All-in-One Mum

We waited for over three years before thinking about trying for our second child, and in the one month that we weren't trying, I fell pregnant.  Shock was the first reaction along with utter disbelief.  That lasted for the best part of the first month.  Waiting for something for such a long time and then suddenly having it is a very surreal feeling. So, now at nearly 18 weeks pregnant I am still stunned by my every expanding belly and my voluptuous upper body.  Other than extreme tiredness, a bit of swelling and my bump, I've had no 'real' symptoms.  I was sick from just after 5 weeks until 11 weeks and 4 days (yes, I remember it well), twice a day, if not more with my daughter.  I could barely eat never mind how I felt when I caught a whiff of something my senses now decided to despise. This time round I couldn't eat enough.  I was like a machine in the first three weeks after I found out, shovelling everything and anything in to try and satisfy t...

Named Ireland's City of Culture for 2014, Limerick is playing host to a programme of events this year. Straddling the River Shannon, it's a traditional Irish city with a gritty but intriguing past, as seen in the famous book Angela's Ashes, that hasn't lost any of its working class charm in the years since its modernisation. As a small city, it's easy to navigate on foot - or perhaps you'd prefer to hire a bike and see the city at a somewhat faster pace? With friendly locals, a great café culture, traditional pubs, a historic castle and a great art gallery, there is much to be found here. Visit St John's Castle, the ancient stronghold built by King John of England between 1200 and 1212, as his military and administrative centre in the region. Take in the stunning architecture at St Mary's Cathedral, founded in 1168, where parts of the 12 th century building still survive to this day. Or perhaps visit Limerick City Gallery of Art, which showcas...

Degustabox is a great new monthly subscription service where you receive a surprise box of 10 to 15 fabulous food products each month, many new to the market, straight to your door.   For £9.99 per month (delivery not included) your carefully packaged food box will arrive with you between the 25th and 30th of the month with texts and e-mails sent to you to ensure you are around to receive your box of exciting food products. The box that I received contained  Drink Me Chai (delicious!), Levi Roots cook in sauces, Oxo Shake & Flavour, a selection of four Bisto gravy pouches and stock melts, Green and Black's choccie, Yu! Healthy Snacks (great for a mid morning snack and flipping yummy!), Belvita breakfast biscuits which I now need to hide from my daughter, as well as a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic Bavaria drinks. I can safely say that I either used or am still in the process of eating all of the products in the box.  There is nothing in there ...

When your loved ones are expecting there’s an endless amount of things that they will be trying to remember for when their newborn arrives. They’ll be trying to get a nursery room ready, reading every tip, trick and hint about parenting they can possibly find and making arrangements to take time off work. It’s a wonderful time, but also a stressful one, so when mummy-and-daddy-to-be announce a baby shower you’ve got an opportunity to help them with some of the things that may have escaped their hectic planning. Here are some top gift ideas for things that the parents may have forgotten to get for when their baby is born. Mobile They’ve got the room sorted, the crib is ready and built, but what’s hanging above it to fill their new son or daughter with wonder and joy to help them ease in to a happy sleep? Possibly nothing, so a great mobile with lots of dangly bits of different shapes and textures will be a great gift to give. The floaty rotation mixed with the colours and shapes c...

Little girls tend to be very girly from before they can even walk. Whether it’s a result of being surrounded by pinks, purples and pastel tones from birth, or just an intrinsic love of all things sparkly, little girls certainly seem to know what they like. This Christmas you can treat the little princess in your life to something a little more lady-like than the many gender-neutral toddler toys that are available, whilst still keeping them age appropriate. Dolls Little girls have been playing with dolls for many years. There are dolls for all age groups, from basic fabric rag dolls to fashion dolls with small parts, clothes and accessories for older girls. The infatuation with dolls can start young, and many are made with no loose buttons or parts especially for toddler girls. These are usually washable and soft so they can be cuddled and slept with without any problems. There are also strollers, cots and accessories all designed with younger children in mind, which help with fi...

I'm a little outspoken and ever so slightly crazy on the best of days and yes, this seems to have been imparted to my daughter. Take the other morning, for example.  As she sings me a song using a tumbler as a microphone for better effect, she belted out the nonsensical lyrics of her latest 'hit tune' at the top of her lungs as if performing to a stage of adoring fans.  I am of course her number one fan so when she finished I gave a round of applause.  I told her how talented she is and, expecting her to smile and laugh, she simply looked back at me, smiled, tilted her head to the side and said quite matter of fact, "Yes, I know.  I'm also beautiful."  Fair play. With that in mind, I don't want to breed some precious and precocious Justin Bieber, crowd spitting, monkey keeping, self-absorbed, ridiculous hair, snotty type kid.  He may have money but if my daughter were to bring something like that home, he wouldn't even make it past the front door m...

A few days ago I introduced you to Beanies, The Flavour Co.  Their coffees are lovingly made in a special process bringing to you top quality premium flavoured coffees. Limited edition Christmas instant coffees are now available in these three fabulous flavours: Christmas Pudding Mulled Spice Winter Warmer So, what do they taste like? Christmas Pudding - aroma of Christmas pudding with a hint of brandy cream.  Delicious Christmas pudding after taste too which wasn't over powering, so could be enjoyed as an after dinner treat, or lunch, whatever takes your fancy.  Actually made me feel like having a mince pie to go along with it. Mulled Spice - first thing that came to mind was, of course, mulled wine.  It's quite spicy as far as a coffee goes, and to be honest, did not agree with my palate.  It does conjure up visions of a white Christmas spent around a roaring log fire.  Once again, I felt like mince pies... Winter War...