tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57931167357250056422024-03-13T11:35:47.265+00:00A Yummy Mummy? Really?The diary of a 70s-born mum of two; on life, the universe and everything, including whether we can still be yummy when we are a mummy.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-79410831992653759802021-07-17T19:31:00.000+01:002021-07-17T19:31:11.511+01:00When your children need you less
<a class="buffer-add-button" data-count="horizontal" data-picture="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r-R39ysh7eU/UGYUeyhHaQI/AAAAAAAABDg/EvCz80Lftrg/h120/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" data-text="Yummy Mummy? Really? Blog" data-via="ymummyreally" href="http://bufferapp.com/add">Buffer</a><script src="http://static.bufferapp.com/js/button.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br></div><div>You experience a decade of being the absolute rock for your child. They rely on you for food, shelter, nappy changing, cleanliness, getting where they need to go, when they need to go there. You play with them, dry their tears when they fall, patch them up and help them get back on track. You get completely used to thinking for them as well as you. Your diary is full of their activities (not so much your own). Life, if you also have a paid job, becomes an endless round of time management genius. From meetings, to school pickups... on and on it goes. It's thrilling, but exhausting.</div><div><br></div><div>During this time you occasionally wish they didn't need you so much. Their call of 'muuummmm', starts to become more grating and less cute. They seem to lose things constantly, and require your input so much that you rarely get to drink a cup of tea whilst it's hot, nor go to the toilet uninterrupted.</div><span></span><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2021/07/when-your-children-need-you-less.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-950112495896591082020-07-13T17:30:00.000+01:002020-07-13T17:30:03.295+01:00How to sell your parenting skills in the work place<h3>
Parenting versus Managing</h3>
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There isn't a day goes by that I don't use skills at work that I learnt through being a parent. <br>
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Whether I am being encouraging; or expressing my disappointment at someone who should know better; managing conflict and assisting with calm authority, denying gossip; managing good and bad performance; managing relationships (and ensuring the team don't kill each other); teaching office manners, where it's OK to smoke - but "I really wouldn't because xyz", that "please", "thank you" and "you're welcome" are not optional extras, and finally, teaching that punctuality is a key measure by which you'll be judged.<br>
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Over and over again I find myself having the same conversations in work as I've had at home talking to my girls as they grew up.<br>
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And actually, teaching and training and managing the 6 and 8 year old is often much easier than doing the same with a bunch of adults who all think they know better. Some of which have never been taught how to spell. Some never got into the habit of saying 'thank you'. Some are learning new things and getting frustrated by the slowness of their learning. Many (oh goodness FAR too many) gossip and argue in the same way you'd expect on a playground.<br>
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Sell your parenting skills to interviewers</h3>
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So if you are trying to get back into the workplace after having children you can absolutely sell your newly learnt skills in parenting as management skills.<br>
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<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2020/07/how-to-sell-your-parenting-skills-in.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-77842216926305499372017-08-13T16:24:00.000+01:002017-08-13T16:24:13.197+01:00Is there an actual magazine for real women?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Epy4nA5DbTw/UGoV5Rf5--I/AAAAAAAABFk/0KGDqqAHWhMWFEGNh8h_Z632r2tII-3HwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="373" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Epy4nA5DbTw/UGoV5Rf5--I/AAAAAAAABFk/0KGDqqAHWhMWFEGNh8h_Z632r2tII-3HwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" width="171"></a></div>
20 years ago I used to regularly buy women's magazines. Cosmopolitan, Red, Company, Elle. I've bought all of these and more on many occasions. But as I got older I become less and less enamoured by them. <br>
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None of them now talk to me. <br>
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On my latest summer holiday I thought I'd pick up a magazine to read on the plane. A quick look through them in the shop told me they hadn't changed in 20 years. Still as irrelevant to me - in fact more so!<br>
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And I wonder whether there's a huge gap in the market here? Are there loads of people like? Or am I just really weird? You be the judge. I'll tell you why I don't like them...<br>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2017/08/is-there-actual-magazine-for-real-women.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-87652568293797589412016-10-23T16:32:00.001+01:002016-10-23T16:40:19.249+01:00#Spooktacular Warwick Castle is The Haunted Castle!<a class="buffer-add-button" data-count="horizontal" data-picture="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r-R39ysh7eU/UGYUeyhHaQI/AAAAAAAABDg/EvCz80Lftrg/h120/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" data-text="Yummy Mummy? Really? Blog" data-via="ymummyreally" href="http://bufferapp.com/add">Buffer</a><script src="http://static.bufferapp.com/js/button.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br>
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We were lucky enough to get the chance to visit Warwick Castle this weekend. I've always been interested in the site; anyone interested in the Kingmaker and the War of the Roses will visit just for the history. But this Halloween Warwick Castle becomes <i><b>The Haunted Castle </b></i>with new attractions designed to scare and thrill right up <b>until 9pm.</b> So we were interested to see if there's something for everyone this half-term. <b>There was! </b> It's a great day out anyway, but this half term in particular there are some new attractions and <b>Halloween themed thrills!</b><br>
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We arrived at 10am opening time, as we like to maximise our day trips. Our girls are now 8 and 10 years old. Their favourite parts of the day were, and I quote; "The <b>Flight of the Eagles</b> show because the birds were HUGE", "<b>The</b> <b>Horrible Histories Maze</b> because you win a prize" and our 10 year old really liked starting the day with the <b>Grand Tour, </b>because "although you didn't go inside the castle, it was good to learn about the history of the castle itself and how and why certain bits were built".<br>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2016/10/spooktacular-warwick-castle-is-haunted.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-39874988775392257292016-04-03T15:08:00.000+01:002016-04-08T21:59:02.141+01:00Amazing! The new magazine for 7+ readers that teaches the curriculum in a Horrible Histories style! Plus Give-away!<a class="buffer-add-button" data-count="horizontal" data-picture="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r-R39ysh7eU/UGYUeyhHaQI/AAAAAAAABDg/EvCz80Lftrg/h120/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" data-text="Yummy Mummy? Really? Blog" data-via="ymummyreally" href="http://bufferapp.com/add">Buffer</a><br>
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Kids love disgusting! </h1>
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"Uuuurrrrrrggghhhhh!!! That's DISGUSTING!" were the first words from Princess Peppa, my 9 year old. (I may need to rethink her blog pseudonym now she's waaay past loving Peppa Pig). "That's COOL!" was the response from Little Miss George, the 7 year old. </div>
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They couldn't be more different, but they both laughed, giggled, and uurrrggghhhed their way through our sample copies of Amazing! Magazine. From how to make your own edible bogie's; Yes; Really. To a guide to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar; (it's not limiting itself this one); the magazine takes a fresh look at information we want our children to learn and presents it in a fun, clever, humorous and yes, quite frankly often disgusting, way. </div>
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It's designed to link to the primary curriculum. Want to know if you'd survive as a Roman gladiator? Find out in the Ancient Romans edition. Want to learn where and when the first false teeth are made? Check out the Human Body edition.<br>
</div><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2016/04/amazing-new-magazine-for-7-readers-that.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-18907812629752045932016-03-23T07:49:00.000+00:002016-04-03T14:55:11.532+01:00Is spelling a lost art?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is spelling a lost art?</td></tr>
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<h3>
Why can't she spell?</h3>
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Have you ever been shocked by a friend or colleague that you discovered couldn't spell basic English words? I've been completely shocked by friends and colleagues who can't spell. They are intelligent, capable adults, but when they need to write things down on paper it becomes clear they can't spell words that my 9 year old has already learnt in Year 5.<br>
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The words I've seen adults ask for help with include; 'communicate', 'relationship', and 'development'.<br>
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I must admit to being shocked. I have always assumed, possibly naively, that everyone that's gone through the school system and is working in a pretty good job can read and write, and when I say write, I also mean spell.<br>
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Remember in school when there was a weekly spelling test alongside the weekly times-table test? My daughters now come home with pretty much the same homework as I did 35 years ago... Spellings and Tables. <br>
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The theory is presumably that if you know your tables off by heart, other mental arithmetic is invariably easier and you'll find passing tests, counting change (when using cash on those rare occasions these days) and working out how much you'll pay back in interest if you borrow money for a car, an awful lot more manageable. And let's be honest; when someone calculates something in their heads quickly we are all impressed. <br>
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They are that little bit sexier as a result. Or is that just me?<br>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2016/03/is-spelling-lost-art.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-88094700762384012972016-02-21T17:31:00.001+00:002016-04-03T15:07:03.142+01:00The Marriage Proposal Formula<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YsluGqiF-AM/UhKFW9t3Y8I/AAAAAAAABxk/SNR_JrpvbUQ/s1024/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202013%25252021%25253A27.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left;" target="_blank"><img alt="The marriage proposal formula" class="alignleft" height="320" id="blogsy-1382302179708.749" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YsluGqiF-AM/UhKFW9t3Y8I/AAAAAAAABxk/SNR_JrpvbUQ/s320/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202013%25252021%25253A27.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francesca Beauman</td></tr>
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I was leafing through a book called "The Woman's Book: everything but the kitchen sink" by Francesca Beauman. It's been in my library for ages, and I occasionally flick through it. </div>
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It's one of these books that is, essentially, filled with completely random facts.</div>
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The random fact I came across was "The Marriage Formula".</div>
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Apparently, and I quote; "a simple mathematical formula exists to help one ascertain whether or not to accept a proposal of marriage." </div>
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<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-marriage-proposal-formula.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-60821763689387963222016-02-19T21:55:00.000+00:002016-02-19T21:55:33.444+00:00Time flies and the children grow so!<a class="buffer-add-button" data-count="horizontal" data-picture="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r-R39ysh7eU/UGYUeyhHaQI/AAAAAAAABDg/EvCz80Lftrg/h120/teddy%2Bin%2Bbag.jpg" data-text="Yummy Mummy? Really? Blog" data-via="ymummyreally" href="http://bufferapp.com/add">Buffer</a><script src="http://static.bufferapp.com/js/button.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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How did they grow up so fast?!<br />
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Are you feeling like this at the moment? Like it's only a few precious moments ago that you had all these plans and ideas about how their childhood would be, and suddenly they are asking for their own phone and applying to secondary school and couldn't give a toss about the cookie baking idea you had.<br />
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What happened? <br />
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Yesterday my daughter was listening to my iPod on random shuffle and came across a song she called "Sister Add It". It turns out it was Five Star's classic "System Addict". When I mentioned it to my husband and had the nerve to say I'm showing her some great retro tunes he replied, "Five Star isn't retro; it's ancient!"<br />
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Oh good grief!<br />
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It's less that the children have grown up. It's more that I seem to have missed the passing of the years and am suddenly a decade older.<br />
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I turned 41 this year. I feel 21 still. I'm definitely aiming to increase my flexibility this year in dance class and get down into those 'splits'. So I'll be lying to my body from now on. I'll be insisting that it responds exactly as it did at 21, whether it likes it or not.<br />
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I'm sure my knees will be delighted with the news!<br />
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<b><i>What lies do you tell yourself in an effort to feel younger?</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-46695451093885508642014-09-18T18:27:00.001+01:002014-09-18T18:27:29.338+01:00Do you have to get dressed to go out with a pushchair?
<p> It's 2am. Baby has been crying, on and off, all night. You know that a walk in the buggy has a good chance of sending baby off to sleep. Baby is screaming now; completely over tired. You've changed the nappy. Your baby refuses any more milk. He's been winded for hours. The walk in the buggy is your last option.</p>
<p>But you are in your pjamas and slippers. The perplexing quesion of the day is: Do you get dressed?</p>
<p>Would you bother to swap slippers for trainers? Would you whip off the PJs and throw on some jeans and a T-Shirt? Would you throw on just a dressing gown, or a coat?</p>
<p>And, in a world that has somehow managed to convince the fashion buying public that a onesie is a fashion statement and not (what it actually is) a large baby-grow; does it frankly matter which of the above you pick since we are used to seeing people in outfits that look like sleepwear anyway?</p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/09/do-you-have-to-get-dressed-to-go-out.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-59355429114048691042014-08-02T12:06:00.000+01:002016-03-24T19:30:14.351+00:00How to survive the school holidaysTo many parents, the prospect of 7 weeks of school holidays causes mixed and conflicting emotions. For working parents, on one hand there is an opportunity to spend more time with the children than the two day weekends usually allow, assuming, that is, you can book some leave. On the other hand, most working parents get less than 30 days annual leave a year, so the school holidays present a logistical childcare challenge. <br>
You are torn between wanting to be delighted that the children are not at school, but actually feeling fairly gutted that the children are not at school.<br>
This is also because the working parents amongst us don't get nearly as much childcare practise. We are just not used to entertaining the children, or indeed pointing them in the right direction of the garden/playroom/bedroom (delete as appropriate) so that they can entertain themselves. We spend our time getting very good at filling school bags with the right letters, prepping lunchboxes, prepping and distributing breakfasts and evening meals, bathing, stories and bed time. That bulk of time in the middle of the day that needs filling with other stuff? Well that's something of an enigma to us.<br>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-survive-school-holidays.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-65232267049762734822014-07-19T14:03:00.001+01:002014-07-19T14:03:08.244+01:00The New Hobby Dilemma
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>The New Hobby Dilemma: how many classes should you take before knowing it's not for you?</strong></span></p>
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<p> Children come with a host of undiscovered talents. We don't know what they will be good at. We don't now whether they will take to swimming like a duck to water, or if they will splash and cry and splash some more and scream the place down and try every trick in the book to convince us they don't need to learn to swim.</p>
<p>Whilst swimming is a non-negotiable for us (being a life saver it is compulsory attendance for our girls), other hobbies are all up for debate. </p>
<p>Ballet dancing, horse-riding, singing, piano-playing, rugby, karate, street dance, gymnastics, cheerleading....... They are some of the many childhood activities on offer for our children and our children may be brilliant at them.</p>
<p>They may also be rubbish.</p>
<p>So how many classes do you insist they go to before allowing them to say, "I don't want to do it anymore"? Should we insist they make the effort, as not everything will necessarily click straight away. Or do we assume that if it's their talent then they, and us, will magically know straight away?</p>
<p>Is there such a thing as "being a natural"?</p>
<p>And if they are brilliant at it, but hate it, what then?</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You can also read the debate about the gender-specific nature of some childhood activities at "<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/why-is-it-ok-for-little-girls-to-love.html" target="_self" title="Ok for girls to love dinosaurs, but not ok for boys to love Barbie?">Why is it OK for little girls to love dinosaurs, but not OK for little boys to love Barbie?</a>"</p>
<p> </p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-71759072725492765852014-07-08T06:30:00.000+01:002014-07-08T06:30:01.191+01:00Parents: please stop pleading with your children
<p> When did parents stop telling their children what to do? </p>
<p>Walk into your local supermarket and you'll discover parents not only asking their children to behave, but pleading with them.</p>
<p>I nearly called this post "stop saying please". But it's not really the "please" bit that's the problem, though it doesn't help. Indeed you can't expect your children to grow up saying please when they ask for something if you never use it with them. However, there's a difference between saying to little Charlie, "keep hold off the trolly please" in a matter of fact tone when it's an instruction with manners and "darling, pleeeease keep hold of the trolly. " using best pleading voice. In fact, to give that the right tone I was forced to add the "darling" to that second version making it far more accurate. Some parents can't say a sentence to their children, even when supposedly reprimanding them, without saying darling. I'm not sure why. Don't their children have actual names?</p>
<p>I feel like slapping them. The parents, not the children. Becuase it seems like only that would bring them to their senses. </p>
<p> </p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/07/parents-please-stop-pleading-with-your.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-26255555335486368722014-04-28T06:47:00.000+01:002014-04-28T06:47:00.530+01:00Lego Storage boxes: how to organise your expanding collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vJXpXO8K8zg/U1bW75OS-2I/AAAAAAAAB3A/7JcNhCb2kxg/s717/Photo%25252020140422215401.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vJXpXO8K8zg/U1bW75OS-2I/AAAAAAAAB3A/7JcNhCb2kxg/s500/Photo%25252020140422215401.jpg" id="blogsy-1398460507854.308" class="alignleft" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p> This week we have been debating; yes, debating; the conundrum that is 'how to store our increasing collection of Lego sets.' </p><p>I came to the conclusion; after working out that if I was to invest the £39.99 it would cost for a Lego Sort and Store head, which look amazing but seem horrifically over priced for what is essentially moulded plastic; that I would need to actually buy at least 3 storage heads. One for Princess Peppa's 'Friends' range, one for Little Miss George's Marvel Hero and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ranges and three for my shop. Yes three. Apparently they only store 1000 pieces and if I ever do demolish the shop (which is unlikely) it had 2,182 pieces.</p><p>It seems a hugely extravagant solution to a basic storage problem. </p><p><strong><em>So what about the Lego storage heads that just store, and don't sort? </em></strong></p><p>For my money the space for storage is just too big. How do you rummage through and find the small pieces in such a deep container? </p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/04/lego-storage-boxes-how-to-organise-your.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-66415481614993440572014-04-26T06:30:00.000+01:002014-04-26T06:30:00.762+01:00Why is it OK for little girls to love dinosaurs, but not OK for little boys to love Barbie?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3sZMkZkVAKI/U1rZVUQ4muI/AAAAAAAAB3c/uLc06A9_azs/s1024/Photo%25252020140425225324.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3sZMkZkVAKI/U1rZVUQ4muI/AAAAAAAAB3c/uLc06A9_azs/s500/Photo%25252020140425225324.jpg" id="blogsy-1398462809403.33" class="alignleft" width="374" height="374" alt=""></a></div><p> Over the weekend I read an interesting article in the Times magazine by Lori Duron, author of <a href="http://raisingmyrainbow.com/" target="_blank" title="Raising my rainbow">Raising My Rainbow: adventures in raising my fabulous, gender creative son</a>.</p><p>I'll be honest, I was confused. The article talked about how concerned Lori and her husband were when their son started expressing a love for all toys usually favoured by girls at a young age. From the moment he saw his mom's old barbie doll he was hooked. When he started dressing up in girls clothes they were concerned. </p><p>The article, and presumably the book it stems from, talks about how Lori eventually discovered online (where else?) that there was a label she could give her son: gender creative, or gender non-conforming. Somehow having this label made it easier for them. Her worries about whether or not he was homosexual were eased by the discovery of this label.</p><p>Her son is 7.</p><p>Confused? </p><p>Well I am.</p><p>You see, regular readers will know that my younger daughter, Little Miss George, loves dinosaurs, plays with cars, is obsessed with Spider-man, Batman, the Teenage Mutant Ninya Turtles, knights and battles and swords. She actively steers away from 'girls' toys, and only occasionally, when she sweetly feels that she'd like to wear an outfit in her wardrobe that she knows we like (she's incredibly thoughtful) she will wear a flowery dress. Otherwise it's leggings or jeans and Marvel comic or dinosaur t-shirts. She even has a shirt for parties.</p><p>Her best friends are all boys. </p><p>Am I worried that she's a lesbian? </p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/04/why-is-it-ok-for-little-girls-to-love.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-28045969704772455182014-04-24T06:34:00.000+01:002014-04-24T06:34:00.023+01:00How to drink more water?<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">It's taken me four months to write this blog post. I feel the need to apologise. My absence from the Internet lately can be explained by a few quick words; winter, cough, lack of sleep, 45 hour work weeks, my birthday, a fabulous new internet project (watch this space), the financial year-end (I'm an accountant by day) and a winter holiday. I could tell you more about all of those things, but I figure you probably don't care a long as I stop waffling and get to the point.</span><br></p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gocarts/2959393208/" title="Water from a Tap by gocarts, on Flickr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3294/2959393208_f4fb74f682.jpg" id="blogsy-1398199292969.6868" class="alignleft" alt="Water from a Tap" width="375" height="500"></a><p>Far more interesting is the purpose of this post - to share my discovery this week of how I can drink more water.</p><p>It's on everyone's New Years resolution list every year; to drink more water. We all know we are supposed to drink around 10 glasses a day. We all generally fail miserably. 10 cups of coffee and/or tea maybe yes. But that's still a tall order. </p><p>Let's face it, water generally doesn't taste that good. Some of us are lucky enough to have water flowing from our taps that can be drunk straight from the tap and is fairly palatable. But many places of work in the UK won't have the same water supply, and many taps specifically have labels above them saying "not drinking water"; though in an emergency you probably would anyway.</p><p>Cordials are good at making water taste of something else, but they are full of sugar and E-numbers and don't really appeal to me. I actually like drinking bottled water, but 10 bottles of Evian a day would quickly bankrupt me. I'd be smooth skinned but incredibly poor. </p><p>Funny then, that this week I have gone from hardly drinking anything other than coffee, tea and the occasional fruit juice, to drinking 3 or 4 full bottles of water. </p><p>The bottles in this case are not bought bottles. I have discovered a refillable water bottle that works for me even though it's only filled with tap water.</p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-drink-more-water.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-42530190132694686682014-04-22T06:25:00.000+01:002014-04-22T06:25:00.043+01:00Amazing things I've discovered this week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FDaKgep0BGM/U0mmdSIKMKI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/TSiuyjHCTZo/s1024/Photo%25252020140412214731.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FDaKgep0BGM/U0mmdSIKMKI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/TSiuyjHCTZo/s500/Photo%25252020140412214731.jpg" id="blogsy-1397828123224.4692" class="alignleft" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><p>It's been a week of getting excited about silly things.</p><p> </p><p><strong><font size="5">Shoe heaven -</font></strong> First up, these shoes. Discovered whilst casually walked through my local town and spotted out of the corner of my eye. I did the double-take that everyone who has seen me wearing them since has done. For at first these look like patterned yellow and blue shoes. Get closer and you realise they are minion shoes.</p><p>Yes. As in <em>Despicable me</em>.</p><p>The designer, Kirsty Needham can customise in whatever style you like. Find her on Facebook at Crystal Jane Customisations.</p><p> </p><p><strong><font size="5">Power your Pivots</font></strong> - I've also had the unusual experience of sitting in a work training session... Yawn... And learning something that will absolutely revolutionise how I work. Good grief that doesn't happen often, so buckle up and prepare yourself for something special. And If you don't use Excel, skip this section now. You either know Vlookups or you don't.</p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/04/amazing-things-i-discovered-this-week.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-13177306131532858512014-01-06T06:00:00.000+00:002014-01-06T06:00:00.822+00:00Feeling like you are not a good mum?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21524179@N08/5228471565/" title="the word is no by nerissa's ring, on Flickr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5247/5228471565_b8b1978e7d.jpg" id="blogsy-1388773767923.2144" class="alignleft" alt="the word is no" width="317" height="312"></a><p> I feel this numerous times everyday. I honestly think that if you permanently think you are a fabulous mum you are probably suffering from delusions. </p>
<p>Part of being a good parent is recognising your weaknesses and knowing what you are doing well and what needs improvement. We are not all perfect. Knowing this makes us one step closer to attaining success.</p>
<p>It will be different in other parts of the world, but in the UK we live in a culture where women are told in school that girls are more intelligent than boys. The exam statistics prove it. We are told we can do anything, be leaders, lawyers, doctors or pop stars - it's all available to us. We are also shown celebrity mothers, usually those in the film, TV or Modelling industry, in top designer wear, with perfect haircuts, running their children to school in 4x4s, playing out at the park in their designer jeans, and somehow maintaining a career without their mascara running. We think that this is what we must strive for. Everything. Woman have fought long and hard for us to have equal opportunity to men. We shouldn't waste the opportunity.</p>
<p>It's all an awful lot of pressure to have everything and do everything and to do it all brilliantly with fabulous skin and perfect nails.</p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/01/feeling-like-you-are-not-good-mum.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-57515894291883913932014-01-01T20:38:00.000+00:002014-01-01T20:38:42.680+00:00New Year's Eve party? Don't be daft; I'm a parent.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amani1306/2357549928/" title="Fireworks by Amani Hasan, on Flickr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3255/2357549928_1df1a18ca3.jpg" id="blogsy-1388596652316.975" class="alignleft" alt="Fireworks" width="500" height="375"></a><p>This year we didn't even pretend to go through the motions of staying up to see in the new year. We didn't watch any New Year's Eve specific TV. We didn't countdown. The girls, now 7 and 5, went to bed at 7.30pm. We wandered up to bed at around 11.30, only late because we had been independently pottering around on the Internet doing various jobs, reading up on news, shopping for hotel rooms and 2014 mini breaks.</p>
<p>When I was just dropping off to sleep, I heard the start of the fireworks and my only thought was, "so it's midnight then". </p>
<p>When I was in my teens and early twenties, New Year's Eve was a big deal. A HUGE deal. It was a special night when you got to dress up in your absolute best gear, dance the night away, drink slightly too much, and still end up in a beautifully romantic pose, at midnight, kissing the man of your dreams. </p>
<p>Of course that view was entirely the product of watching Sleepless in Seattle and similar films and has never ever, in my experience, translated to real life.</p>
<p>Truth be told, I can count the number of New Years Eve 'parties' that I have been invited to in my entire life on one hand. Not one of them was in a posh hotel in New York. Not one of them was in a posh hotel...</p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-year-eve-party-don-be-daft-i-parent.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-6754159590898803302013-12-18T06:00:00.000+00:002013-12-18T06:00:01.958+00:007 ways to NOT be late in the mornings<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4exLVxo5CQ/UWsW0K4VE1I/AAAAAAAABpg/ZjeDh4fBiJ8/s1600/Kozzi-a-juggling-business-woman-vector-1449+X+1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4exLVxo5CQ/UWsW0K4VE1I/AAAAAAAABpg/ZjeDh4fBiJ8/s200/Kozzi-a-juggling-business-woman-vector-1449+X+1449.jpg" width="200"></a>So there are only 7 sleeps until Christmas, and I don't know about you but time is <b><i>really</i></b> of the essence right now. With nativities to attend, presents to wrap, parties to attend (alright, "party", let's not get over excited) and endless chores to get done saving a minute here or there can make a real difference.<br>
<br>
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how early you set your alarm, or how prepared you think you are, the universe conspires against you to make you late. It only takes a split second to miss your train, or bus, or tube and often that will make the difference as to whether you make your meeting, or gets the children to school on time, or make your first pilot-training session... Who knows right?<br>
<br>
So how do you save time?<br>
<br>
1.<b> Reduce the travelling. </b> By this I mean, the numerous times you end up charging backwards and forwards through your apartment, or up and down the stairs of your house to fetch lippy, your purse, your phone. It sounds obvious but have a place for everything that makes sense and always put things back where they live. <br>
<br>
2. <b>Pack your handbag</b> the night before. It's like being back at school isn't it? But it works. If you mess about swoping handbags around in a morning you will be a) late and b) annoyed you left something in the other bag.<br>
<div>
</div><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/12/7-ways-to-not-be-late-in-mornings.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-23528468623213723312013-12-10T06:10:00.000+00:002013-12-17T21:19:33.901+00:00The Ion Sound Splash Bluetooth Waterproof speaker: a review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/ion-sound-splash-bluetooth-waterproof-speaker-white/p563283" style="clear: left; float: left;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="322" id="blogsy-1386627875284.062" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fCf-8JMJr3U/UqY4Y8qNOFI/AAAAAAAAB1c/HDNGGnUxsW0/s322/Photo%2525209%252520Dec%2525202013%25252021%25253A31.jpg" width="322"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ion sound splash Bluetooth wireless speaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love music. I shower everyday. How great to be able to maximise the joy that is iTunes Match on my iPhone by listening to it perfectly safely in the shower.<br>
<br>
I love this gadget. It's my new favourite piece of tech. Simple, smart, pleasing to the eye. You can even, if you were super sad, answer the phone using it. Thankfully video calls wouldn't work.<br>
<br>
Anyway.
<br>
It takes less than 30 seconds to read the 3 steps involved in pairing it to your phone. <br>
<br>
Basically press a couple of buttons and you are on.<br>
<br>
I left my iPhone in the bedroom, got in the shower, turned on the <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/ion-sound-splash-bluetooth-waterproof-speaker-white/p563283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="ion Sound Splash bluetooth waterproof speaker at John Lewis">Ion Sound Splash </a>and pressed play. It started playing where I last left off. Brilliant. I need to keep testing the range, but the Bluetooth connection is pretty darn good.<br>
You can play and pause the song and also control the volume. You can't skip tunes though, so make sure you have a shower playlist, or album, ready.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-ion-sound-splash-bluetooth.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-51068461177080680302013-11-08T06:10:00.000+00:002013-11-08T06:10:00.114+00:00Dance Workout DVDs: A Fame Dance Workout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Aw5e-3qXhHQ/Unk5-AX1qrI/AAAAAAAAB0s/hDKB25mq8OQ/s110/Photo%2525205%252520Nov%2525202013%25252018%25253A32.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Aw5e-3qXhHQ/Unk5-AX1qrI/AAAAAAAAB0s/hDKB25mq8OQ/s200/Photo%2525205%252520Nov%2525202013%25252018%25253A32.jpg" id="blogsy-1383676805588.8618" class="alignleft" alt="" width="200" height="282"></a></div>
<p> I absolutely love dancing. The only time you will see me being remotely energetic will be on the dance floor, when I will stomp to the beat so expressively it's a wonder the floor withstands it.</p>
<p>But as I age I find it more and more difficult to get all my exercising needs from dancing. Dancing the night away half cut on Alcopops is a nightly experience reserved only for University years, and will not be repeated as I approach 40 years old. </p>
<p>The 2 hours a day of dance class I was taking in my youth is a memory swiftly fading, and is only possible for youngsters will no bills to pay and no children, or other family members, to support.</p>
<p>You fabulous readers know I work full time, have two amazing daughters (7 and 5 now... Doesn't time fly), and fill most of my remaining hours faffing about online and writing this blog. </p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/11/dance-workout-dvds-fame-dance-workout.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-86973446655035157662013-11-06T06:00:00.000+00:002013-11-06T06:00:01.236+00:00Personalised picture books for Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2fhHH47Wq0g/UnWII7S8hJI/AAAAAAAAB0E/M1VxWItxMFk/s1024/Photo%2525203%252520Oct%2525202013%25252012%25253A43.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2fhHH47Wq0g/UnWII7S8hJI/AAAAAAAAB0E/M1VxWItxMFk/s535/Photo%2525203%252520Oct%2525202013%25252012%25253A43.jpg" id="blogsy-1383674465788.8584" class="alignleft" alt="" width="535" height="495"> </a></div>
<p> Desperately searching for a different Christmas present for your children, family or friends? </p>
<p>Don't want to bend to peer pressure and just purchase the most popular toy of the year? </p>
<p>Or maybe just fancy something that little more long-lasting than plastic toys or clothes they will grow out of?</p>
<p>Why not try something a bit different and choose a personalised book for your little one? </p>
<p>Over at Egmont your child can be the star of the story with their very own personalised book. </p>
<p> Choose from <strong><em><font size="4">Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, Mr. Men or Fireman Sam.</font></em></strong> </p>
<p>Not only have I got a great voucher code for you; you can also win these great books here this week! </p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/11/personalised-picture-books-for-christmas.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-49823557710904634732013-10-23T06:15:00.000+01:002013-10-23T06:15:01.383+01:00Do adverts drive you crazy too? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zpGcrE9K94c/UlkcGC0vRyI/AAAAAAAABzI/WbOf3Bej0Xg/s443/Photo%25252012%252520Oct%2525202013%25252010%25253A52.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zpGcrE9K94c/UlkcGC0vRyI/AAAAAAAABzI/WbOf3Bej0Xg/s339/Photo%25252012%252520Oct%2525202013%25252010%25253A52.jpg" id="blogsy-1382302040483.8162" class="alignleft" alt="" width="339" height="164"></a></div>
<p>If you are tempted into using them on the basis of their ridiculous statistics then you are SO moneysupermarket.com.</p>
<p> They claim 40% of customers saved up to £316.20? So by definition 60% of customers didn't save anything. That's customers, moving to them and then getting a worse deal. </p>
<p> And of the 40% that did make a saving the MOST they saved was £316.20. So that is supposed to convince me to bother with the company is it? Way to go!</p>
<p>And what about supposedly 'healthy' snacks? Barney cereals try and make their product sound better than your standard cake or biscuit by specifically stating on the advert that they have, and I quote; "healthy ingredients like flour, chocolate and eggs..." Really? The main ingredients of all chocolate cakes, biscuits and many chocolate bars? So desperate that you are quoting the staple ingredients of flour and eggs and selling them as the healthy option. Healthy? Relative to what exactly? Compared to the sugar also in there? </p>
<a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/10/do-adverts-drive-you-crazy-too.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-52493291963103075482013-10-21T06:15:00.001+01:002013-10-21T06:15:00.107+01:00Original Sprout Miracle De-tangler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gfsnzupeioo/UmQ_MiAuonI/AAAAAAAABzo/JEmPvSWB4zQ/s1024/Photo%25252020%252520Oct%2525202013%25252021%25253A35.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gfsnzupeioo/UmQ_MiAuonI/AAAAAAAABzo/JEmPvSWB4zQ/s300/Photo%25252020%252520Oct%2525202013%25252021%25253A35.jpg" id="blogsy-1382302015566.93" class="alignleft" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a></div>
<p>This week we are testing <a href="http://www.originalsprout.co.uk/product.php?id_product=36" target="_blank" title="http://www.originalsprout.co.uk/product.php?id_product=36">Original Sprout's Miracle Detangler</a>. I read another blog post on the product and highlighted it in my monthly Britmums Beauty Round-Up. I was then lucky enough to be offered a bottle to test out on my daughter's completely unruly hair.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The quote, from my daughter, on first use on dry hair, when asked by my hubby what she thought half way through the usual hair brushing process, was; </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>"Normally I say ow, ow, ow, but this time I haven't said a single ow yet"</em></strong>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Praise indeed. Having received that rave review from a 7 year old, need I go on? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well yes, I ought to really..... </p>
<p> </p><a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.com/2013/10/original-sprout-miracle-de-tangler.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-72038617091839976682013-10-03T19:40:00.001+01:002013-10-03T19:40:02.960+01:00How to make time for your partner<p> </p>
<center><a href="http://aflite.co.uk/track/?srv=2954400645124&aid=15688&mid=33175" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="http://aflite.co.uk/srv/2954400645124" id="blogsy-1380825405619.4558" class="alignleft" alt="" width="208" height="229"></a></center><p>Remember those days when you had all the time in the world to go to the cinema, have a leisurely romantic meal with your partner, stay out all night if you felt like it....?</p>
<p>Having trouble finding time for eating, never mind making time for your partner, now that you've become a parent?</p>
<p> I am over on Wriggly rascals today talking about <a href="http://www.wrigglyrascals.com/blog/2013/10/making-time-for-your-partner/" target="_blank" title="Making time for your partner">making time for your partner.</a> It's a tricky issue, and one that new parents have to address to ensure relationships survive the huge cultural and emotional change that children bring to the table.</p>
<p>If you have any tips please join me in answering a few short questions on the <a href="http://tiny.cc/wriggly200c" target="_blank" title="Wriggly rascals survey">wriggly rascals survey</a> to help another mum improve her relationship post-baby.</p>
<p>My post, Making time for your partner, <a href="http://www.wrigglyrascals.com/blog/2013/10/making-time-for-your-partner/" target="_blank" title="A Yummy Mummy? Really? Blog post on Making time for your partner"></a>is <a href="http://www.wrigglyrascals.com/blog/2013/10/making-time-for-your-partner/" target="_blank" title="making time for your partner">here</a>, and if you need further tips on rekindling the <em>lurrve</em> try this popular post <a href="http://yummymummyreally.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/how-to-rekindle-your-relationship-after.html" target="_blank" title="Kindle your relationship">How to rekindle your relationship after having a child, here.</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0