/nursery industry myself and I love having a really good nose at what’s new to the market. Mainly because we do like a good old natter on Baba+Boo’s social media sites about all things baby.

I didn’t expect to be as inspired as I was by the end of the day. The offices are like nothing I have seen before – they have just been announced as Runners Up in the Great Place to Work award and it is understandable why – they have a giant slide and a library for staff (what else do you need!)

They are on a mission to save the world from boring baby stuff and their showroom clearly demonstrated this, with bright patterns, polka dots and obviously a few superheroes hanging out waiting for their next call. It did make me realise that Baba+Boo fitted right in, as we have a little superhero of our own.

Throughout the day, I was looking through the eyes of a mum, wishing my little ones were still little, drooling over the gorgeous nursery furniture and funky highchairs but mainly because of their new Ooba pushchair.

It is right up my street. It is a being marketed as a luxury pushchair (I have a knack of loving the most expensive items) and it looks just that with leatherette, the patterns, shiny frame setting it apart from the rest, although I would be scared to take it out of the house with its white wheels!

I did love the fact that the designers talked about how woodland, robots and babushka dolls are right on trend – we have them in our (Baba+Boo) range too!

Woodland

Who doesn’t love a squirrel or two, a cute hedgehog or a baby frog! This Cosatto Foxtrot pushchair works a treat with Baba+Boo’s woodland real nappies and baby accessories.

Babushka Dolls

The little stacking Russian dolls are gorgeous. Here’s the Cosatto ‘Hello Dolly’ car seat with a Babushka Bed alongside a lovely Baba+Boo wet bag, nappy and t-shirt set.

Monsters and Robots

Grrrrr – Monsters! Raaaaaarrrrr – Robots! This time it’s a My Robot Cot from Cosatto along with a Little Monster Moon Unit (swanky!) with more Baba+Boo robot goodies.

I also spent my time at Cosatto looking through the eyes of a fledging business owner and was totally inspired by the business ethos, the offices and the way the designers draw their influences from around the world. With a wall full of motivational common sense values and a ‘Survival of the brightest’ ethos from the ‘rainy city’ what’s not to love about this great bunch of ‘cheeky Northern buggies’!

Eve x

Photographs: Baba+Boo, Cosatto

Disclaimer: Eve was invited to a day at Cosatto and fed tea and cakes. We were not asked to write about the day and opinions are our own.

Other articles by Eve:

It’s Real Nappy Week 2013

Making jewellery with children

Baba+Boo’s gorgeous new Woodland Collection

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week 2012

It’s Real Nappy Week!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by alison

Cloth nappies… make a difference by using just one a day

Our regular guest mummy blogger Eve from Baba+Boo is giving a big shout out today to Real Nappy Week (15th – 21st April 2013).

It’s hardly surprising that Eve is a fan of real nappies, as her company Baba+Boo sells the most gorgeous real nappies and baby accessories.

Over to you Eve ……

If you hear the words ‘cloth nappies’ being uttered when you are at a baby group or soft play, there’s no need to run a mile – honest.

And if the thoughts of washing, scrubbing and drying inconvenience come into your mind – banish them!

Using modern cloth nappies is not that bad – we promise.

We believe cloth nappies should be viewed like bibs, they are just as simple to use and care for. And like bibs, you don’t need to use them all the time.

We are all for mixing and matching nappies to suit your day / lifestyle / childcare situation – even those moments when whatever is nearest will do. There are some mums who believe that only cloth will do, but we believe the best way to get started is to just have three or so – even one makes a difference.

.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Don’t think that you have to change your lifestyle for them, they fit in with you. You can even put them in your normal wash. Even if you use them full time, it’s usually only an extra wash a week, and I don’t know a mum that would notice that – when is a mum’s washing machine ever off?

Don’t be put off if they leak at first, this is normal while you get the fit right on your baba. Babies come in all shapes and sizes so it takes some trial and error to get the fit spot on.

Do mix and match between disposables and cloth until you get used to them. A good way to start is use cloth at home until you get your confidence up (that won’t take long).

Do holler if you get stuck. There are so many cloth nappy forums, and mums who use cloth nappies are more than willing to share their experience and offer advice.

Don’t be overcome by the amount of information about nappies there is if you start looking into them. It can be daunting. Think of them as a disposable that you put in the washing machine rather than the bin. It really is as simple as that.

Do a little online research to see if your local council have any trial schemes or offer any incentives such as cashback. We offer a trial scheme, where you can try one and if you don’t get on with it, we will refund you 70% of the purchase price within two months. We like you to give it a really good try as we are so confident you will like them.

Once you’ve decided to give cloth nappies a try you’ll have another major decision to make – which of the cool and funky Baba+Boo designs to try first!

Do drop us a line if you’re struggling to decide, or if you are a little bit interested in using cloth nappies.

Competition Time

We want to hear about your nappy stories.

Pop it in the comments box below – but only one comment per person please.

We’ve got a fantastic competition prize as an incentive, and one lucky reader who leaves a comment will be chosen at random as the winner.

So don’t be shy – share your nappy tales.

The Prize

We’ve got 1 x three pack of Baba+Boo real nappies to give away to the winner.

The winner can choose from the Baba+Boo website which design they would like (click here to check out the full range).

Good luck!

Eve x

Web site: babaandboo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/babaandboo

Twitter: @babaandboo

Phone: +44 (0) 7814 315385

Email: info@babaandboo.com

Photographs: Baba+Boo

This is a sponsored blog post.

Other articles by Eve:

Making jewellery with children

Baba+Boo’s gorgeous new Woodland Collection

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week 2012

By taking part in this competition you are agreeing to 4Manchester Womens Terms & Conditions for competitions and prize draws.

Competition closing date: 9pm Friday 3rd May 2013.

The winners will be the first names selected at random from all respondents. No purchase necessary. No cash alternative. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date is 9pm Friday 3rd May 2013. The winner will be notified immediately. Only one entry per person. UK entries only. No automated entries. Supporting ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions, loquax and Competitions Time. If you are the lucky winner, your contact details will be forwarded to the providers of the prize, strictly for the purpose of fulfilling the prize and not for any other purpose.

Please note: Should you be notified as the winner, and you do not respond within 2 days of our notification, we reserve the right to re-draw the winner.

Previous competition winners (6 months)

Kids say the funniest things – win a family ticket to LegoLand (13th October 2012). Winner Natalie Holland.

Not doing Halloween – win a Baba+Boo bib (19th October 2012). Winner Karine Jade.

Tell us how you’ve supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month – win Bags of Style handbag (31st October 2012). Winner Vicky Robinson. 2nd Prize Kerry Kilmister

Manchester Tourist – win a mini break at The Oxnoble (1st November 2012). Winner Jo Healy.

Tell us about your first bike – win free bike hire and a meal (8th November 2012). Winner Catherine Thomas

What’s on the top of yours – win John Lewis goodies (13th November 2012). Winner Gerri Tennant, 2nd Prize Lemknip Pink, 3rd Prize Fran Morgan.

What’s your favourite piece of H&D Diamonds jewellery? (17th November 2012). Winner Elaine Stokes.

What’s on your children’s Christmas list – win John Lewis toys. Winner Sarah Foran. 2nd Prize Herb Appleby.

Unforgettable gift experiences – win a case of wine from Purple Gifts & Experiences (16th December 2012). Winner Becky Downey.

Vintage Beauty Parlour – win a calendar, £10 gift voucher and nail varnish (17th December 2012). Winner Eleanor Powell.

Proposal stories – win a jewellery cleaning kit from H&D Diamonds (7th January 2013). Winner Claire Davey.

Favourite childhood item of clothing – win nappy and t-shirt set from Baba+Boo (22nd January 2013). Winner Caroline James.

Opera stories – win tickets to the Opera (Carmen & Tosca) at The Manchester Opera House (20th February 2013). Winner Sue Robinson, 2nd Prize Liz Ferguson.

Favourite wine – win tickets to see The Three Wine Men (10th March 2013). Winners Petra Hora, Julie Fisher, Ruth Houlihan.

Exhibitor spotlight – Baba+Boo

Posted on February 20, 2013 by alison

Showcasing our lovely exhibitors

SHOP, PAMPER, LEARN

at The Old Parsonage, Didsbury, M20 2RQ

11am – 4pm, Sunday 24th March 2013

Today our exhibitor spotlight is on Baba+Boo and their beautiful real nappy sets and baby accessories.

Eve, who is the force behind Baba+Boo was a professional buyer before she decided to take the plunge and develop a business which she could fit around two small children.

A couple of years later, a string of awards in the bag and a loyal following of devotees, Baba+Boo is going from strength to strength.

We are delighted that she will be joining us at An Oasis in the City and bringing her gorgeous goodies with her. Whether you are looking for your own baby or shopping for a gift, we are sure you’ll find something you’ll love.

Check out the Baba+Boo web site before you come, and if you’ve got a favourite then contact Eve and she’ll do her best to make sure she includes it in her stock for the day.

Web site: babaandboo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/babaandboo

Twitter: @babaandboo

Phone: +44 (0) 7814 315385

Email: info@babaandboo.com

For more information about An Oasis in the City and our other exhibitors, please check out our events page.

Other Oasis in the City Exhibitor Spotlights:

Photographs: Baba+Boo, 4Manchester Women & The Social Butterfly

This is a sponsored blog post.

Making jewellery with children

Posted on February 14, 2013 by alison

Money Saving activities for Frugal February

Our regular mummy guest blogger and super dooper entrepreneur, Eve from Baba+Boo doesn’t like to waste money – so she’s put her thinking cap on (not yet part of the Baba+Boo range, but she’s working on it) and drafted us a blog – saving money and keeping the kids occupied. Tick / tick!

Over to you Eve ……

Each year I notice a little hashtag going on via Twitter about money saving in February, so this year I have decided to think about where we can save money.

Rather than skimping on presents I decided to make quirky little gifts with the kids.

Recently a friend gave me a few bits to make jewellery with.

With a spend of around £30 you can cover the cost of around 15 presents – earrings, necklaces or bracelets. So we looked at beadwork and where to find things that are local to us (to follow in another be local, buy local blog).

Online we found The Manchester Bead Shop, a great shop based in Afflecks Palace. This looked very similar to the shop my friend has local to her in Brighton. Bulk buying does sound costly but then you can either make in bulk or make it a weekly project – making a birthday list with your little one and getting to help in the design.

To get started you don’t really need so much, and I have a little check list for you to get if you fancy giving it a go!

To save money you can use on-line tutorials on You Tube like this one.

For inspired colour co-ordination I found my little one had an eye for design – often colour clashing – and her choosing the beads made the presents that extra bit special for the receiver!

Oh and glow in the dark bracelets can be a hit for little friends who are scared of the dark!

So here’s what you need to get started

A pair of 4-in-1 pliers (these cut as well as shape the metal) which cost between £5.00 – £6.00

Waxed cord for necklaces and bracelets is 20 pence a meter. I would recommend starting with 10 to see how many you can make. You will also need necklace ends and clasps.

If you want to make earrings you will need headpins and earring findings.

Then go and find some great beads. Definitely get some little tiny ones for the ends of the earrings so that the other beads don’t slip off the findings.

Have fun. Here are some of the great pieces we have made!

Eve x

Web site: babaandboo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/babaandboo

Twitter: @babaandboo

Phone: +44 (0) 7814 315385

Email: info@babaandboo.com

Photographs: Baba+Boo

This is a sponsored blog post.

Other articles by Eve:

Baba+Boo’s gorgeous new Woodland Collection

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week

Baba+Boo’s new collection

Posted on January 22, 2013 by alison

If you go down to the woods today…

When our regular guest blogger Eve isn’t writing blogs for us – sharing the challenges of parenting, she’s busy running Baba+Boo, a gorgeous real nappy and baby accessory company.

This time she’s writing about her new collection and how even the most successful mumpreneur can have the occasional wobble!

Over to you Eve ……

If you go down to the woods today …….

Well that’s exactly what we did in November.

After three years of running my business from the kitchen table I launched my first exclusive collections – Enchanted Woodland and Vintage Toys.

After months of late nights, tears and finger itching decision…I was ready to show off my new and exclusive nappies and t-shirts.

Launching your own business can be tough, you have to figure out finances, logistics around children and strive for some kind of balance. The juggling act some call it.

In those first three years you are driven by nothing but passion to get that calm, settled moment of yes, this is happening…to me…right now…

Oh, really who am I kidding?!

With all the giddiness of a teenager I decide to launch my new collection on a Friday night during a Twitter and Facebook chat with my followers. Hiding behind a screen with a glass of wine, I waited for my life to unravel before me.

Instead the evening was full of oohs and ahhs.

It made me beam with pride from behind that screen.

In that moment it’s like your career path proving to you that it is undoubtedly the right one. You are so far away from ‘mummy’ and so into “I am putting me, just me, and my designs out there.”

So I suppose what I am saying is always trust in yourself. If you are passionate about something it will work out.

It’s like anything, you get out what you put in.

I can feel in my bones that 2013 is going to be equally as fabulous and so can yours. All it takes is a little belief in yourself!

Competition Time

We want to hear about your favourite item of clothing when you were little.

Was it a favourite party dress, a special hat, a jumper knitted especially by granny – or something else?

Pop it in the comments box below – but only one comment per person please.

We’ve got a fantastic competition prize as an incentive, and one lucky reader who leaves a comment will be chosen at random as the winner.

So don’t be shy – tell us about your favourite kiddy clobber.

The Prize

We have a Baba+Boo nappy and t-shirt gift set to give away – size and style to be chosen by the winner.

Good luck – I look forward to reading all your entries.

Eve x

Web site: babaandboo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/babaandboo

Twitter: @babaandboo

Phone: +44 (0) 7814 315385

Email: info@babaandboo.com

Photographs: Baba+Boo

This is a sponsored blog post.

Other articles by Eve:

The things they don’t tell you at ante natal class

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week

By taking part in this competition you are agreeing to 4Manchester Womens Terms & Conditions for competitions and prize draws.

Competition closing date:9pm Friday 10th February 2013.

The winner will be the first name selected at random from all respondents. No purchase necessary. No cash alternative. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date is 9pm Friday 10th February 2013. The winner will be notified immediately. Only one entry per person. UK entries only. No automated entries. Supporting ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions and Competitions Time. If you are the lucky winner, your contact details will be forwarded to the providers of the prize, strictly for the purpose of fulfilling the prize and not for any other purpose.

Please note: Should you be notified as the winner, and you do not respond within 2 days of our notification, we reserve the right to re-draw the winner.

Previous competition winners (6 months)

Meet and greet with Peter Andre at The Girls Day Out Show (7th August 2012). Winner Katie Bullen.

In Three Words (18th August 2012). Winner Anita Roberts. 2nd Prize Samantha Atherton. 3rd Prize Laura Pritchard.

Moda Fashion Boutique – Best Bargain (18th September). Winner Sandra Foreman. 2nd Prize Tracy Hanson.

Bags and More – What’s at the bottom of your handbag (27th September 2012) Winner Shelly Jessup. 2nd Prize Eleanor Jones.

Kids say the funniest things – win a family ticket to LegoLand (13th October 2012). Winner Natalie Holland.

Not doing Halloween – win a Baba+Boo bib (19th October 2012). Winner Karine Jade.

Tell us how you’ve supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month – win Bags of Style handbag (31st October 2012). Winner Vicky Robinson. 2nd Prize Kerry Kilmister

Manchester Tourist – win a mini break at The Oxnoble (1st November 2012). Winner Jo Healy.

Tell us about your first bike – win free bike hire and a meal (8th November 2012). Winner Catherine Thomas

What’s on the top of yours – win John Lewis goodies (13th November 2012). Winner Gerri Tennant, 2nd Prize Lemknip Pink, 3rd Prize Fran Morgan.

What’s your favourite piece of H&D Diamonds jewellery? (17th November 2012). Winner Elaine Stokes.

What’s on your children’s Christmas list – win John Lewis toys (). Winner Sarah Foran. 2nd Prize Herb Appleby.

Unforgettable gift experiences – win a case of wine from Purple Gifts & Experiences (16th December 2012). Winner Becky Downey.

Vintage Beauty Parlour – win a calendar, £10 gift voucher and nail varnish (17th December 2012). Winner Eleanor Powell.

Parenting

Posted on January 16, 2013 by alison

The things they don’t tell you at antenatal classes

No matter how prepared you think you are, once the baby arrives, for many mothers it can still be a massive shock to the system. Today we’ve got another very honest and from the heart blog from one of our regular guest bloggers Eve.

Over to you Eve ……

My husband and I enjoyed our antenatal classes, although they mostly put the fear of god into you – especially when they show you the instruments used to aid birth. And when they showed the class the theatre where caesareans take place, I’m sure the midwives were all taking bets on who went the greenest.

While you can tick off that you have learned about breathing, pain relief and bathing your baby – there are lots of things that they don’t tell you, which you have to learn yourself along the way.

The biggest lesson to be learned in my opinion is the amount of guilt which suddenly lands on your shoulders – and how you are consumed by guilt about basically everything, for what I can only imagine will last for the last of your life.

This guilt begins almost as soon as you hold your baby in your arms. Breastfeeding is considered the best start for babies but for some mothers it’s often not that easy. I’ve had friends tearing themselves apart because they have been unable to breastfeed. I did breastfeed but it didn’t stop me feeling guilty about whether my little one was getting enough and if my milk was good enough.

Then weaning time comes and you feel guilty about whether you are giving them the right food or not. On top of that, there is the decision about whether to do baby-led weaning or not. Maybe I am a touch over-sensitive about doing the right thing but speaking with other mums, this is a common side effect of motherhood!

Then comes the time, when your maternity leave finishes and it’s time to go back to work. Now you have to decide where to place them in childcare. I decided to be a stay at home mum so I can’t speak from experience about this one, but I know friends who’ve been in real turmoil at leaving their children with childminders or in nursery at 8am and then have to rush off to work.

Being a stay at home mum still causes the same pangs of guilt – especially when you see the things that children at nurseries learn and experience. I felt guilty if I didn’t let them paint freely, tread play doh into the carpet and have some water play in the front room, because that is what my friends children were doing all day long, so I felt they were missing out. My husband would come home at night stunned at what his once lovely home had been turned into.

Being at home most of the day, means you are constantly tidying up and cleaning. It’s just impossible to sit back and let the pots and piles of washing mount up.

Then I felt guilty that I wasn’t spending more time with my little guys making cakes and finger painting. It’s never ending! Am I reading enough to them? Have they had their five a day? Have they had enough fresh air? And on those days where I am feeling I have done ok, I start worrying about forgetting to feel guilty!

Four years in and I am cutting myself some slack. I’m running a lovely little business (Baba+Boo) whilst looking after one or two children simultaneously, and I know I am trying my best. So I’m not beating myself up every day for doing everything wrong over and over again.

I am however currently in the bad books because I can’t draw a triceratops well enough – and I am certainly not feeling guilty about that. One thing I did not sign up for at antenatal class was dinosaur drawing!

Eve x

Photographs: Eve @ Baba+Boo

This is not a sponsored blog post.

CONGRTULATIONS EVE!

Eve (Baba+Boo) was runner up recently in the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year category of the Salford Business Awards. Well done!

Other articles by Eve:

Teach me how to shop again!

It’s Real Nappy Week

Why I’m not doing Halloween

Posted on October 19, 2012 by alison

Witches and monsters can be scary for little people!

As we tumble head long into Halloween season, with witches and pumpkins and trick-or-treat, it’s easy to forget that some children actually find it all a bit frightening. If you’ve ever hidden behind the sofa during Doctor Who, then you’ll know what I mean.

Regular 4Manchester Women guest blogger Eve tells us why she’s toning it down a bit this year.

Over to you Eve ……

Halloween seems to be getting more and more popular each year, and aside from the trick or treating part of it, which I am not too keen on, I have always joined in the fun and encouraged the children to help with carving pumpkins and had a little Halloween party for them.

However this year, I think we are going to have to let it pass by as my little three year old has developed a horrible fear of witches since watching Snow White.

So with a heavy dose of mum guilt for letting her watch what I remembered as a lovely Disney film, I now have to spend a month ducking and diving orange and black in all the supermarkets. Everywhere I seem to look there are scary masks and witches outfits.

I think most children go through a period where their imagination really grows and becomes more complex – and this can result in nightmares.

I just got my timing all wrong with the film. It really brought on her bad dreams and now I have to spend hours in her bedroom at night while she sleeps as she is too scared to be on her own.

Cue more guilty mum syndrome.

She does seem to be settling now though, and what seems to have done the trick is finding a room spray and calling it magic fairy dust which will keep her safe.

I remember it being the same with my son. He was so anxious about going to bed – his fear was monsters.

I think the key is to acknowledge that their fears are real and not to dismiss them. And to make them aware that it is OK to be afraid. We bought him a torch which he loved and took his mind off his fears. His torch made him feel safe.

So Halloween will be missing in our house this year. But I suppose we could have a US style Halloween party where it is just fancy dress. We can dress up as cheerleaders and slices of pizza instead. I think it makes more sense to make it about fun and not ghouls and nasties!