As you may have seen from an earlier blog post, I am moving in a new direction and Snugbaby is to close (don’t all sniff into your tissues at once).

While this may be a bit sad, it’s great news for you, because it means you can grab a bargain! As is tradition, we are holding a closing down sale, and literally everything must go, so we have reduced the price of all Snugbaby slings, and they now have at least 30% off, starting from just £38.99. First Class delivery is free within the UK, and slings will be dispatched on the next working day – you could be showing off your gorgeously stylish, comfortable and safe mei tai in next to no time!

Not to be outdone, our Leghuggers are reduced too! Now only £5.49 per pair (including delivery) these gorgeous bamboo leg warmers make the perfect accessory for baby boys or girls, ideal in place of tights, or just to keep extra cosy. And in case you hadn’t noticed, they are oh so pretty!

But once they are gone, that’s it. No more. Finito.

So don’t miss out, make sure you order while you still can. We may to be running extra discounts on some items through our Twitter and Facebook groups, so make friends and follow us too.

Thank you for all your custom and support over the past four years. It’s been a fabulous journey, and we literally couldn’t have done it without you.

I have been running Snugbaby since I set it up, literally from my dining table, in February 2008, and a lot has happened in that time. I have taken Snugbaby from a very basic idea to a real bona-fide, award-winnning business. In that time my home-life has changed a lot too – my babies are now little boys, both at school and having the time of their lives. It’s made me take stock of where I want to be in a few years time, and it’s because of this that I have reached a very difficult decision.

I am putting Snugbaby up for sale.

This has not been an easy decision for me – I have been thinking of it for some time, and have decided that it’s time to allow someone else to have the opportunity to take Snugbaby to levels I simply can’t. I have reached a natural time for me to make a change (and am currently studying towards something new) but I know that Snugbaby can be so much more than it is now. I am just not the right person to achieve that.

Included in the sale will be the stock I am currently holding, plus all rights to the design including the BSEN certification, as well as website itself (and the associated domains) and all the image files. Also included are various display, packaging and marketing materials.

I am open to sensible offers, so if you would like further details of the sale, please contact me, and I will happily send them to you (serious enquiries only please).

I have really loved growing Snugbaby, and whilst it pains me to be letting my third baby fly the nest, I feel it’s time for me to move on to new ventures. I hope someone can nurture Snugbaby with the same love that I have put into it for the last 3 and a half years.

I had a lovely surprise last week when the postman knocked on my door with a (slightly bashed) parcel for me. I wasn’t expecting it, and so I was rather excited – when the usual post consists of bills and junk mail, parcels tend to make me like a kid at Christmas.

Anyway, I opened it, and was slightly bewildered to find a box of Rice Krispies Multi-Grain Shapes – only the children’s favourite cereal. Once I took a second to think, I realised this must be a gift from the lovely people at Kellogg’s, since they sent me some fabulous Easter baking kits aswell, and very grateful I was too.

I broke the news to the children when they got home from school, who actually whooped with excitement. We occasionally buy the Kellogg’s variety packs, but tend to stick to Rice Krispies and Special K for big boxes, so to get a whole box of Multi-Grain was a big treat for them, and they both asked if they could have them the next day.

Kellogg’s say,

Rice Krispies Multi-Grain; all the goodness of 3 grains (rice, oats and corn) in a tasty, fun-shaped cereal that kids will love. Rice Krispies Multi-Grain was the first kids’ breakfast cereal in the UK to contain a prebiotic ingredient, which means they offer a convenient and fun way to help to keep children healthy by promoting good digestive health.

 

And it’s certainly proving true so far. Josh has had his first full week at school, and is full of energy after filling up on a bowl for breakfast – and he’s not normally a big breakfast eater. They especially like it with a dollop of fruit puree on top (which is great as it means I can actually get some fruit into Ben).

I would have a photo of them eating it, but to be honest, it’s gone before I can get the camera out!

Thank you Kellogg’s

If you need some ideas for fun things to make and do with Kellogg’s cereal, you ought to have a look at their “Summer of Discovery” page. I’ve just found it, and it looks fantastic!

Wow, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I have been rather neglectful of late, thanks to school holidays, new ventures, and family fun. But it’s all been good, and now the children are back at school (blog post most likely to follow) and I have got time to breathe again, I shall try my hardest to keep things updated.

So, what’s been the highlight of your summer? We have had so many good times it’s really hard to choose, but I think if I asked the children, they would instantly say Legoland. Now, if you don’t know, we live in Cumbria. North Cumbria to be precise. And no, it isn’t in Scotland. Or Wales. (Yes there really are people who ask that). Anyway, suffice to say it’s a long way from Legoland. About 5 and a half hours. In a car. With two small boys. So, we did the sensible thing, and booked a Premier Inn, when they had a sale on – bargain! We paid £39 per night for all four of us, and it was really rather comfy too. We stayed for three nights, in a great location, about 20 minutes drive from Legoland, and about 40 minutes tube from Central London. We thought we’d make the most of it and introduce the children to the capital too, which they enjoyed, but I don’t think it was a patch on the world of large plastic bricks, as far as they were concerned.

So, our visit. Where to start? Ben and Josh had spent weeks poring over the Legoland website, and deciding which rides they wanted to go on, so they had a pretty good idea of what was there, but were still totally overawed when we got there and they saw it for real. We figured we may as well start at the beginning, and went on the Viking River Splash. They aren’t joking when they say you might get wet! There were lots of giggles, and I was just glad it was a warm, sunny day so we all dried off pretty quick (and I was very glad I hadn’t worn the white t-shirt that I’d considered). We headed, soggily, to the next ride. And the next, and the next.

This was before the first ride… I love the sense of total excitement

And this was after…

The day was seriously fantastic, and we all (grown ups included) had a great time, even though Snugman and I are not a fan of rides, at all. I think it’s safe to say that at least one of the rides was endured by husband and I, but the youngest littlie loved it (helped that it was knight/dragon themed I suspect. We hadn’t prebought a Q-Bot, and by the time we thought of it we were too late, but even though it was a sunny day in August, the queues were very reasonable. Only one was too long for us to wait, but there were plenty of others to go on instead.

All in all, Legoland was a big hit, and the only disappointment was that it was over too quickly. It’s easily possible to spend more than one day there, and I have no doubt that we’ll be back at some point (if anyone from Legoland is reading, and wants to help me out on that score, please get in touch )

It was well worth the journey and the holiday, and I now consider it a must-visit place for anyone with children.

Or they are going to be, it would seem.

You see, I commited the cardinal sin of not breastfeeding for long enough. Truth be told, I managed a measly 3 weeks with Snugboy#2, and a pathetic 2 weeks with Snugboy#1. And one of these days I might stop feeling guilty for my utter failure in motherhood.

Not content with my knowing that I am subjecting them to a lifetime of asthma, ear infections, and general unwellness, it seems there is new research which shows that my children will turn into mass murdering scumbags because I didn’t reach the magic four month mark; the length of time the study used as a marker for breastfeeding to have made a difference. The reasearch, carried out on over 10,000 mother and baby pairs by the universities of Oxford, Essex and York, with University College London, shows that of the families questioned, only 4% of the breastfed babies had behavioural problems, compared with 16% of those who used formula.

The researchers seem to attribute the findings to the close bonding that breastfed babies enjoy with their parents (because obviously us formula feeders hold them at arms length whilst we pour Aptamil down their tiny throats), although the fatty acids contained in breastmilk may also play a part (although since fatty acids are now added to formula, perhaps not).

Now, I am all in favour of breastfeeding – we all know that breast is best (in an ideal world). But that doesn’t mean it’s best for everyone, in every circumstance. And yes, new mums need to know that as a first port of call, breastfeeding should be the way to go. But for whatever reason, it doesn’t always work out, and for those of us who can’t or choose not to, it’s often a damned hard choice to make. Are mothers not under enough pressure to be perfect Mary Poppins types, who can whip up scones in the blink of an eye, whilst breastfeeding and removing cobwebs with a feather duster with the free hand? Do we really need to pile more pressure on, and give them yet another reason to beat themselves up?

No mother wants to have her children growing up knowing tha she didn’t do her utmost to help them become the best people they can be. Yet every few weeks there seems to be research to show that we’ve done something wrong. Even if it was the right thing to do at the time, in the space of a few short years things change, and it suddenly becomes “wrong”.

As parents, we can only do what we think is best for our family at the time. And I doubt very much that I will ever actually stop feeling guilty for my parenting imperfections, but do these children look like deliquents to you?

A little birdy told me that May is National Walking Month, which is a perfect time to take advantage of all that is going on, don a sling and get out there with your baby. Two organisations, Living Streets and Walk England, are coming together to encourage people to ditch the cars, and walk – be that to work, school, the shops, or just for fun. Only 11% of people commute to work by foot, and a staggering 25% of people say they have only walked for 20 minutes or more once in the last year!

By walking for just half an hour each day, you can exercise cheapy, simply and effectively (shedding those post baby pounds without even noticing), not to mention see sights that normally whizz by you as you drive in your car. The benefits are plentiful – it helps concentration, promotes fitness and reduces stress. And by using a sling you are benefitting your baby too – they get to see things fromyour height, you engage with them more, and they learn more from you.

There are lots of activities going on, organised by the partners and by individual councils, to get everyone on their feet and moving, and there are many walks listed on Walk4Life if you are struggling for where to go. Obviously you can if you want to, but you don’t have to climb a mountain or walk the Pennine Way for a walk to be good for you – if you are pushed for time, you could just get off the bus a stop or two earlier, or walk to the shops.

I have to say, I love walking, and try to get out every day. Even walking the same route is a different experience every day, and I love listening to the different birds, seeing different sights, and smelling different flowers. No two days are ever quite the same. When the boys were younger I’d have been lost without a sling- it really does make offroad walks far easier, and much more enjoyable too. Chatting with baby is one of the best things about slings, in my opinion, and pointing out all the sights to Snugboy was great. And now we go for walks as a family – they are still only small, but we are building up the distance and the types of walks, and they love it (sometimes more than others, granted).

Britain has some beautiful countryside, so make the most of it being National Walking Month, and get out an enjoy it. Then when it’s over, carry on.

When the nice people at Kellogg’s offered me a surprise Easter package, I was intrigued and duly agreed to be sent a parcel, which arrived on Saturday. It being the weekend, and therefore time to enjoy being a foursome, the children and I waited until Monday to investigate the contents – and what a treat!

You can see how excited the boys were when they were about to open their packages…

In fact, I think the photos speak for themselves for the enjoyment that they got from the whole exercise….

Krispie cakes are fab for children to make, as apart from melting the marshmallows (and we used chocolate too) there is nothing hard for them to do. You don’t even really need to weigh the ingredients, as it is very easy to guage when the consistency is right.

We do a fair emount of baking, and they both loved making the cakes, although I admit we drew the line at rolling the krispies into balls, as per the recipe card – it was far too sticky! Instead we spooned it into cases, and used the tubes of icing and sweets to decorate the finished cakes. They have gone down very well, and we are looking up some other delicious things to make from the rest of the Rice Krispies – thinking of a version of caramel shortbread, with sticky krispie base… hmmmm….

When I heard about the Cadbury Spots V Stripes Race Season, I thought it would be fantastic entertainment for the boys at the start of the Easter holidays – for two competitive children, what better way is there to spend a few days than stacking coins, doodling and unrolling toilet roll?

When the kit arrived, and the time came to have a stab at some records, I have to say my own competitive streak shone through – and I don’t do losing. We decided who was going to attempt what – both boys decided to do the doodling, and Mr was *ahem* blessed with the pleasure of the coin stacking, whilst I landed the toilet roll unrolling.

We didn’t break any records, but we had great fun trying and you can see our efforts in the videos. (I know we all look very serious – but hey, record breaking attempts are a serious business! I promise we did have great fun!)

But what is this all about? Why are Cadbury running this campaign? And why on earth have they set these ridiculous challenges?

Well, put it another way… why not? Cadbury are the official treat provider for the 2012 Olympics, and have come up with the Spot V Stripes as a fun way to celebrate this. There are lots of different ways to compete with your friends and you can even make up your own games – anything you like, as long as it’s something competitive. You choose which side you are on, and then earn points for your team, and the team with the most points at the end wins. But mostly, it’s about enjoying playing games.

We certainly had fun doing it – give it a go!

It’s almost upon us – the much anticipated wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the country seems to be revelling in the excitement of the impending nuptuals.

Whether you are planning a party, attending an organised event or ignoring it completely, you can’t fail to notice the attention that it’s getting. Being an old romantic, I am quite enjoying the fun that goes with it, and wish the couple the very best of luck on their big day, and beyond.

In the spirit of patriotism, we have made a limited edition baby sling, featuring a vintage Cath Kidston-style Union Jack appliquéd on to a gorgeous red base. This fantastic combination is ideal for baby boys and girls, and makes a gorgeous accessory for any yummy mummy, or daddy, for any occasion – and perfect for your street or garden party.

In keeping with the happy couple’s wedding gift list, we have decided to donate a proportion of the profits from every sling of this design sold to charity, and will be sending 10% to SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, which supports anyone affected by the death of a baby.

There will only be ten of this design made, and when they are gone, they are gone, so don’t miss out on getting a stunning (and they really are pretty), comfortable, convenient sling, and wear it with pride when you take your little one out to celebrate the wedding of the year.

It’s not very often that I go somewhere and rate it so highly that I feel the need to recommend it, but yesterday I did just that.

It being Mother’s Day, we drove to Northumberland to see my parents who are on holiday there, and took in a visit to Alnwick Castle, which, amongst other things, is famous for being the home of Harry, Hermione, Ron and all the other Hogwarts residents. It’s a stunning castle, with some fabulous architecture, and we managed to arrive in time to take in some broomstick flying lessons with Madame Pomfrey, before meandering around the grounds, and checking out some of the history (and sitting on a cannon or two).

Then it was time for the bit the children were most looking forward to – Hagrid and Dumbledore, not forgetting the most famous wizarding schoolboy of all!

The show that they did was utterly fantastic – to the point that you (well, I) forgot that they weren’t the real cast. They did magic tricks and entertained the crowd amazingly well, and kept it up for a good half an hour, with an excellent mix of things to wow the children, combined with some subtle adult humour too.

You are allowed to take food in and there are several picnic areas throughout the castle, which we took advantage of, complete with a nice cup of tea to warm us up (it was a nice day, but still only April). Then we went into the Knight’s Quest where the boys made wands, practised their swordmanship (without hitting each other!) and worked their magic on Iggy the dragon.

Of course, no day out of this calibre is complete without a trip to the gift shop, where Snugboy#1 chose a Harry Potter wand and glasses, and Snugboy#2 opted for a knight’s helmet, complete with visor. As we wandered back through the castle, we explored the castle walls and delighted in the magnificent views (well, the adults did – the boys were too busy casting spells on each other, with shouts of “Expelliarmus”, “Potego”, “Avocado” and “Potato!”)

It really was a lovely way to spend Mother’s Day, and I’d love to go back again – they hold regular events, and the gardens look lovely (we only went into the castle, so only got a peek at the gardens through the gateway). We also combined it with a trip to the seaside, though I wasn’t foolish enough to brave the cold North Sea in April, the children loved splashing in and out of the waves.

All in all, I’d highly recommend it for a day out if you are anywhere in the north of Engand, with or without children.