babyurbeautiful

So you've all heard of Elf on The Shelf. No?

OK, so it's this American thing (of course it is).  It started as a storybook with an accompanying elf.  The theory is that Santa needs to work out who's on the nice and naughty lists and so sends an elf to homes where he's not too sure which list the child should be on....the elves then keep an eye on the little darling before reporting back to Santa on Christmas Eve.  However, these elves are very cheeky and each night they get up to all sorts of mischief!

Sounds good, right? We did this when Ella was 4 and she loved it. She was the right age to get the magic of Christmas without asking silly questions or suspecting too much.  

It's a good incentive to encourage them to behave in December as well as getting in the Christmas spirit. The downside, you have to think of something to do with the sodding elf every night before bed! 

Introducing Buddy The Elf

If being a busy Mum makes you a last minute Christmas present shopper like me, then you will love the prices on toys at Asda at the moment. Their prices are generally very competitive anyway, but they currently have 2 for £10 on selected toys, and Little Tikes products, a great toy brand.

You're probably too late for delivery before Xmas now, but you can pop down to grab them in-store.

Here are some ideas for stocking-filler toddler gifts, which my 2 year old loves!

Little Tikes Light n Sound Rings
Usual Price: £8.00



Little Tikes Stack n Tow Rescue Team
Usual Price: £7.00



Little Tikes Drop n Roll
Usual Price: £8.00



Little Tikes Food Mixer
Usual Price: £6.00


Click here for all 2 for £10 offers.

Merry Christmas!

CB

Lush Cosmetics are promoting some Chistmas Good tomorrow with their #ThoughtThatCounts Day!

What does Christmas mean to you? Lush believe it's about real thoughts and thoughtfulness: for friends and family, those less fortunate, animal welfare and trying to make the world a better place. So they are taking the phrase 'thought that counts' and filling it with meaning!

On 17th December 2013, Lush staff all around the world will be performing their own #ThoughtThatCounts and would love for you to get involved by sharing your #ThoughtThatCounts on Twitter and Instagram, whatever it might be.

It doesn’t have to be spectacular – it can be as simple as a ‘hello’ to someone you’ve never spoken to before, ‘thank you’ to someone that you love or a thought for someone less fortunate. You could even share your thoughts about how you’ll be making your Christmas more green or cruelty-free.

I'll be using some of their eco Xmas pressie wraps, which are so cute!


Pudding Wrap 
£2.50 each
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/5744/Pudding-Knot-Wrap




Whatever you’ll be doing to make this Christmas extra special, please join Lush in making it count!

17th DECEMBER #ThoughtThatCounts

Follow on
Twitter @Lushltd
Instagram @Lushfreshhandmade

Coming up to Christmas, I usually like to spend much of December eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine with friends. However still breastfeeding my 11 month old , I am not drinking any alcohol, which makes Christmas just a little less merry than it should be!

So, to try to keep spirits high with Xmas Cheer, I thought I would test out some non-alcoholic mulled wine alternatives.

Belvoir Mulled Winter Punch
£2.46 per bottle
Available from www.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk/shop/mulled-winter-punch 


Description:
A rich spicy non-alcoholic fruit drink, best served warm. Made from fruit juices and spices.

Verdict:
Yum! This tastes just like mulled wine, although it doesn't have the 'kick' of an alcoholic wine. It is more fruity though which makes it so yummy. My hubby loved it too, possibly more than the alcoholic version!!

Belvoir Cordials
£3.84 per bottle
Available from www.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk/shop/cordials


Description:
These fruit cordials come in a variety of flavours, but the Xmassy ones are:

• Spiced winter berry
• Honey, lemon, ginger
• Spiced apple and ginger

They can be mixed with hot water for a warm spicy punch.

Verdict:
These taste delicious. The Spiced Winter Berry flavour in particular, tastes to me a lot like mulled wine, again without the 'kick'. It is very sweet and delicious. In fact, I'm drinking one right now! It also lasts longer than a pre-mixed bottle!

Rochester Mulled Berry Punch
£4.99 for a 725ml Bottle
Available from Holland and Barrett
www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3084



Description:
This fruit punch contains: Water, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Organic Elderberry, Organic Blackcurrant and Organic Apple Juices (all from concentrate), Organic Mixed Spices (all ground), Citric Acid, Organic Orange Oil.

Verdict:
A nice warming, spicy Xmas drink, very similar to the Belvoir, although just not quite as tasty.

Eisberg Cabernet Sauvignon 
The full range is available in Morrisons and selected varieties in Asda, Waitrose, at RRP £3.50.



Description:
The Eisberg alcohol free wine tastes like a real glass of wine, but without the alcohol units, and with just a third of the calories! Made in the same way as your favourite wine, the alcohol is then gently removed using one of the world’s most advanced techniques to ensure that as much of the original character and flavours of the wine are kept intact. The result is an alcohol-free wine containing less than 0.005% alcohol, only 34 calories per 125ml glass and the real flavour of the wine varieties that you know and love. Available in Chardonnay, Riesling, Rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Verdict:
I tried the red, the Cabernet Sauvignon. Firstly I sampled a glass without the mulled spice, and yes, it does taste like wine! I then tried it warmed and mulled, and really couldn't tell the difference until I sipped a mouthful of hubb's 'real' one, and realised the alcohol 'kick' is definitely missing. However, this is the closest you will get to a verion of mulled wine that tastes like the real thing but without the alcohol.

Here is a lovely mulled wine recipe:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/recipe/jamie-s-mulled-wine

Or for lazy/busy Mums try a ready prepared spice bag from Schwartz: http://www.schwartz.co.uk/products/herbs-and-spices/spices/mulled-wine-spice.aspx?gclid=COqz2q_AmbsCFdHItAodyVAAIA
This contains an aromatic and warming blend including orange peel and cassia. With a Foil Fresh seal for extra flavour, it is £1.59 for 6 sachets.

Mulled Wine Instant Tea
Available from: www.whittard.co.uk/instant-tea/instant-tea-flavours/mulled-wine-instant-tea.htm
£5.50 for 475g



Description:
A fruity and mildly spiced mulled wine flavour tea, which is alcohol free. Ingredients are: Cane Sugar, citric acid, tea extract (0.95%), natural flavouring, colouring (beetroot red). This is an instant tea powder and is suitable for Vegans (me!) and Vegetarians.

Verdict: 
I was expecting a black tea with spices, but this actually has no 'tea' flavour, it is a magic powder which is stirred into hot water and makes a hot drink that tastes like a sweet mulled fruit punch. Amazing! Lasts forever too!

Twinings Christmas Loose Tea 
Description:
Assam Black tea with Christmas Spice flavouring

Verdict:
This is not decaf, so I limit myself to one a day, but absolutely love the taste. It is a nicer spice than a chai, much more Christmassy tasting, and works very well with the black tea and a dash of soya milk. Lovely as a gift. Tastes nothing like mulled wine but a Xmas tea and a mince pie always goes down well.

Merry Xmas!

Baby Boom Boom
www.babyboomboom.com



Baby Boom Boom make bilingual products to teach babies and toddlers a foreign language through use of musical instruments and CD's. Juliet Machan, Co-founder of Baby Boom Boom says: 'As all good playgroups and nurseries have known for years, playing music, singing and dancing, and repetition is a good, and fun, place to start introducing language. English and a second language is the foundation of all babyboomboom products.'

I am English but decided from the start to bring my daughter up as bilingual, and decided on Spanish as the second language, which I had learnt at college, and is spoken in many places around the world.

I had been looking for a while for a nursery rhyme CD in both languages, so the Baby Boom Boom CD was absolutely perfect! The instruments are also great quality and add fun to listening. Recently I did a long car trip with my 22 month old who is normally a nightmare to keep occupied in the car, and the CD kept her quiet the entire way there and back! Amazing! It was very well pronounced etc too, although the numbers pronounced in South American way rather than Spanish way, but not a significant thing.

Of course, you don't have to have a bilingual child to use these products, they are a great way of introducing a second language to babies and toddlers. Young children have a special gift for absorbing languages that we adults no longer have, and they are like little sponges! These would therefore make a great unique Xmas gift for a baby or young child.

Junior Band-Bag £22.50
www.babyboomboom.com/cat-1-subcat-3-product-10


The junior band-bag comes with a babyboomboom CD (you choose English plus the other language), along with a tambourine, a recorder, a castanet and a maraca. The CD features nursery rhymes and songs in English and a second language, depending on which one you choose. Each verse is sung in English then repeated in the second language. Words in both languages are included with the CD.

Songs include:

• Old MacDonald
• Five Little Ducks
• The Mulberry Bush
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• This Little Piggy
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• Itzy Bitzy Spider
• Round and Round the Garden
• Tommy Thumb
• The Alphabet Song
• Brother John
• The Wheels on the Bus
• London Bridge
• If you’re happy and you know it

Junior band-bags are tested from 10+ months recommended from 3+ years. However, my daughter is only 22 months and she loves it, do I would say from +18 months personally.

Baby Band-Bag £22.50
www.babyboomboom.com/cat-1-subcat-3-product-11



The baby band-bag comes with a babyboomboom CD (again you choose English plus the other language), along with a baby drum, a rainbow-shaker, a “fishy shake-shake” and a cage-bell. All the instruments are ideal for small hands to grasp and play. This is a musical, fun and participative way to familiarise youngsters with the sounds of a second language! Each verse is sung in English then repeated in the second language. All the words are included for both languages.

Nursery rhymes on the CD include:

1 Old MacDonald
2 Five Little Ducks
3 The Mulberry Bush
4 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
5 This Little Piggy
6 Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
7 Itzy Bitzy Spider
8 Round and Round the Garden
9 Tommy Thumb
10 The Alphabet Song
11 Brother John
12 The Wheels on the Bus
13 London Bridge
14 If you’re happy and you know it

Instruments in the baby band-bag are tested from 3+ months but recommended from 6+ months.

You can also buy the CD separately for £9.99, or do a digital download.

The Baby Boom Boom products are available in the following languages:

• French 
• Spanish 
• Italian 
• Polish 
• German 
• Welsh 
• Chinese Mandarin 
• Scottish Gaelic

As an educational gift I can highly recommend, and it's great value too.

CB