The parenthood test!

There have been many words of wisdom written on the subject of preparing young couples for parenthood. I think these words are the best!!

The parenthood test - How to know whether or not you are ready to have children.

Mess test: Smear peanut butter on the lounge sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there for a year.

 
Toy test: Buy a really big box of Lego. If this is not available, you may substitute drawing pins. Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Now try to walk barefoot to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream because this could wake a child at night.

 Supermarket test: Borrow one or two small animals—goats are best—and take them with you as you shop. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

 Afternoon nap test: Lie down on your bed after a big Sunday lunch and ask a friend to sit with you and as soon as you nod off, to pour yoghurt in your ear. 

The car test: Break a ripe watermelon into a mush and throw it all over your dashboard, gear lever, steering wheel and new leather upholstery.

 Dressing test: Go to the fish shop and buy a large, unhappy, live octopus. Try to stuff it into a small net bag making sure that all its arms stay inside.

 Feeding test: Take a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy porridge into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an aeroplane. Now dump the contents of the jug onto the floor.

 Night test: Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 4-6kg of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 20:00 begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 21:00. Put the bag down and set your alarm for midnight. Wake up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these until 4:00. Set alarm for 5:00. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for five years. Look cheerful.

 Physical test (women): Take one large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for nine months. Now remove ten of the beans.

 
Physical test (men): Go to the nearest chemist. Put your wallet on the counter and say “help yourself”. Now go to the nearest supermarket. Arrange for your entire salary to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

 
Final assignment: Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training and child’s table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasise that they should never allow their children to run wild. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

Do you break the rules?!

A study has found that we are a nation of rule-breakers. The average Brit breaks 5 rules a week - that's 260 a year!!!!

And what's our excuse for flouting the rules? It's because we are all in a rush apparently!

The top 20 rules Brits break!

1. Crossing a pedestrian crossing when man is red......Yes!

2. Taking sachets from cafes......Yes!

3. Not recycling properly......No I always recycle properly!

4. Take stationery from work......I have in the past!

5. Passing parking tickets to others to save them money.....I probably would if I drove!

6. Not tipping in restaurants......Yes!
 
7. Pocketing change when given wrong amount......Yes!
 
8. Sprayed yourself with tester perfume instead of buying your own......hahaha Yes!

9. Eating or drinking at the wheel......Don't drive but probably would!

10. Not clearing your table at a fast food restaurant......Yes! Guilty of this one!

11. Used someone else's WIFI......I would but haven't recently!

12. Putting your feet up on the train......On the bus! Yes!

13. Putting rubbish in a neighbours bin if yours is full......Yep! Did it on Tuesday...lol

14. Watching pirate videos......Yep!

15. Cycling on a pavement......I don't cycle!

16. Downloading music illegally......Yep!

17. Using your mobile while driving......I would never do this if I drove!

18. Throwing down cigarette butts......I used to when I smoked.

19. Driving in a bus lane....Nope!

20. Dropping litter in the street......Yes!

How many have you broke recently?

She is a dalek!!

Ahhh the fun you can have with a cardboard box...
I love it how kids can play with hours with the simplest of things....

Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit - Review!

I was sent the new Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit from BzzAgent and was so excited to try it!!

They say....

Waxing at home often sounds like a nightmare: trying to apply messy wax that’s too hot (or not hot enough) is enough to make any girl consider going au naturale. But don’t let your inner yeti out just yet — Veet’s innovative EasyWax system features a one-of-a-kind device that plugs into the wall for consistent temperature and handy roll-on applicator for clean and even wax application. A dream come true for your legs, underarms or anywhere else that’s a little on the wild and woolly side.

Plug it in, warm it up, roll it on, pull it off…then enjoy four weeks of beautifully smooth skin....

I say....

It looks great and in theory seems like such a brilliant, fuss free idea...

I plugged it in and left it for the directed twenty minutes and tried to roll it onto my leg....Nope it wasn't happening so I left it for another twenty minutes and it wasn't coming out smoothly at all....So I left it for another ten minutes....That was an fifty minutes it heated for and when I tried to roll it on my leg it was not coming out very well at all....I had to apply so much pressure to get it to roll it actually hurt and it took me at least five attempts to get a decent amount of wax on....I should of gave up then....

So I finally got enough wax on to apply a strip to actually wax my leg....That was easy enough....I pulled the strip off and it did remove some hair but not as much as I expected it too it did not leave leave my leg feeling smooth but on the upside it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be....

Within I'd say about 3 minutes my leg was burning and came up in a bumpy, lumpy red rash!! 

That was enough for me to give up and put the lot of it in the bin....I will stick with my razor in future!!

I'd say save yourself £15! Don't buy this....If you want anything waxed get it done professionally!! From what I have read there are mixed reviews about it...Some people have success others like me don't!

I was sent the Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit free of charge for being a BzzAgent...This is my honest review....All thoughts and opinions are my own!!

Heating, Water or the Internet?!

A new survey reveals that when it comes to life’s essentials, a good internet connection and social media are near the top of the list....

 

When asked what they would rather give up, more London workers would happily forgo their heating or water for a day than lose their internet connection at home. And it’s not just basic utilities that aren’t as important as surfing the internet, previous studies found that a fifth of people would rather starve themselves for 24 hours than go without their mobile phones.

I'm not to bothered about my phone....I only use it to text and speak to a few people.....It's not snazzy enough to go on the internet....So it wouldn't bother me losing it....but to have no internet connection....I shudder at the thought!! I use the internet for everything....Keeping in touch with friends and family, keeping track of my bank account, weekly shopping with Asda or Tesco, keeping up with the news, blogging & of course entering competitions...

I think over the last few years the only time we've had no internet is when we moved house a couple of years ago and it drove me crazy...I ended up getting a dongle to get online and a few weeks ago there was a problem with the phoneline and the internet was off for a couple of hours....I'd done the housework and was stuck for what to do with myself....I felt all jittery...Thinking I was missing out on something online....

I would give up heating or water just to go on the internet....lol  

Curious George & My little Monkey!

This is my entry into the Tots100/Curious George competition.

My little monkey Ellie....Just hanging out!

She really has no fear...Some of the stuff she does has me running to her screaming 'Noooo'! She does like to scare me!!

Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday

Monday again!! Can you believe we're nearly half way through the year!! This week the kids are on half term holidays from school....

We've had a couple of days of sunshine I hope it carries on for the rest of the holidays!! Yesterday I couldn't be bothered to cook the Roast Chicken and veg so we're having that tonight & the leftover chicken will be used in a salad on Tuesday!!

So on the menu this week we have lots of what the girls want and easy to cook food....

Monday - Roast Chicken and veg....
Tuesday - Chicken Salad....
Wednesday - Lasagne and garlic bread....

Thursday - Fishcakes, chips and peas....
Friday - Tuna Bruschetta....
Saturday - A BBQ if the weather is nice...If not pizza....
Sunday - Chicken casserole, mash and veg....

As always I've joined in with the wonderful At Home With Mrs M's #mealplanningmonday linky....

Silent Sunday!

We went to the Circus!!!

A good friend of mine's husband is a local business owner and got 3 free tickets to the Circus which was in town and as she was away on holiday she gave them to us!!

We went last night and had an brilliant time....The girls loved it and were absolutely amazed! I'm sure Ellie got some ideas how to cause more chaos then she does.....

I have so many videos and photos.....Far too many to share them all but here's some of the highlights!!

The tightrope walker put on such a show!! On the video just after 30 seconds I nearly had a heart attack! He fell!! The girls screamed.....Since found out it's all part of the show!! Wow!!

The guys on the spinny thing were fab!! Watched it holding my breath....lol The girls were sat mouths open absolutely amazed!!

The girl on the rope did so well considering she was a stand in....The taxi driver on the way there said on the opening night the original girl had an accident in the show & broke her leg!! 

 The Acrobats were brill....Fire, limbo dancing & acrobatics!! A great act!! They got in so many poses....Like a human pyramid but them piled up in the strangest yet amazing ways!!

Ellie has a thing about doing the Limbo....Hope she gets no ideas from them....No playing with fire for her!!

Then there was two girls who balanced on balls while juggling and spun hula hoops.....On of them had the hoops set on fire which looked amazing and was another wow moment!! 

Then the finale..... The Thunder-ball riders!! WOW!! They brought out a big metal ball and the act involved guys on motorbikes whizzing round it....The first guy to go in wasn't even a guy he was a boy....Maybe about 12 or 13 years old....Then another joined him....I was gobsmacked!! What brave people they are!! They started going round the middle then from top to bottom....The girls loved it......They just couldn't stop saying wow!! 

I would definitely go again!! The girls loved it......I did too!! 

One of those should I or shouldn't I post it posts...

I have been umming and ahhing about writing this post about Ellie for a few weeks thinking is it too much of a private thing to post....Thinking what if I write this and in say 10 years someone finds it and people take the mick out of Ellie....What if a parent from school see's it and tells there child and she's bullied for it....I've thought long and hard about posting this and obviously decided to post it as you're reading it!....

Ellie has always done everything in her own time....Usually a lot later then the guidelines say and we used to worry about her but now she's nearly six we're used to it and just let her get on with it and stuff the guidelines....

Well apart from the one issue we've had with her over the last three or so years!!

When Ellie was about two and a half we started to potty/toilet train her....Like any child she had accidents and we thought nothing of it....Like I said she has always done everything in her own time so we weren't worried....

When she started nursery she was still having accidents.... We put it down to the fact she was late in being toilet trained and have always made excuses for her saying things like 'she had it tough having open heart surgery just before her 2nd birthday' or 'she only started nursery 4 days after her 3rd birthday and was forced out of nappies....

Nearly everyday she came home with different pants on after having an accident at nursery....We'd tried sticker charts & sending her to the toilet every half hour but she would still wet herself....

She wasn't wearing nappies at all and was always dry all night!! I didn't want to go back to putting her in nappies and thought it was just a phase...She'd grow out of it!

The summer holidays before she started reception class (she was nearly 4) we got in touch with the health visitor who came out to see her....She suggested sticker charts, lots of praise & not a lot else....Which we'd already tried!! She said she's still young and has been through a lot so give her time....

We gave her time....

A few months ago it got to the point where she was wetting herself at school everyday at least a couple of times and them at home too...One Saturday I stopped counting after the fifteenth time she's wet herself...

We went to the doctors.....Who I could of slapped at the time.....He didn't listen to us as Ellie was coming down with a cold and said that could be the cause! He tested her urine and said she had a water infection....Come back in a week with another sample...I was a bit irate as having a water infection did not cause her to wee as much as she did!! 

We went back the next week and the new sample was fine and he said go and see your health visitor who can offer advice even though I said we had seen her....Off I went and she said they don't deal with children over 5! So she referred us to the school nurse.....Nothing like been given the run around!!

We got a phone call a few weeks later off the health visitor saying she'd spoken to the school nurse and she advised us to go back to the doctor and she would write a letter to explain to him what should be done.....

So back to the doctors we went....

He explained to us as simply as he could that he thinks that Ellie's bladder is having spasms and releasing urine every time it has one of these spasms he would give her a tablet to have each day which will relax the bladder so she can feel when she actually needs a wee....He gave us just over a months worth of the Oxybutynin tablets and told us to come back in four weeks!....

She has to take half a tablet twice a day....Morning and evening.....Ohhh and it's been fun trying to get her to swallow a tablet...We've had them blatantly spat out, spat back into the cup, hidden under her toungue & chewed up...

But they are working and we've had no side effects!!!

I think Ellie has only had about six accident's in the last three weeks!! We can live with that....I think it's more of a case of getting her used to going to the toilet when she feels she needs it now....She's never really felt the need to go to the toilet before this is all new to her but she's doing great!!

I don't know how long Ellie will be on these tablets....Hopefully it's not a long term thing....I know I don't want her taking them for the rest of her life....But for now they're are working!!!

We're all a lot happier....No stress thinking whether Ellie will wet herself when we're out, not as much washing to do, Ellie is happier as she's not getting stressed at for wetting herself! We have a happy house!!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is up there in my all time top ten favourite tv shows....Everyday if I'm home at 12 o'clock midday I am sat eating my lunch wathcing Buffy on the SyFy Channel!! I'd say for the last couple of years they have played the whole show....7 series of it again and again.....Do I get bored of it? Never!!

"In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer"

Starring Sarah Michelle Gellerthis show is about Buffy, a teenage slayer, who being expelled from her old school, has to move to Sunnydale, which just happens to be the hell mouth. She attends Sunnydale Highschool and develops a close friendship with Willow Rosenburg, Xander Harris and her watcher Rupert Giles. They repeatedly have to save the world from never ceasing evil while Buffy has to deal with her tangled love life, including Angel, a vampire cursed with a soul... 

My favorite episodes in no particular order....

Hush!! - Season 4 - Episode 10 

The Gentlemen come to Sunnydale and steal the town’s voices as they hunt for seven hearts. For a show known for its witty banter in the entire episode, there are only 17 minutes of dialog....Not a lot considering it's 40 odd minutes long!! Also the only episode of Buffy to be nominated for an Emmy....

The Gift - Season 5 - Episode 22

This episode is really, really sad but Buffy finally learns what the first Slayer meant when she said “Death is your gift.” Buffy selflessly gives that gift to her baby sister Dawn, dying in her place. But after that manage to come back for two more series... Hurrah!

The Body - Season 5 - Episode 16 

“Mom, mom, mommy?” The lack of soundtrack when Buffy finds her mum dead is just stunningly sad. Her reaction and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s acting are perfect. Her waiting for the ambulance helplessly just beautifully illustrated how even the powerful Slayer is a slave to mortality and human emotions. Just flawless and horrifying. 

Once More With Feeling - Season 6 - Episode 7 

They pulled off a musical episode.!! Nowadays, with the likes of Glee musical episodes are a weekly occurrence, but back in 2001, when “Once More, with Feeling” aired, it was a rarity. The songs are good and the dancing is good and it’s a super well-done episode. It’s basically a ‘Buffy’ classic.

My life according to.....

I was tagged in a My life according to Meme by Nikki over at The Countryside Memoirs and the meme was created over at Family Four Fun.

Using only song titles from ONE ARTIST try to answer these questions trying not to repeat a title. Tag 5 others you think will enjoy the challenge and repost as "My life according to"...

Here we go!!

It really only could be one band!! 22 days until I see them in concert.....The most brilliant...

BON JOVI 

Are you male or female..? 

Woman In Love

Describe Yourself..?
Livin' on a Prayer

How do you feel..?
Misunderstood

Describe where you currently live..?
Lost Highway

If you could go anywhere..?
Midnight in Chelsea

Your best friend is..?
She's A Mystery

 
Your partner is..?
Thorn in My Side

 
What's the weather like..?

Dry County  

Favourite time of day..?
One Wild Night

 
If your life was a book what would it be called..?
It's My Life

What is life to you..?
Bed Of Roses

 
Your last relationship..?
Bad Medicine

 
Your current relationship..?
Living in Sin

You fear..?
Blood on Blood 

How would I like to die..?
Blaze of Glory

What is the best advice you have to give..?
Keep the Faith

Thought for the day..?
Thank You For Loving Me

 
My Motto..?
Never Say Die

 
Your favourite form of transport..?
Fast Cars

 
How I feel..?
Happy Now 

 
Your favourite colour is..?

Good Guys Don't Always Wear White

If you could change your name, it would be..?
Queen of New Orleans

That wasn't too hard....I did have a bit of help from Wikipedia though...hehehe

I'm tagging Everyone!....

Right Guard Xtreme Invisible - Review!

I was sent some of the new Right Guard Xtreme Invisible to try from BzzAgent! I love trying new Anti-perspirant deodorants so was dying to get my mitts on this!!

This is what they claim....

Right Guard’s latest Xtreme Invisible aerosol and roll-on anti-perspirant deodorants not only fight sweat and body odour at the source, but also keep your clothes clean from the three most common types of underarm stains — white, oily and yellow.

Xtreme Invisible’s ground-breaking new powder-free, emulsion-based Triple Stain Protection formula has raised the bar for high-performance underarm protection, providing up to 72 hour fresh-scented dryness without ruining your wardrobe.

At first I was a little dubious that a product made so many claims and wondered if it would live up to any of them.... 

It did!!!....

There was no dry or sticky feeling after application...there was defiantly no white/yellow or any other marks on my favorite tops and it did keep me feeling fresh for a long time....

Being a busy mum on the go it comes in handy to be able to run around like a mum does and not have to worry that you have unsightly marks or that you need a quick respray of antiperspirant. 

To make things even better, this deodorant smells lovely - very floral and modern. Some deodorants I like but the smells put me off, this certainly isn't one of those! 

Overall I have to say that I am very impressed with this deodorant and will continue to use it!!

I was sent 2 full-size samples of Right Guard Xtreme Invisible anti-perspirant deodorant free of charge for being a BzzAgent...This is my honest review....All thoughts and opinions are my own!!

Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday

Monday again!! Only seems 5 minutes since I did my last meal plan....We're going to the circus on Thursday so I don't have to cook! Yay!! The kids don't know yet so it will be a nice surprise for them...I'm so excited for it....Been years since I've been to the circus....Can't wait!!

This week on the menu we have....

Monday - Fish Pie....
Tuesday - Chinese chicken thighs and rice....
Wednesday - Tuna pasta bake....
Thursday - We're going to the Circus so we'll get something while we're out....Probably McDonalds on the way home....
Friday - Chicken Fajitas....
Saturday - Pizza....
Sunday - Roast Chicken and veg....

As always I've joined in with the wonderful At Home With Mrs M's #mealplanningmonday linky....

Are you busy today?

Sunday...A day of rest! 

A day to kick back and relax and potter about...

A day where there's not much going on....

Well....According to a new survey it's now the busiest day of the week for a third of Brits.....

Sundays are now likely to be crammed with a whirlwind of domestic chores, work worries and arguments at family get togethers.

One in ten spend the day worrying about the working week ahead and get the 'Sunday Blues' by the evening.

Over half of those polled (51%) believe that Sunday is a day ‘for getting things done’.

The survey (for TV channel Reveal) found that on average we spend our Sundays doing:

2 hours preparing and cooking Sunday lunch.
26 minutes eating Sunday lunch.
3 hours and 36 minutes on household chores.
2 hours 25 minutes entertaining and ferrying around children.

Really?! Not for me....

I think Saturday is my busiest day....

On a Sunday I rarely get dressed....It's a PJ day for us....We usually watch a film....Probably Evan Almighty or Cat's & Dogs which is on this afternoon...

If I am cooking a roast dinner I prepare the veg & cook the meat on Saturday so there's little to on a Sunday...

The only time on a Sunday it get's busy is after tea....Sorting uniforms out, making sure homework is done and baths for the kids....

Sunday is my favorite day!! 

READ MORE HERE!