Jun 5 2014

Our Bednest review journey so far…

Posted on June 5, 2014 by admin

You might remember that we’ve been reviewing the Bednest here in the Mill’s house (if you actually did then you can delete the brain training app from your smart phone as it’s no longer needed). I’ve been meaning to post an update on this for weeks but a never-ending cycle of breastfeeding, napping and crying has pretty much consumed my every waking minute since Heidi arrived. Now it’s so long overdue I’ve had to bribe Craigy into having a screaming Heidi on his lap whilst he’s watching the England game - I won’t reveal exactly what I’ve had to do in return…

It’s no secret that I wanted a co-sleeper crib for Heidi - I started researching them as soon as I fell pregnant. Not only do they look amazing (minimalist and modern), they also appeared to resolve a number of sleeping issues we’d experienced with Dexter (my first born). Craig and I have completely different views on co-sleeping. Although I hate the smell of acrid morning nappy, I find it quite reassuring to have my baby beside me as I sleep. Craig, on the other-hand finds it tricky to sleep with the children (I know I’ve copped a few elbows in the face on occasion!).

The Bednest seemed to offer the perfect solution. Heidi would be within arms reach of me, at exactly the same level. I’d be able to gently scoot her onto my breast for nighttime breastfeeds and wouldn’t have to rouse her in order to pop her back into her Moses basket.

But has it worked?

ABSOLUTELY. I’ve now fine-tuned night feeds so it’s a simple case of scooting her across the divide and laying on my side whilst Heidi feeds - a number of times I’ve actually drifted back off to sleep as soon as she’s latched (meaning I’ve only been awake a matter of minutes between 11pm and 8am - I know! Jealous, right?). If I want to pop Heidi back into her Bednest I’ll just gently push her in, otherwise I’ll leave her beside me. Heidi has become the model newborn when it comes to sleeping and I owe this (in part) to the Bednest.

It’s also so lovely to have her face within inches of mine with only a tiny barrier between us. If you’re finding parenting a bit of a struggle (like I am), it’s lovely to gaze at them when they’re silent and sleeping to remind yourself that it’s all worth it.

From an Interiors-Snob’s perspective, it’s also great. If you have a small master bedroom it’s a great way to maximise space as it attaches to your bed and you aren’t wasting any room. It fits in perfectly with our decor and is plenty big enough to house baby up to six months. In fact, whenever I mention I’m reviewing the Bednest, I’m always asked a hundred questions about it… “Has it made a difference?”, “Is it worth the money?”… everyone seems to want one, or are considering making the purchase. Well I can happily answer positively to both.

I still have a Moses basket for Heidi as I wanted it for photo-shoots and found it easier to carry around downstairs post c-section (navigating through door frames etc). As she’s used to it now, and it worked so well for us, I can’t see the point in changing things now. and she’ll continue to sleep in this throughout the day before we pop her in her Bednest at night. This said, the Bednest does serve as a perfectly functional daybed as you can lift it from its base (only the base is attached to the bed) and have it beside you in your lounge / study etc. It has also been hailed as far safer to carry up and down stairs as Moses basket handles are not always approved to carry a baby’s weight. I must admit, I find it too heavy to lift though.

We’ve even taken our Bednest on a recent hotel stay with us. The fact it folds down flat makes it ideal for slinging in the back of the car boot, and it’s also ridiculously easy to put up meaning you’re not faffing around with plastic rods as you would with a traditional travel cot.

The only thing I would say is that I’ve woken up a few times in the night having rolled onto Safebridge when it’s been fully-extended. This is where I’ve taken Heidi out to feed then fallen asleep with her nestled close to me. Because of this, I rarely bother opening up the side now, I leave it at half-mast. This is perfect for me as I still don’t have to get up in the night to move Heidi to and from our bed, but don’t have the Safebridge eating up any valuable mattress space if I should nod off.

My only reservation so far is that the standard mattress doesn’t feel particularly comfortable. Because it is laying on top of a hard surface it could have done with a deeper one (although I must admit Heidi doesn’t seem to mind it). I’d definitely therefore consider investing a little more and getting one with the coconut coir mattress - this seems to come highly recommended on all the parenting forums I’ve consulted.

I’ll be on hand with another Bednest update as Heidi gets a little older. Right now, I’d better take Heidi off her dad’s lap before England score again. If you want to buy one (from £299) or rent one (from £69) for yourself, you can visit the website at www.bednest.com, or find out more on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

Coming up… I’ll post a video to show you how the Bednest works. Sit tight!

Fancy 20% off? Here’s a Promotional Code

Given Bednest’s are an investment and will be one of the pricier purchases you’ll make when you have a new baby (to buy they’re £299, but you can also rent them for 6 months at £119 (£99 rental + £20 collection and delivery)) 20% will soften the blow. All you need to do is head over to the website and type MMB20 when you checkout.

Disclaimer: This is part of an extended Bednest review. I have been given the product free of charge for 6 months in exchange for our thoughts.

Jun 2 2014

Where to eat in Reading: London St Brasserie Review

Posted on June 2, 2014 by admin

This weekend saw Craig and I celebrating 3 years together. Yes, that really is just 3 years. Our relationship has definitely been a whirlwind with 2 children and 3 house moves (sadly, no engagement though) crammed into such a short space of time. Because the Babes are so little, it’s hard bribing people to babysit for us. This makes ‘couple time’ tricky. We did however manage it this weekend - even if Craig’s mum had a terrible time of it (she had to call 999… but let’s not dwell on that). This happened to coincide nicely with a review I’d been invited to write by Goodman’s. They’re currently compiling a list of places to eat, drink, dance and relax for their upcoming Guide to Reading. Our review of the much loved London St Brasserie is to appear in this guide which will shortly be available to view or download on the Goodman’s Arlington Business Park’s homepage.

So armed with £60 worth of vouchers - we waved goodbye to our puzzled tots and got on one of those bus thingys with the prospect of good food and a few cheeky cocktails on our minds.

London St Brasserie is (funnily enough) located on London St in Reading. It’s the second award winning restaurant by owner Paul Clerehugh (the first being another favourite of ours, The Crooked Billet at Stoke Row - also very much worth a visit). Its riverside location on the edge of Reading’s premier shopping destination (The Oracle) has led to it being a firm favourite for summertime splurgers. A previous recipient of a Restaurant of the Year title, and a few Michelin stars to boot, might to go the heads of some restaurant owners - but not so for Clerehugh. The waitresses are sociable, the atmosphere is relaxed and there’s not a hint of pretension. With prices between £7 and £15 for starters, and mains between £16 and £29 (set menus also available before 7pm), diners aren’t forced to remortgage their houses to finance their three courses either.

Okay, there are a few little details here and there that I’d like to tweak - I’m not a huge fan of tea-lights on tables and I’m desperate to rip the artwork from their horrid frames and pop them into something more befitting - but mostly the staging, lighting and zoning look the part. Outside is pretty with steel tables, stone pots filled with healthy-looking pansies & hydrangeas, and plenty of cushions and throws. Inside, lounge dining is comfortably rustic (think distressed leather, wooden crates and wicker baskets), whilst upstairs has more of a formal air offering an almost panoramic view of The Oracle, the river Kennet and the surrounding area.

The menu is bountiful with plenty of fish dishes (monk fish. halibut and sea bass) and locally sourced meat dishes (venison, chicken, beef, lamb and pork). There isn’t tons to choose from if you’re a vegetarian but happily we’re not. The wine list is also pretty appetizing for the semi-pro drinker with lots of award-winners to get excited about.

Craig opted for the Cured Lochinvar salmon, Evesham asparagus and poached bantam egg to start. The asparagus bundle was steamed to perfection; nice thick stems, deliciously green with a slight crunch. The salmon was top-billing, and the faultless poached egg added a creamy texture to the dish. Craig was off to good solid start with what is essentially an easy dish to get right.

I plumped for the crispy fried ham hock & black pudding, chutney, orange & parsley salad, and wasn’t disappointed either. The orange was really refreshing against the heavy (but delicious) mix of pork. Covered in a crumbly layer of breadcrumbs, the black pudding was rich and flavoursome against a layer of lightly smoked ham hock. Add in a touch of fresh parsley to your fork and this is comfort food at its finest.

For mains, Craig went for the rump of lamb, crispy Mediterranean potato & tomato, courgettes; shallot & red pepper stew. Visually, it looked great - a bevvy of rich green and reds which lent itself perfectly to its Mediterranean namesake. The lamb was also nice and tender nestled in among its bed of potato and courgette. For me, the lamb was given an almost fruity makeover, and worked well against the subtlety of the lightly char-grilled courgette.. I also LOVED the sundried cherry tomatoes which were sliced so delicately you felt cruel popping them in your mouth. For Craig (the bigger foodie out of the two of us) however there were a few minor criticisms. Unsurprisingly, my greedy fella wanted more meat. We shared a serving of yummy potatoes dauphinoise between us but not even this gave him a sufficient boost of carbs to counteract the lack of protein. He also felt the mediterranean potatoes were a little bland and needed further seasoning (hark at him!).

I opted for the English rose veal, sage & Parma ham, warm Jersey Royal & green bean salad, parsley, chicory & warm herb dressing I was a little disappointed as the veal was slightly overcooked but I couldn’t argue with the portion size which was really generous. The green beans were served with just the right level of crunch although a knob of butter wouldn’t have gone amiss. I also felt my dish would have benefited from a sauce of some kind - maybe a red wine sauce or a fruit jelly (I won’t ever win points for my creativity) but I’m certainly no expert and was probably a little tipsy by then.

Given we’d been tipped off that Craig’s mum had arm ache from rocking Heidi and had had to consult a toxicologist over Dexter’s choice of tipple that evening (it was Olbas Oil if anyone is remotely interested), we skipped dessert and coffees and made our way home. A bit of nosing at other tables did reveal that the sticky toffee pudding and rhubarb bakewell were not to be missed though.

All in all we had a really lovely experience at the London St Brasserie. The food was fresh, homemade and (mostly) delicious - definitely consistent with previous visits and of exactly the high standard you’d expect from one of the best tipped restaurants in the county. Our waitress was attentive and incredibly sweet, and the atmosphere continues to surpass expectation. It was the perfect way to mark the occasion and thankfully both Babes and Granny survived the experience! We’re keeping an eye on that ever-changing set menu for the next visit.

This London St Brasserie review is destined to be shown on Goodman’s Guide to Reading which will be available to view online, and to download as a brochure. A voucher was provided to cover the cost of our meal in return for our review.

May 29 2014

REVIEW: Puckababy GoGo Newborn

Posted on May 29, 2014 by admin

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Ooooh how much have I been looking forward to sharing this review…?! I love Puckababy products and honestly believe they are unrivaled in terms of comfort for baby, ingenuity and practicality. Dexter has only just outgrown his Puckababy 4 Seasons sleep bag and it’s still in near perfect condition ready for Heidi to snuggle up in when she gets a little bigger. Not to be outdone though, Heidi has her very own Puckababy GoGo Newborn to keep her nice and warm when she’s out and about or having cuddles with mummy.

So what is it?

It’s a multifunctional babywrapper designed to keep baby warm and safe from head to toe. Using exactly the same blend of quality, luxurious and snuggly fabric that is synonymous with the Puckababy brand, it will protect baby’s delicate skin from the cold and any external stimuli. This makes it the ideal travel companion for trips out in the pram and car journeys, whilst also being perfect for sleep-times at home. Imagine a modern and more sophisticated take on a traditional swaddling blanket and you won’t go far wrong.

Heidi has been busy reviewing the Gogo ® Newborn which is suitable for babies aged 0-7months although I’d actually argue that the GoGo has a longer life-cycle than this as it’s really generous in size.

What sets it apart from other blankets out there?

Puckababy themselves are keen to stress that they symbolise rest and a sense of security and I have to agree that the GoGo embodies each of these.

First up it has a hood. Working in much the same way as a baby toweling set, it therefore stops warmth escaping from the head. This also works to reassure your baby. As Heidi is forever flailing her arms and is really easily startled, the Puckababy does a great job of shutting out the outside world - it’s like a mini cocoon. As she isn’t such a fan of hats (name one baby who is!) it also means I’m not constantly having to tug one over her head.

Additionally it has two little pouches for her feet meaning they’re fully enclosed at all times. This is a real frustration with traditional blankets as babies legs are often left exposed meaning they’ll cycle their legs and thrash. Not only will this distract them from sleeping (surely the holy grail for any new parent!) it also means you often end up popping yet another blanket over their legs which can make them too warm. In the GoGo the legs are therefore always nicely tucked in and all of baby’s body is warmly embraced. howtouse_gogo1

It’s also far safer than swathes of loose fabric as it has a velcro band around her tummy (which in turn creates pockets for her little legs - see above), to prevent her thrashing around and undoing the swaddle effect. Once she’s secured within the blanket, there’s an additional set of velcro on the outer layer to seal her in. This works on two levels - from a safety perspective it means she’s less likely to wriggle about and get a face full of fabric, and also from a parents perspective there’s no need to continually rearrange the blanket. This is fabulous as it means I can use my hands to simply stroke her face or rock Heidi rather than faffing around. It’s also incredibly soft and cuddly for me when I’m giving her a quick squeeze.

The Puckababy GoGo Newborn is also designed to work seamlessly with your car seat / buggy as it has little slits through which to pass your seat belt / harness strap. Again, it’s little details like this that set the GoGo apart from other blankets. You get a real sense that it’s been designed with safety and security in mind which is really reassuring.

As it works so effectively at calming her down, we’ve used it just about everywhere:

After toweling her dry we pop her in it after a bath to warm her up whilst we sort out her clothes for the day. Heidi bath She’ll also wear it when she’s in her car seat to help drown out her brothers whinging! Carseat It’s also perfect for pram journeys as it keeps her swaddled and means she doesn’t feel every lurch, jump or jolt when mummy is steering! 020

Or just for cuddles before settling down to sleep. Heidi GoGo Heidi is modelling the ‘white with grey dot’ design which has a grey interior. There are also 3 other colourways to choose from all of which are gender neutral and equally stylish. Made from 100& microfibre and 100% cotton it washes like a dream and is really soft to touch. All of the little details are exactly what I’ve come to expect of the Puckababy brand - there are no itchy labels, the insignia is discreet and neat, all the seams are strong and durable… it’s designed to last and be handed down from baby to baby.

If you order from the website, your Puckababy will arrive in a sweet little box and with its own unique coat hanger for easy storage. The instructions are also a cinch to follow so you can get using the product straight away. Older babies (9 months+) aren’t left out either as they have the GoGo Kidz, a soft cloak designed to last right through to toddlerhood (basically a larger version of the GoGo Newborn without the foot pouches and it fastens with a chunky button).

Price-wise, you’re definitely pay for the quality as with all Puckababy products. But given we’ve had such an amazing experience with the 4 Seasons Bag I know it’ll last Heidi and we haven’t stopped finding uses for it. Craig has questioned just how much use we’ll get out of it in the thick of summer but I just know we’ll stash it under her pram and will end up pulling it out several times as early evening approaches and the temperatures drops.

In conclusion, I’d definitely recommend the Puckababy GoGo Newborn for active and hard-to-settle babies. Get ready for lots of admiring glances from other mums and dads though - I’m forever being asked where I got my GoGo from.

The Puckababy GoGo Newborn is priced at £49.99 and available to purchase online www.puckababy.co.uk. I’d also recommend popping over to say hello on Facebook and Twitter for competitions and more testimonials.

If you’re pregnant, you can also request a free beautifully illustrated sleep book from the website - this is rammed through of tips and advice for helping get your little one off to the land of nod.

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