babyurbeautiful

One of the most frustrating parts of potty training? Regression.

After weeks of ablutions (army slang, blame my dad) in the correct places, nap time followed by awakening with bone dry pants. So it's extremely frustrating to take ten steps forwards and eleven steps back.

My little one, Albie, now 3, had been in pants for weeks, I was really proud of his progress, despite various setbacks.
But as a whole we'd got some great teamwork going on.

Me: Need a wee, Albs?
Him: Yup

Every day at pre-school he's absolutely fine, and regularly toiletted  - so no problems there.

Cue this month.

Happily immersed in his new mini Thomas motorised train set, I asked him a few times if he needed a wee.

Me: Need a wee, Albs?
Him: Nope (hopping from left to right foot)

I watched the pattern of him grabbing his 'ding' (his bits) and hopping from one leg to the other, so the 'nope' clearly contradicted the answer.
I ensured the potty was right by his feet ready for the deluge, and carried on with dinner.
Generally if someone tells me no, they're ok - I'll take their word for it.

Two minutes later, I heard a huge howl, and a familiar tinkling noise. His earlier statement was fallacious.

Albie was obviously overwhelmed and ashamed by his accident on my very expensive cow hide rug (can I just point out this has now had pen, vomit, poo, urine and a variety of food items all over it) and he was in tears.

I won't deny, I felt really peed off (scuse the pun) and Usain bolted with the closest kitchen roll to mop up the what seemed to be the never ending pool of urine.

There are multiple reasons a child may regress:

Addition of a new brother or sister to the family
A urinary tract infection
Stress or anxiety
An abrupt change in routine
Starting at daycare
Being teased or disciplined for an accident at daycare
Having an unpleasant experience using the toilet
Any other major life change

Take into consideration any of the above points, I won't bore you to tears with the culprit to ours (no 7, if you must know and please refer back to our other potty training posts).

Although this time, I'd like to think Albie was just so absorbed with his trains he just simply didn't want to miss out on anything.

The Huggies® website recommend going back to basics as the best way to overcome a period of regression.
If you team with plenty of support and praise when appropriate, revert to your earlier routine of regular potty use and marking progress together on a reward chart.
Remind your little one to go to the potty when they're busy playing and look out for signs that they need a wee.
If the accidents go on for more than a few days, or if it's upsetting your child, going back to Huggies® Pull-Ups® for a while can also help.


Don't give up, there are always set backs, keep encouraging and praising your little one. Then when you're back on track, make the night shift the next hurdle....

*This post is sponsored by Huggies*

I love my Kindle. It’s one of the originals so it’s pretty old by modern tech standards (it still uses buttons instead of touch screen!) but it does everything I need it to do. And in fact I would go so far as to say that the user experience is much better than a tablet as you can operate it with one hand. Perfect for commuting or you know, drinking tea.

But I also love a good tablet and when I got the chance to try a Kindle Fire I couldn’t turn it down.
I think the Kindle Fire’s best feature is its simplicity. Or maybe it’s price – at only £49.99 for 8GB this is a great value piece of kit. But really, it’s just super easy to use.

Setting up is a cinch. It takes you through each step with clear instructions – language, WIFI connection, Amazon account linking etc. Then on the home screen you just scroll down to see all your apps. No swiping 5 times to get to the right page or complicated menus.

The Amazon apps are shown separately, but you can also access each service – video, books, games and shopping by swiping left. All the data from my Amazon Prime account was visible and I can choose which items I want to download.  Of course this tablet is ideal for Prime users but is still pretty handy with a regular account too.

Of course as a mum, parental controls are important. At the moment I can limit usage by simply taking the tablet away without too much trouble and the kids are only interested in watching Netflix on it anyway. But as they get older it will become essential. Luckily setting up limits for usage, filters for the internet and content and usage monitoring is again, super simple. You can set up unique profiles for each child and even one for the man child in your life if you have one.

I like the app store, it has quite a lot of content, although probably some of the more business related apps won’t be in there as these tend to get developed for iOS and Android. However the Fire OS was originally an Android system so I’m sure where there’s a will there’s a way. There are lots of free apps and games though, which is great and less need for in-app/game purchasing.

Overall this tablet is great. But what of the most important aspect – the reading experience? Well I had just started reading the 5th Outlander book – The Fiery Cross – on my other Kindle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that after downloading it into my book store, it opened to the page I had left off from. I still maintain that touch screen is rubbish for reading one-handed. Unless perhaps you have big hands. And due to the nature of the screen reading in sunlight obviously isn’t as good. But overall it’s a pretty decent reading experience.

My mum is an avid reader and I bought her one of these for her recent birthday. I was worried she wouldn’t use it much as at 60+ she doesn’t get on that well with new technologies. However she was really pleased with it and is always phoning me excited about the new book she has downloaded or TV show she has watched.

So if you’re looking for a Christmas gift this is a sound buy – even for people who already own a tablet.

As mums, taking time out for yourself is a rare treat.
Whether it be for a quick nail paint, life-saving gel nails, or a blow-dry (the white noise often sends the sproglet off - remember this, ladies).
Whatever way you choose to use your spare time to feel half human, is an achievement in itself.

Having a 3-year-old at pre-school (3 today as it goes) *sobs*.
I get Tuesday and Thursday to myself to try and squeeze in a pamper around work and life admin - although most of the time is spent multi-tasking on the phone/I-pad (which he has usually commandeered) with every cloud 'n all....

Cat (Bub Editor 2) and I tried to co-ordinate our diaries, turns out she was having a pregnancy massage and I was off to review the new Margaret Dabbs, housed in Corinthia's swanky Espa Spa - so here we go.

Three weeks ago the internationally renowned Margaret Dabbs, set up a new sole spa at the Corinthia hotel, and I couldn't wait to waltz those weary tootsies down the marble hallways to prep for his birthday (Albie really appreciates red toenails, let me tell you).
His theme is 'Blaze and the Monster Machines' so naturally I planned a shiny red polish aptly named 'cheeky' to match his balloons!

Marble Massive - swanky changing rooms

Before any colour goes anywhere near your toes, a thorough Medical Pedicure is performed, and this is where the pedicure is like no other I've ever experienced before.
Margaret is the pioneer of the Medi Pedi - which is performed by one of her skilled and qualified podiatrists. Mine was the lovely Thomas, extremely professional, friendly and informative - and a big fan of my feet!

This pedi is not focused on 'pretty' with just a scrub, clip and shape and shiny polish - this is the real deal and is a hybrid health and beauty regime for your tootsies.
However good or bad your feet are - the Medical Pedi addresses the foot in its entirety.
Turns out my 'disco ankle' is a little bit worse than I thought it was.
Thomas wants me back.

The Medi Pedi is performed on a dry foot to ensure long-lasting results. The entire 45-minute treatment takes place on a super huge squishy bed and gives it less of a clinical feel.
While you're all cocooned and cosy, out comes the surgical paraphernalia to remove dead skin, tidy your nails, and skilfully transform your feet from weary to cheery.
It's really strange to see your feet minus any polish, very unconventional these days.

Your feet are overhauled via the safe, surgical removal of all dead and dry skin and calluses.
The nails are then cleaned (all the gross dead skin removal under the nail bed), shaped and buffed (never seen the blighters so shiny, and bare) and your feet are left revitalised.
The lovely Thomas then added the pampering part of the pedi, of a scrub followed by foot massage using Margaret's signature Emu-oil based products.
Emu oil is used for its anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial products - all the anti's, if you please. Three hours later my feet still feel super soft.
The piece de resistance was being able to close my eyes for ten minutes and enjoy the added addition of oxygen to revitalise - minus the nitrous oxide part, unfortunately.

Then came the pretty part. I was slowly transferred (NB: floated) to the Finishing Studio to finish off my tootsies with the super shiny 'cheeky' that ravishing red I mentioned earlier.

Mammas on the Oxygen...

Medi Pedi: 45 mins is £85, with Director is £125,  Supreme Pedicure, 55 minutes £60, Shape and Polish, £25, www.margaretdabbs.com  plus you get to use the swanky spa facilities at the www.corinthia.com

LN x

There seems to be a huge influx of preggers friends right now, and all are due throughout the Winter months.
Boo! for rain and wind, but yey for limited edition gingerbread lattes and new baby snuggles.

So it brings me to the awkward burden of; baby shower, new mum and then the new arrival gifts - not to mention the left out older toddler. Leaving you seriously skint even before the baby has made its first appearance out of the womb.

Not that I have any aversion to spoiling my friends and their new sprogs, but my bank manager may haul me up soon and have a 'quiet word' as a £25 budget is never a £25 spend, and times that by three.  Then there's the before and after (her bashed up bits)  gift, travel to the shower, and all the pretty wrapping, cards etc that go with it.
You get me? El skintos.

The baby box hamper was a delight to discover. When you set your budget, they really help you stick to it - £25 is £25 and plentiful. A bit 'boat is boat' - (if you've watched Shirley Valentine you'll know exactly what I'm harping on about) In short, it is what it is.
There's boxes for twins (£40), pure white boxes for the ethereal earth mothers who haven't yet been acquainted with 'korma poo'.

What I love is that, the company source simple and useful items, wrap in a inoffensive brown paper box and  unisex bright red bow and do all the hard work for you.

For £15, for instance, you'll get a Lamaze toy, branded trendy muslin square and a very useful bandana bib - which looks cool even before it's a bib! I've been known to splash £15 on wrapping, plus tissue, a bag and a card - so why not let someone do all the hard work for you and save a mighty load of expense too?

I particularly love Baby's first Christmas Hamper at £40 with a fair isle sleepsuit, hanging ceramic heart, Santa hat, cranberry glass candle (for mum, obvs), obligatory Muslin, dazzle rattle and all packaged and pretty.

https://www.thebabyboxcompany.com/new-baby-gifts.htmlThe Baby Box Company

Multi-striped Round Neck Dress

Suspicious Cat Tee and Magic Pants

Rainbow Dress

It's not often I'm virtuous but when I am - I do it with gusto - no Mc Donald's, gluten, or alcohol in sight.

In short, I'm one extreme to the other - a gluttonous pig inhaling chocolate and ice-creams; to quaffing smoothies, quinoa and anything else of generally unpalatable  taste and texture in order to shift the bloat.

So when the team had the chance to visit Ragdale hall (a hydro health spa) I got my fine fettle face on.

We headed to the acclaimed Ragdale Hall, where, despite working in beauty for eight years, I've never actually got the chance to visit.

On initial arrival the grounds appeared very well groomed. Much like the staff themselves. Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for myself. We'd both been putting the world's to right, running businesses, blogs and babies (baby making in Cat's case)  all very exhausting to say the least.

The Hall itself is located in the rolling Leicestershire countryside. The journey there from Essex was very pleasant - especially with Cat to witter away to on the 2-hour schlep.
There was an air of serenity (minus us stumbling along with our heavy bags we needn't have brought) and we loved ye olde world charm of the Victorian architecture complimented by state-of-the-art spa and modern chill-out areas.

Ravishing Ragdale Hall

When it comes to a spa. I don't ask for much, but if I want a sauna and a hot tub  - I can go to my local gym, right? (It's a bit posh is my gym).
But I get listless, not to mention hot and bothered in the standard sauna, whirlpool and experience showers.
Give me a rose-petal scented steam room, twinkly relaxation room and a pan pipe/dolphin chorus for good measure - and I'm sold.

Well, I wasn't just sold - I was signing up to stay for the week (like literally pricing up a week).
The service and the general feeling is phenomenal - not a word I use often, but became enamoured with after watching a drunk guest on Come Dine with Me who kept repeating it after every mouthful of dessert.

In the past, the words 'Thermal Spa' always brought what I can only describe as disappointment - as I mentioned before, a sauna, whirlpool and freezing cold showers ends up aggravating rather than relaxing me.
I'm the token screamer with my howls reverberating around the spa area.

On entry to the TS (thermal spa), I really wasn't expecting much.
Cue a condescending sniff (so ungrateful) to discovering what I thought was a dry, boring slab of marble that I should plonk myself on and sit in silence. ...
After opening the door, there was marble, in the form of steps, yes!
At the bottom of those was a cave, filled with water and illuminated by multi-tonal lights in pinks, greens and pretty warm hues.

Twinkly lights at their best

If it wasn't for the silence and an awkward stomach gurgle ( FYI I can't not talk for less than 5 minutes) I would have stayed in there and shrivelled up like one of the prunes that I was later served up for breakfast. It was divine! There was an inside rapid pool that lead to outside (pictured below) I won't spoil it for you if you decide to visit - but the TS had a LOT to offer two weary ladies.

Outdoor Pool Vibes

I wondered if we were getting preferential treatment, it certainly felt like it. But then I realised that everyone is treated with the utmost care and individuality.
We weren't A-listers - but for that weekend felt like P Diddy flipping deuces at every opportunity.

Everyone receives a welcome drink on arrival and after every lunch and dinner, tea and coffee is on the house. Which, in effect, makes it feel like it's home from home; 'Cuppa tea, darl?'
There's none of this churning the guests out, hurrying them along and conveyer belt treatments like so many other spas. Everything is in your own time and, well, just refreshing really.

I also had a bloody lovely therapist,  Heidi.
(Let's all give Heidi a massive Heidi high-five.)
We were assigned to each other by chance, as you usually are (doh).
The facial I received was tremendously relaxing, I probably dropped some zzz's mid- massage as my spotty, aggravated skin was transported into silky, smooth and glowing.
After an hour of pummelling and enlivening using only the finest Decleor from their mandarine range (scented like sweet marmalade) it also has nourishing ingredients like cranberry and argan oil for parched skin like mine.
A quick Amazon purchase later, and I've now got this collection at home and LOVING it (quick newsflash; recently smashed on the floor).
I then booked up another two treatments with Heidi as I was hugely impressed - and trust me, like Gillian McKeith is to turds, I'm the beauty alternative.

I could honestly go on and on about our much needed weekend away, food was top notch, company was even better (go, Cat!) and the ultimate achievement?

We relaxed.

Babyurbeautiful were sent to Ragdale Spa to review, Overnight reviver break from £211pp including treatments, breakfast, lunch and dinner.