babyurbeautiful

As a single mum, who doesn't drive, my only option is online shopping *shudders*



Of COURSE I can do small shops (which add up), or indeed, a large one which means me juggling the pram pushing while stuffing bags in every possible place, on most limbs etc. Then, I can guarantee en route to the bus, it rains.
It's stressful.

For mums, perhaps you find shopping stressful with the kids anyway? Mine usually cries the second he recognises it's a supermarket. But I personally love trawling the aisles, prodding, sniffing and checking out in-store offers. I find the online experience quite cold, boring and I flit between various things *oh I've got a text!* and therefore it 'times out'.

So I thought I'd let you in on a few of my experiences and general online offers I'm aware of. So here goes...

OCADO

Last year they offered £20 off your first shop. I spy it's gone up to a £80 spend, whereby it was £60 last year.
The selection of food is phenomenal.
Healthy options, ready-made, excellent fruit and veg and a nice variety of exotic - they always have offers just as you are about to pay for your basket - they call them 'flash sales', of which I can't help partaking.
They are SLIGHTLY more expensive than your Tesco or Sainsbury's shop - but if you have a wheat/gluten intolerance, like myself - there's a great selection. I also like their 3 for £10 meat offers, which includes a big juicy chicken - their meat selection has always been great, except this one time that I bought some Turkey steaks and they looked like they had blue ink coming out of them - care to enlighten me anyone?
I also discovered some coconut milk natural ice lollies for my son, which proved great in the summer  - and I still buy now (and I eat).

7/10 - no voucher offers, expensive delivery and higher prices. Nice variety of brands, not just Ocado - and includes Waitrose. Love the vegetable themed delivery vans i.e John in the Onion van is coming!

SAINSBURYS

These are probably my most regular shop.
Their selection isn't outstanding. I can't find my Doves Farm wheat free pasta (which is the nicest one). But their customer service is second to none.
There's been times they've delivered the wrong thing, but they've let me keep it AND refunded me.
One time, they brought the wrong brand of baby milk, which to mums, is sacrilege. You can't mix and match powdered milk brands unless you fancy a poorly baby.
I think that they delivered this the next day - and also refunded me. Some of the silliest gripes they have - I think they are fed up with my email feed of moans and groans. But, the customer is always right and if I say my milk is off, which it was last month (and my tea had lovely floating lumps in it before its best before date). No quibbles - £2 voucher sent.
I also like that they post you vouchers for £6 off - they encourage me to shop with them. I think you also gain bonus nectar points if you use all of them up.
Sainsburys - I salute you. I've been using you for a big shop fortnightly for the last two years solidly. Sometimes even once a week. I have had a few late, and I mean LATE deliveries - but I'll let you off (and I complained).
Delivery cost can also be annoyingly high (always at the busiest days to want a delivery) but if you look for if a van is in your area or spend a certain amount you'll save on the cost of it.

8/10 - Regular voucher offers, although I've yet to see any in 2016. Not a very good free from section or exotic selection of oddities (I like to order random stuff I never use). Generally really good for basics, delivery and service and savings.

ASDA

Every little helps, eh? Although I'm regularly told by my Sainsbury's delivery note I saved more than £xx than if I had shopped at Asda or Tesco.
I tend to do shops here if I'm having a BBQ or big do at home, kids parties etc. They do great deals on snacks, frozen food (everyone loved the bargain £2 garlic chicken from the freezer food).
Cokes, fizzy drinks etc are all very cost effective from here - and stuff you wouldn't want to be carrying home - so it's always a great way if doing bulk buying.
I'm not a fan of the meat, sorry Asda. I am a food snob. I just don't feel that enthralled eating their meat. Although I have eaten it (probably unwittingly).
My friend Louise shops here, and makes a delicious chicken curry - all the ingredients, including the chicken, popadoms, chutney are from Asda (just remembered this!) So therefore I need to get over my meat aversion - because clearly it is tasty.

6/10 - good offers in store and online, delivery on time, delivery not too expensive.

TESCO

Not a fan.
I do small shops here as the express one is around the corner - but we all know express means 'rip off' and you pay higher prices for the local service. Not a fan of the meat, (still think I have the horsemeat scandal in my head)  but will eat it if I have to.

Avoid online shopping here - I don't like the website for some odd reason.

M & S

No, it's not a delivery service - but the food snob in me just has to say I BLOODY love M & S. The nibbles, the 3 for £10 meat, the fact they even have a breaded chicken wheat-free option and just so many delights. This is where I do my general/small shops when I can get into town and have room. Food snobbery at its best - but I have to say the 3 for £10 there, is very cost-effective and of course the dine in for 2 £10 meal.

LN

Little One Cream Maize Moses Basket FJ

Probably my most favourite activity with my little one year old is swimming. She absolutely loves her weekly lessons; seeing her splash about, launch herself into the water and kick her legs like a manic just makes me beam with pride. However, (and that's a big 'however'), the whole palava of getting ready and getting changed has taken a lot of fine tuning and I want to share my top tips with you all to make life easier. Some tips are quite obvious but I'm writing them anyway just in case you're as forgetful as me. Please do add any other tips and tricks in the comments section or tweet us!

I got a text message from my friend asking me if I like Chanel Mademoiselle perfume; to which I replied, I don't like it, I LOVE it! If I could afford it I would wear it every day and every night, even if I was just at home. I wondered why my friend was asking, maybe she had a voucher or discount code for a bottle? Unlikely, as Chanel rarely do money off.

As temps drop dramatically, we wonder how to keep our little pickles warm and toasty. 

Wow, we've finally found something that helps bedtime! Hallelujah!

The Slumber Buddy.

Slumber Buddy Elephant

I purchased the cute elephant variety. 
Due to me finding out I was preggers in Thailand,  I then decided my son would then be obsessed with Elephants, natch. So there's why I went for 'Eddie the Elephant.'

The Slumber Buddy is in the form of a teddy (elephant) with a plastic shell on the top where a star a moon display projects around the room in a warming blue, green and amber, and is really rather cute with stars, moons etc.

It also works as a nightlight giving the room a warm glow so baby feels comforted.
There are 3 lullabies available, 2 nature sounds and a heart-beat (this is probably best for very young babies). Although when my son had a bad belly I found myself rocking him on the rocking chair, at 4am, listening to a repetitive heartbeat for half an hour!
The general lullabies and soothing music lulls your little ones to sleep, and the calming display catches their attention, soothes, calms and relaxes them.

I've also tried the slumber buddy at alternative times, I found that when my little one is having a meltdown at nappy change time I press the button and the music kicks in and actually shuts him up! 

Although suitable from birth, we only found this 10 months in - if ONLY we had found it sooner. 

Bedtimes are normally tears, tantrums and fighting and random giggles as he refuses to go down. As I type this post I can hear the lullaby tune playing softly in his room, with a 30 minute shut off time (also a 15 and 45), by the time he's in a deep, deep sleep it'll finish up.

If you're looking for a babyshower gift - this is your buddy.


Slumber Buddy Tesco

LN xx

I trust my GP, I honestly do, but sometimes you have to listen to your inner voice; this is even more true when it comes to 'mothers instinct'. My little 10-month old daughter has developed some kind of red rash on her face and chin and my GP is adamant that it is eczema – it's not that I don't believe him, but I feel like this eczema 'label' is dished out a bit too easily. I think it's quite mild but equally I don't want it to start itching and becoming too bothersome so I'm trying to banish it before it gets any worse.

There's nothing better than a late morning latte, apart from a FREE late morning latte!

According to Martin Lewis the 'money saving expert', TODAY ONLY  (Thursday 11 September) - get a free tall latte (usually around £2.45) at Starbucks when you quote the secret code word COCOA to staff between 11-12pm.

I'm going to feel a bit silly quoting a secret code word, but hey, if it means I can enjoy my hot frothy caffeine fix for free, why not?