Jul 9 2014

Preparing for Nursery: Stuck on You Review

Posted on July 9, 2014 by admin

A few weeks back, I brought you the news that we’d finally found our perfect nursery. After months of appointments at preschools, playgroups and private nurseries, being shown dozens of miniature loos, and reading page upon page of prospectuses, Dexter will be joining a small class of other little people in a months time. It really is a special place and I know he’ll be thoroughly entertained, but I am going to miss him when he’s not here.

There’s an exhaustive list of equipment he’ll need - a raincoat, wellies, satchel, lunchbox… I could go on. With such a huge outlay before he’s even had his first day, the thought of him losing all his new bits brings me out in hives. That’s why we’ve opted for personalised school essentials from Stuck on You.

I’d read about these guys before they made contact with me as they’ve received hundreds of positive reviews from happy parents. What started 17 years ago as a modest labelling business has now evolved to include personalised gifts and school essentials of every kind. Aimed squarely at children, everything is fun, engaging and superior quality. The idea is create something your child will fall in love with, take pride in, and ultimately look after throughout their formative years.

It’s a well known fact that kids love things with their name on. Each and every nursery we’ve visited recently were keen to show Craig and I how the children have their own coat and bag hooks, and every child is able to recognise their own name. Right now this seems incredulous to us as Dexter can’t even say his own name, but I’m assured it’s the case. With this in mind I’m hopeful he’ll have less chance of mislaying his own special bag. Even if he does, his teachers will find it easier to find!

But not just limited to school bits and pieces, there are also tons of gift ideas. From suitcases, to height charts, to reward charts, to puzzles - there is sure to be something cute for your little one.

For each and every gift there’s a preview function. You’ll pick your colour, design and font and then enter your child’s name. This is such a great idea as Dexter was able to help design his own bits and pieces. There are tons of designs to choose from so your child will have something truly unique.

We were sent a messenger-style school bag and drinks bottle, and I’m really impressed with the quality.

His drinks bottle is made from stainless steel with a BPA-free plastic spout. It’s robust, easy to drink from and spill-proof. At £15.99 you are paying slightly more, but given the amount of bottles your child is likely to lose, the fact your child will hopefully come home with his everyday means it pays for itself.

Dexter’s is adorned with transportation images which has been a real hit. He’s so obsessed with cars (or da’s as he likes to call them) that we’re often having to drag him away from parked cars as he insists on trying the locks! There are however 25 more designs so plenty to choose from. The design and personalisation is actually imprinted so there no chance of it peeling away.

It’s also well worth pointing out that his bottle arrived well packaged in a quality box. This makes it easy to wrap up if it’s a gift.

His junior messenger bag is also fabulous quality. Measuring approx. 22cm x 22.5cm there’s plenty of room for his lunch items and a drink. It’s also fully lined with a wipe proof stripey material in case of spills. There are also two pockets meaning you can keep any paperwork or artwork safe from any mishaps. The adjustable detachable straps also make it a great choice for growing preschoolers. This is further reinforced by the strong and robust metal zip pulls which are perfect for chubby and clumsy fingers.

Designed by Penny Scallon, the majority of the decoration is transferred on, as is the personalisation. I’ve had a little pick at it though and wasn’t able to peel any away. The design on the front pocket is embroided. Of course it would lovely to have the choice of his name being embroided but this is mute point given it’s so well executed.

I love the design too. Once again there are cars and trucks so he’s a very happy little boy indeed.

At £24.99 it’s a fair price for such a quality bag.

If you’d like to know more about any of the items featured here, or search for a cute gift of your own, you can visit www.stuckonyou.co.uk, or search for inspiration on Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest or YouTube.

I have been sent the above shown items for this Stuck on You review, but all opinion and words are my own

Jul 4 2014

Baby soft skin with Hannah and Hugh

Posted on July 4, 2014 by admin

When Dexter was Heidi’s age, I can’t remember any incidences of dry skin at all. You can therefore imagine the panic then when I stripped Heidi down a few weeks ago to find her skin peeling away en masse. Fighting the urge to pop Heidi in her car seat and get her in front of a GP, I Googled it. It seems that overdue babies are especially prone to it - just like when we spend too long in the bath submerged in water, the transition from my tummy to air can cause the skin to become dry and shed. The recommendation was to limit baths and massage a little sunflower / grapeseed oil into their skin, and sure enough Heidi’s skin is now beautifully soft once again.

Ever since then, I’ve paid special attention to Heidi’s skin. Baby massage was something I didn’t really embrace with Dex, so it’s lovely to have that time bonding with Heidi now. So when new brand Hannah and Hugh offered to send me something natural and safe to use on her skin, I jumped at the chance. The next day, a huge pot of Rosehip and Calendula cream landed on my welcome mat.

Hannah and Hugh was born out of one parents journey to find something natural and effective to use on her daughter’s dry skin. There are currently three products in the range Rosehip & Calendula Baby Cream, Nappy Balm and Hair & Body Wash. All three products are free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, PEGS, petrochemicals, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances and other nasties. The range is also suitable for vegans too as it hasn’t been tested on animals.

I’ve been chuffed to bits with this cream. Not only does it help Heidi relax, her skin (and my hands) are lovely and soft. It’s gentle enough to be used on face and body from birth and we’ve found it really helps with her mild cradle cap. At £12.99 for a massive 200ml pot, it’s good value for money if you find your baby needs a little extra hydration.

The cream is rich and thick yet isn’t at all greasy and sinks in beautifully. Straight after a massage, I’ll pop Heidi in a baby gro and she’ll stay perfectly soft all night. I’ve also used it on my legs after shaving and they stay hydrated throughout the entire day with a light sheen which looks fabulous when the sun is out! The smell is mild and not too overpowering too.

Hannah and Hugh hope to expand their range over time, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops. They’ve certainly hit the nail on the head with their baby cream, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the other two products. You can buy direct from the website hannahandhugh.com, or find out more on Twitter and Facebook.

Jul 1 2014

In my hospital bag: miamoo skincare

Posted on July 1, 2014 by admin

Before I gave birth, I was sent a miamoo travel kit to review. The dinky travel sizes seemed just perfect for my hospital bag so in it went, crammed in between the breast pads and spare knickers ready for my post-birth shower. Owing to the fact I ended up having an emergency c-section and staying on the ward for 3 days, they were even more essential than I first thought!

First things first, what’s miamoo?

miamoo is a skincare range created by the lovably gobby Saira Khan from the Apprentice. Having suffered from dry and sensitive skin all her life, her products are born out of her desire to bring a truly natural skincare range to market. She goes to great pains to debunk myths surrounding products that claim to be natural and organic, and explains that miamoo has as many natural ingredients as are humanly possible. I love the brand ethos which is refreshingly honest and simple.

As a result, the products are suitable for the whole family and none of the following can be found in any miamoo product:

Parabens
Petrochemicals
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Synthetic Colour/Frangrance
PEGS

What’s included?

The travel set contains 6x 30ml products; splashy wash, fresh locks, baba oil, huggy lotion, spritz & wipe and cheeky cream. All this came in a neat little perspex case with a cotton cloth. Being miniatures, they’re perfect for taking as hand luggage on aeroplanes, and they’re neat and contained to save you space for other travel essentials.

First Impressions…

I won’t pretend the bottles are anything to coo over, but for £15 you are getting a great little handy set. There’s everything you need in there for a long weekend away or, in my case, a few days stuck in a recovery ward. The smell is out of this world with dozens of essential oils that give you a real lift when you’re feeling a little yukky. I had my post section strip wash with these products and was so grateful that everything was to hand so it was as quick and as painless as possible. I also showered in the hospital when my wound was sufficiently healed. I felt really relaxed afterwards and much more human.

Needless to say, I didn’t feel up to exploring the products in any great detail with a beautiful newborn baby to stare at. So I retrieved the set from my hospital bag when I got home and have been using them on Dexter for the last few weeks.

The splashy wash

With lemon oil to cleanse and soya bean, aloe vera, jojoba, chamomile and Vitamin E extracts to moisturise the skin - the splashy wash smells light and fresh. Gentle enough to be used on the face as well as the body, it leaves Dexter smelling fabulous. With a bit of thrashing about from Dex, it also creates dozens of bubbles to keep little ones happy. Although Dex isn’t a sufferer, it’s also suitable for those with eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions.

Best bit? It’s not extortionately priced. At £6 for the full size (200mls) if your child has sensitive skin, this could well be the answer to your prayers.

fresh locks 3 in 1

This was my favourite product. The smell is divine with lavender to calm any itchiness, and aloe vera, jojoba, soya bean, rosemary, silk and vitamin E to moisturise. As it’s so gentle, it’s also safe for little faces and bodies. Ar £6 again, it’s well worth the money as Dexter smells heavenly after his baths. A little goes a long way and I’ll definitely be buying this again.

As with all miamoo skincare products, it’s also tear-free. We can definitely testify to this, can’t we Dex?!

The baba oil

This is hailed as miamoo’s ‘hero product’. Despite the name it’s suitable for everyone in the family and can be applied all over (including hair if you have dry and sore scalp). It absorbs into the skin quickly so you’re not wandering around in your birthday suit for fear of staining your clothes. As you’ll inevitably use less of this, it’s available in 125ml for £7.50.

The smell is much more subtle for this one with sweet almond , sesame seed, lavender oils and vitamin E. It’s really effective at dealing with sores and dry patches on Dexie and his skin is markedly improved after use. My only criticism would be that the travel size comes in a plastic spray which is a little irritating if you’re trying to use it covertly on a toddler. Dexter gets way too excited and wants to spray himself which has ended in the odd time-out.

huggy lotion

Mixed results with the huggy lotion if I’m being brutally honest. It’s non greasy and light and sinks into the skin easily, but I’d question whether it provides the intensive moisturisation it claims to. I tried it on my legs after shaving and it didn’t keep them from drying out throughout the day. It’s £5 for 125mls too which is curious given it’s a staple product you’re bound to use frequently - it should be available in a bigger size.

Nevertheless, it’s great for Dexie’s post-bath massage and his skin continues to be as lovely as ever. Again, the smell is much more subtle with this one as the lavender is missing (orange flower water, sweet almond oil, marshmallow extract, wheat protein, silk and jojoba seed oil).

spritz & wipe

Love this. It was a perfect pick-me-up during labour and had a calming effect too - great given I was in for the worst labour imaginable. It has so many uses too - a detangler on hair, a cleanser , a toner and a spritz. It has an energising effect on skin and instantly cools leaving you nice and refreshed. The smell is heavenly too with limewater, bitter orange extract, Vitamin E and complex minerals (magnesium, copper, iron and silicon).

At £5 for 125ml, I’ve trialled spritzes at nearly double this price that aren’t as effective.

cheeky cream

Finally, there’s a barrier cream that can be applied to the face, hands and baby’s bottoms, the cheeky cream. This absorbs beautifully and does exactly what it says on the tin. A great natural alternative to Sudocrem it’s fabulous for delivering quick relief to sore bums and chapped hands.

***

Overall…

The only product I wouldn’t clamber over my own mother to buy is the huggy lotion. Otherwise it’s an essential kit that made life in hospital a much nicer experience. Oh and I defy any mummy not to buy the fresh locks forever more once they’ve smelt it.