Please click through to my sister site to see my recipe and review for a lovely home made cream/lotion.
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
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Mumkind describe themselves as s a “new pregnancy nutrition brand designed specifically for mums-to-be and busy new super mums.” Mumkinds’ website describes their mission as:
“Created by experts in the field of pregnancy nutrition and with support from midwives, Mumkind offers a new and simple way to make sure you are including a range of nutrients in your daily diet. We all know its important to try and eat a healthy, balanced diet, but including Mumkind products will help you to ‘top up’ what you are already eating, because getting everything you and your baby need is not always easy. All the products are carefully formulated to help provide nutrients where there is a tendency to fall short.” Read the Mumkind story here.
They have a number of testimonials from happy customers and supporting comments from Dr Emma Derbyshire, a nutritionalist, and Dot Parry, an experienced midwife.
Ginger Me Baby Lozenges – Ginger & Chamomile lozenges, designed to help with the nausea and soothe and calm. The lozenges are wrapped in clear wrappers and you are able to reuse the tub as it is microwavable and freezer proof safe.
Available in Sainsuburys. Ginger & Chamomile lozenges 48g tub – £3.49
Water Our Way – Water Enhancer – Similar to a squash or cordial, but apparently with no calories or carbs (the products use sweetener instead of sugar) the cordial contains Mumkinds’ blend of B vitamins to help reduce tiredness and fatigue.
Water Our Way helps you drink more water, keeps you hydrated and our blend of B vitamins helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.
Available soon on Amazon. Mixed berry flavour water Enhancer 30ml (10 drinks) £2.99
‘Bump to Baby Enhanced Bars’ – bar with 25% recommended daily allowance of all the nutrients that are essential during pregnancy (and only half the calories of a chocolate bar).
‘Night Night Baby Bedtime Drink’. a hot drink with Mumkinds’ blend of key nutrients, each mug has 25% of all the recommended daily allowance of the essential vitamins, minerals needed during pregnancy. In Vanilla & Red Berry or Vanilla & Belgian Chocolate.Luxurious vanilla hot drink
Mumkind very generously provided me with the Ginger Me Baby Lozenges and the Water Our Way drink enhancer.
I really liked both of the products. The lozenges had a mild and very pleasant taste. The ginger was not overwhelming and for someone who is not keen on chamomile, I could not detect chamomile at all to be honest. I’m not suffering from morning sickness at the moment so can’t comment on the effectiveness in that regard. But as a sufferer during all my three pregnancies I think the lozenges would have been very nice to suck on when the nausea was at its worse.
If your not a fan of the artificial sweetener flavour then you may want to give the drink enhancer a miss. But if this does not bother you then the little bottles are handy to pop in your bag and contain enough of the potent cordial to flavour up a number of bottles or glasses of water. I thought these were a great idea and handy for after pregnancy as well.
All in all I was impressed and would recommend. The only minus I can see is the price; they are not exactly cheap. But if you are planning on taking supplements anyway during or after pregnancy then as an alternative I think the prices are on a par.
The other point I would make is i think they are products to be enjoyed in moderation, not to be consumed constantly throughout the day….
And a note to Rob at Mumkind – it would be nice to have the ingredients list for each product on your website. [Update – Rob has let me know that he is working on this as I type!]
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
If you enjoyed this post you will also enjoy:
How To Stop Baby Crying And Fussing When Dressing Them
Here Is Something You Don’t Hear Every Day From Your 6 Year Old…!
If you would like to read a great review on the new Max Factor Colour Corrector Sticks, please click here to be taken through to the post on my sister makeup site.
MAX FACTOR COLOUR CORRECTOR CC STICKS
To help you decide if this could be an option for you I will give an overview of the wedding in this magical location.
When planning the event we wanted to have a wedding that was intrinsically Italian – to celebrate our wedding the way an Italian family would. This we achieved and more………
We knew the owners of the Masseria Della Zingara, which is located just outside Triggianello, near Castellana Grotte in Puglia. So it was the natural choice of venue. The beautiful masseria sleeps 19 which was the perfect solution for us and our closest family to stay. In fact we hired the entire masseria for 2 weeks. The rest of our guests stayed in the other local guest houses or in the nearby stunning costal town of Polignano a Mare. We were able to utilise a local taxi company who used mini buses to ferry the guest back and forth for the celebrations.
Our wedding in Puglia, Italy at the Masseria Della Zingara
Our actual wedding (with 45 guests) lasted 3 fabulous days. We had a pre-wedding dinner on the night before, a noon wedding on the actual day and a post wedding pool party the day after. It was all magical. I wish we could do it all again! The entire two weeks, including all the wedding celebrations cost us the same as the average one day wedding in the UK. Great value for money I think you would agree.
The Cheese man makes fresh mozzarella at our pre wedding dinner held at the Masseria Della Zingara
Wedding pool party gets ready at Masseria Della Zingara
The civil service was held in the city commune in Castellana Grotte, 15 minutes drive from the Masseria. We were extremely honoured to have the Mayor perform the ceremony. All the guests were ferried back to the masseria for the celebrations while the mayor arranged for us newly weds to have some photos taken at the famous Castellana Grotto caves. Magic!
We then had the most incredible celebrations back at the masseria, a truly spectacular buffet reception and a blessing in the masseria’s chapel. The most amazing authentic local musicians and dancers entertained our guests (and us of course) . Our photographer (who I cannot recommend enough) whisked myself and my husband away to a local trulli to have some atmospheric photos taken – just brilliant. Later, we were all up dancing the night away and it was so much fun. And to finish the evening, fireworks!
I can truly recommend a Puglian wedding.
Where – The Masseria Della Zingara, Castellana Grotte, Puglia Italy.
Contact – Jan King (jan at masseria della zingara dot com.)
Photograhper – Rob Kennard.
Make Up Artist – (BAFTA awarded) Sue Howard (contact her via her Villa Silvana website) She can also recommend hairstylists.
Guest Accommodations.
Masseria Della Zingara
B&B Masseria-Cesarina
Covo dei Saraceni Hotel
B&B Casa Dorsi
B&B Santo Stefano
B&B Tra Le Mura
Masseria Capocaccia
Taxi company – Taxicar
Remember to enjoy your day.
Mamasimx
Please click through to my Make Up site for my review of this iconic face cleaner…
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
If you enjoyed this post you will also like:
Look at this baby! Isn’t it the most incredible looking trampoline?We have been lucky enough to have a Springfree Trampoline* in our back garden for the past 4 weeks. The house has been so quiet I have forgotten (almost) I have two boys as they have been out on it whenever they are not eating or sleeping. They simply adore it.
Your kids will absolutely love it.
The trampoline comes with some great accessories such as a step to get on and off but far more fun as far as the kids are concerned is the ball and hoop that attaches to the top of the net. AWESOME!
It’s FUN!
The kids have been out playing on it every spare second and it is so great to see them enjoying themselves so much while getting a lot of exercise. Three year old loves to kick his football round and round the trampoline going faster and faster. I love the fact the ball doesn’t go over the neighbours fence.
I’m not sure if Springfee would approve but the trampoline makes an excellent creche for Babygirl while I did some gardening! I just made sure that she was shaded and she happily bounced and played while I weeded.
The kids and I have spent a lot of time lying on our backs looking at the clouds and watching the birds and planes flying over.
Daddy and the boys watched the stars, curled up in sleeping bags on Springfee (as the trampoline is now called!)
I did my first full 90 degree swivel for 20 years on Springfree!
The trampoline uses a unique system of flexible composite rods that lie beneath the jumping surface, at right angles to the jumping surface not horizontal with it. This means that there are no exposed springs to injure those bouncing on the trampoline. This is the big selling point of the trampoline, it’s raison d’être. Keith Alexander, creator of the trampoline explains that the rods take the place of springs and you can think of them as something similar to a fishing rod in that they are made of fibreglass and are bendy. (But a lot stronger!).
Our old traditional trampoline is only 4 years old and look at the state of the poor thing, it’s basically a football storage area now. I can tell you that the Springfee will not look like this in 4 years!
This traditional trampoline came with a very badly written install booklet.
Also, if the kids ran into the side with enough force they would hit the metal poles.
The only recommendation I would give is to be aware of the edge of the jumping pad where it meets the net. This is where the top of the rods meet the jumping pad. It forms a fairly ridged ring around the base of the net. This is no problem for older kids using the trampoline, but younger kids may bump themselves on it. My little 3 year old bumped his head a couple of times. No damage (to him or the trampoline!) but it is something to be aware of. It certainly didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for Springfree. Maybe Springfree Trampolines could secure the net to the inner of the yellow webbing rings which would go a long way to alleviating this…
Any suggestions I have? Yes. Springfee Trampolines can you make a SPF rated cover to go over the top of the trampoline? Stops the bird droppings and leaves getting in and good for storage over winter. And excellent for shade during Springfree creche duties!
Even better if the cover had some height to it so you could use it during play to stop the ball going over the net!
That’s it!
Having experienced the Springfree Trampoline it is now the only trampoline we would have. It is certainly worth the investment. Can’t recommend enough.
The trampolines start at $1119.00 USD or £935.00.
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
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Norton Storm. In Black Magic.
This week I was going to be a Norton Storm Pushchair Review as the pram is a little known brand and there isn’t much information or many reviews about it on the internet. We had it for 12 or so months, bought by my parents as a gift, just before my youngest was born.
Planning to take lots of photographs I decided that this week I had better give it a good cleaning to ready it – the last thing anybody wants to look at in a photo is mashed banana! Not a very good selling point if the reader was considering purchasing a similar pram.
However, before I could organise myself, it was stolen – from right under the noses of my son’s nursery staff. They were in no way at fault. The pram had been parked in the designated buggy park area in front of the nursery behind a fence. The nursery is on a road that gets a lot of foot traffic, and I guess some awful person spied it as they walked past and thought – ‘that’s a nice pram, I’ll be having that’ and furtively scurrying in behind the fence like a rat (I imagine), stole it.
Does a thief think or care of the hurt they inflict when they steal that which does not belong to them? Would they hesitate if they knew that the pram had been a gift from my parents and how upset and angry we all are that such a thing has happened?
Unfortunately I think not. All the thief is worried about is making a quick quid and the danger of getting caught. Uncaring about insurance claims (that is if it can be claimed), or the hundreds of pounds that the pram cost – which will have to be forked out again to purchase a replacement – I am sure they would sneer or insult if confronted. I do wonder if they are dumb enough to actually use the pram about our small town. My 5 year old is on constant pram surveillance – having been overawed at the trip to the police station to report its theft.
Angry as I was, and upset as I am, all I can do now is say a few words in parting to my lovely pram that I will miss and would recommend.
It was a Norton Storm Pushchair in Black Magic. A fantastic looking pram with a light aluminium frame, it had an extending handle (great as I am over 6ft) and a seat that was able to be parent (rear) facing or forward facing. Any pram I have now must be rear facing. The pram we had bought for my eldest had not been, and an incident when a stranger informed me that my baby son was silently choking scared me half to death and I swore I would only have rear facing prams from then on. Such a good idea as at all times baby can see you and you them.
The pram comes with a complete travel system:
Pushchair with 3 – 7 retails for approx £300 – £350.
Complete system (1-7) retails for approx £500 – £550.
The reason I went with this pram instead of the iCandy Cherry, which is the other pram I was contemplating purchasing, is the guarantee, which is two years as opposed to the one year on the iCandy. Also, the Norton had sprung front wheels, which the iCandy doesn’t (the springs on the iCandy are for show only). It was also a little more competitively priced – which is always a consideration for most parents.
I had been lucky enough to compare the prams side by side at the Earls Court Baby Show which is always a good place to go if you want to see all the leading pram and pushchair manufacturers together under one roof. And you can usually pick up some good deals as well.
But back to the pram! There were only two suggestions that I would pass on to the manufacturers.
Also I would consider the following when purchasing:
Would I recommend this pram? Yes I would. It was smart looking, comfortable and light. Would I recommend getting a bicycle lock to secure it? Yes I most definitely would. I miss my Norton. Every time I see the rain cover, or the cosy toes, or use the pram bag around the house I think of it and curse the thief.
I believe in karma.
So watch out thief.
Please excuse the stock photos – as explained above – too late now to take my own photos!
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Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
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Gorgeous cheeks and luscious lashes. Mums, get ready for Spring and Summer with these lovelies.No7 have released a pretty little selection of cream blush sticks for spring/summer that are just so easy to apply.
The colours available are *Rose Blossom, Mango Sorbet and Classic Rose. All are super wearable colours. Sweep gently onto the cheek for a ‘pop’ of colour or build for more intensity.
In the picture here I am wearing the Rose Blossom, which is a lovely iced pink, perfect for spring. Mango Sorbet and Classic Rose will be great for the summer when we have (hopefully) managed a bit of a tan.
Now, with the cheeks sorted it’s time to move onto the eyelashes. No7’s new *Lovely Lashes Mascara, a deep, deep black with conditioning Argan Oil. You can see from my picture that it gives a lovely thickness to the base of the lashes when worked into the lash line but still feathers beautifully without clumping. The Argan Oil nourishes and softens the lashes to help keep them in tip top condition apparently. Yeah!
I liked both products and can recommend. Priced at £9.95 each for the blushes and £12.95 for the mascara they are also affordably priced.
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
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In the house of Mamasim we have had a guest to stay. A little green dog by the name of Scout. Now Scout is very well behaved and would never dream of doing anything to inconvenience his hosts. He really is the perfect house guest….
Scout is in fact a lovely interactive reading toy developed by Leapfrog’s learning experts. It includes 5 board books and Scout will read aloud from them and ask a question at the end of a page to reinforce listening skills and comprehension. He also reacts when his paw is squeezed or his cheek is kissed.
Scout has been a hit with both my 3 year old and my 7 year old boys – for different reasons. My 3 year old is less interested in reading along with the stories and more interested in having Scout as his new BF (best friend!) In fact he hasn’t been anywhere without him for the past 2 weeks. He even sleeps with him. 3 year old also loves the fact that Scout talks to him, especially when he says “I like you” and gives him a big kiss. Lots of cuddles for Scout then! We have regular bed time stories read by Scout and 3 year old prefers me to be there with them to help read along. But that’s fine by me because I prefer it too!
7 year old showed more initial interest in the stories and happily read along with Scout a few times and enjoys hanging out with his new pal every now and then. I’m not sure if his interest will go the distance however, as he really is passed the simple stories, that afterall, are aimed at those just learning to read.
I have found the need to find Scouts off button a few times, as any adult usually does with children’s toys that talk or play music etc. But 3 year old never tires of listening and talking to Scout.
The only real negative is the fact that I can’t bung Scout in the washing machine. He is getting quite grubby being carted everywhere by 3 year old. But he is sponge clean only….. Still.
Scout really has been a hit. I would recommend him as a great toy that will become your youngsters best loved buddy. The fact they can also curl up with you and lead story time is a great bonus.
Features 5 interactive touch points, 70+ comprehension questions and 5 illustrated board books:
The finished product!
It was simpler than you think to make a fantastic feeding pillow.
I had a store bought pillow for my first two babies, and while it was adequate, it was too flat and kept riding away from me as I fed. This allowed baby to slip down between the pillow and me. Far from ideal.
What I wanted was a pillow that could be fastened to me and a pillow that was high enough so I did not have to prop it with cushions and other pillows.
So began my online search. And I came across a fantastic feeding pillow here. ‘Thrupenny Bits’ cockney rhyme for t**ts!) sell beautiful, trendy but practical feeding pillows that are also very portable and reasonably priced. (prices start at £33) I was instantly taken with them. However, and apologies to ‘Thrupenny Bits’, I had some left over Harlequin ‘Alina” furnishing fabric that would make a beautiful pillow and as I can sew a little I decided to try to make a feeding pillow myself. But if your not the sewing sort head over to ‘Thrupenny bits’ to purchase one.
I drew a template, half moon in shape with elongated ends that would become the ties, 65 cms across and 32 cms down.
I also cut 2 identical pieces from some tough wearing plain calico I had lying around. This was for the inner pillow.
I then sewed the pieces together for the pillow and the two covers, fitting a long zip to the inner curve of each.
I filled the pillow with bean bag beads. This was a messy job as the balls are so light! But once done I was very pleased. I was also glad I had put in a long zip into the covers as it made inserting the filled inner pillow easy and simple.
The bag was a little full when I tried it so I simply sat a few times on the pillow to flatten it a little!
*After using for about 3 months the pillows need topping up as the beads do compress. I found this to be a nightmare – messy and difficult because of the extremely light and flyaway nature of the beads. (My Mum who helped can attest to this!) So I recommend, as thrupenny bits does, filling with hollow fibre instead.
So I am really pleased with the finished product. And as it ties to me I can stand and move with her still feeding. Although I stress, and double stress, I never move around without holding on to baby and the pillow. Otherwise baby would slide right off! But so practical.
And if you don’t feel like making one yourself – hop along to ‘Thrupenny bits’ to purchase one. They would also make a great gift.
Mamasimx About Me
Don’t forget to enjoy your day.
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© 2013 Simone L Woods