Fancy throwing shapes with the kids? Get down to Ladybird Live: Rhyme and Rave

What better way to spend time with your kids than getting down to some club classics at a bar in east London?

No, I’m completely serious here! To celebrate the relaunch of Random House children’s book brand Ladybird, they’ve teamed up with family party animals Raver Tots to present Ladybird Live: Rhyme and Rave.

I’m getting excited just writing about this and can’t wait to take my kids to the event at Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen on Sunday May 19 from 2-4pm.

The afternoon will consist of theatrical storytelling from Ladybird’s brand new range, combined with a rave room hosted by club classics masters, Wideboys as the headline DJ act.  Not to mention glow sticks, Ladybird themed face painting, CONFETTI CANNONS(!), giant parachutes, colouring and mini play areas, all in a family friendly venue.

How can you not want to go to this!!! Tickets are only £3 for adults and children are free, available for purchase from skiddle.com/e/13504079.

Keep an eye out for my review!

https://www.ravertots.co.uk/event/ladybird-live-rhyme-and-rave-london

Ladybird Books 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladybirdbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladybirdbooks

Raver Tots

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaverTots/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaverTots

C-Section Awareness Month – what’s my story?

Pregnancy photoshoot with my second child

As a mother you seem to get judged before you even give birth, all your decisions are scrutinised by friends, family and even people you don’t know.

What food are you eating? Are you eating enough? Are you eating too much?

What do mean you’re going to the gym? (Lol, only joking, that would never be said to me!) Are you exercising too much? Can you do that while you’re pregnant?

And it’s crazy that women are judged or deemed any less a mother for having c-sections. I mean we all carried a human being in our bellies right?

It’s c-section awareness month and I’m grateful to have delivered two healthy babies via c-section. 

My first child was born via an emergency c-section after I spent four days in hospital being induced. Quite simply, for me it was an horrific experience – both mentally and physically – that I would not wish upon my worse enemy.

As I found the process of being induced quite traumatic, when it seemed to be on the cards again for my second child, I opted for an elective caesarean.

Anyone who has had the procedure knows it’s NOT the easy option. It takes weeks to recover and it can be distressing when you can’t lift yourself out of bed quick enough to get to your crying baby.

I remember sitting up and sleeping on the sofa the first night at home with my son (he was in a moses basket) because it was easier and less painful.

So, let’s all be a little kinder, a little more considerate, and a lot more supportive. However we had our babies we’re all trying to find our way through this crazy thing called motherhood.

BABY born Surprise – toy review

Have you seen the new BABY born Surprise collectables yet?
The brand has joined in with the unboxing craze and created little cute packages aimed at kids 3 years and over.
And we gave them a bit of a road test this week.

So, the doll is covered up when you first unwrap it in a themed swaddle blanket. One of ours was dressed in a unicorn one.
As you unwrap it further you discover the hairstyle, the eye colour (you rub off the eyelids with water) – the type of bottle reveals if it’s a boy or girl.
The ‘fun’ part is feeding the baby until the water changes the colour of the nappy.

It also comes with a birth certificate complete with games to discover your baby’s name, favourite food, birthday and star sign.
Coming up to Easter it makes a great little gift as an alternative to chocolate. At nine-years-old I think my daughter is a little older than the targeted market but if your child loves collectables, it’s perfect.

Currently retailing at about £12.  www.baby-born.com

Does working from home equal free childcare?

EVEN though I work from home, I recently made the decision to pay for some extra childcare.

I’ve found it really hard to get things done for my business while attempting to keep a toddler entertained. Especially as he seems to think of me as his personal playmat – if he even senses I want to get some work done he clambers all over me!

It’s also hard because of people’s assumptions, that as you’re home every day, you must not have a ‘proper job’ or that I’m a kept woman (laughs out loud!).

The turning point for me was to realise that even though my business is based at home, I do need the dedicated time and space I would expect to get if I was leaving the house each morning and heading to the office.

I myself have to separate the two roles to help make each individual role work and be a success.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on working from home while trying to keep little ones entertained, especially any words of advice!

And if you fancy having a look at exactly what I do, please feel free to visit bykalax.etsy.com

Hape toys – great for the imagination

WHENEVER we go to playgroups, at some point my toddler will make a beeline for the pretend kitchen areas.

He loves the role play of making me a cup of tea or something to eat! So it was great to try out the Hape Pop-up Toaster Set at home.

It definitely came at the right time for us as we were stuck in the house as my son had a viral infection. #funtimes
So it was a great distraction for him as we pretended to make breakfast together. Sometimes I was lucky enough to be served breakfast on the sofa!

The classic wooden set comprises of seven pieces including a toaster that pops up two slices of bread, a plate, knife, butter and honey pot.

I absolutely adore wooden playsets, for me they’ll always have the edge over mass produced plastic toys – although don’t get me wrong, you’ll still find lots of plastic toys in my home too!
Made to last, they’re the sort of thing you pass down from child to child.

Toys like this are great for your little one’s imagination  – it makes you realise how much they actually watch you while you’re at work in the kitchen!

The Hape Kitchen and Food range also includes a Tea Set for Two and even a Coffee Machine – very millennial!

Available to purchase from Hape’s Amazon store.