Flashback Friday - Home

Emma has set a theme for this weeks Flashback Friday which is HOME. 

Unfortunately, I don't have any photo here of any homes I have lived in so I am going to have to show you my current abode instead.

The house I live in actually belongs to many boyfriend and he has had it for about 15 years. It is a Victorian terraced house and from the outside it looks like any other terraced house but because Jon completely refurbished it about 5 years ago, it often takes people by surprise when they enter it for the first time.

When I first met Jon back in November 2005, the house wasn't lived in as it was in such a bad way as it he had started knocking down some walls a few years earlier but ran out of money. When he showed me it for the first time, it was reminiscent of one of those homes you see on DIY SOS - it was not a pretty sight I can tell you and it stank of cat pee as I think a homeless feline had taken residence in it while it had been empty! So he was back home living with his parents which is where I lived too once I sold the house I owned with my ex and did so for 3 1/2 years!! 

By 2007 ish Jon had saved enough money to do up his house and did almost all the work himself with the help of his dad, in their spare time which was weekends and evenings which is why, much to my frustration at the time, it took about 2 1/2 years to complete. Basically, once work started more work was created due to the crumbling walls and a whole load of other problems which arose as work progressed. The work they did was staggering really: they changed a two and a half (as one room was a tiny box room) bedroomed house with a separate bathroom and toilet with a lounge, separate  dining room and kitchen into an open planned living area downstairs with a large family bathroom, 2 bedrooms and then converted the attic into a bedroom too. 

Here is the downstairs while the work was being carried out

Here it is now

(the patio doors are here, next to the kitchen, I just took the photo slightly off angle!)

Here are the first and second floors during the refurb

Here are how they look now

I do love my home but sadly we will be looking to move soon as we need an extra bedroom and we would like a little garden. But until then, its our home sweet home.

Nailene Nails - Instant A-List Glamour

I have a confession to make. Its rather embarrassing for a woman of my age to own up to in fact!

I bite my nails!!!

I have tried every year since I can remember to make a New Years Resolution to break this very bad habit of mine but I fail miserably every year. There have been a few times that I have managed to grow some nails and keep them, when I also treated myself to a weekly manicure when I used to have an office job, but more often than not I resort to biting them *hangs head in shame*

So when I was offered the chance to try out the Nailene Nail Studio Nails and Ulta Adhesive Tabs I jumped at the chance to own some glamourous nails upon my fingers! Even better was the shade of nail that I received which was in Festive Red 

which is in keeping with the current trend in fashion for crimson and being the kind of girl who loves all things red I was even more excited to trial these false nails.  

So the Nailene Ultra Adhesive Tabs are ideal if, like me, you don't have the time or money to be able to afford regular manicures but want some instant glamour on a rare night out. 

 Now I have to say that the tabs are VERY easy to apply - and this is coming from someone who doesn't really 'do' nails so if I managed to use them successfully then trust me you will too. Once you have selected the correct size tab for your nail, you simply stick one side on your nail and remove the front sheet which peels away really easily. 

Then you find the correct sized Nailene Nail Studio Nail for your nail and stick it on!! 

Then carry on until you have a complete set!

You then file your nails into the shape you like to feel and look natural on your fingers (the nails come with a little nail file).

The nails that I tested were quite a bit longer than I am used to owning so they did feel a little heavy to begin with but as time wore on I did get used to them and I LOVED the colour, festive red is soooo my kind of colour ;)

The tabs are designed to keep the nails on for up to 5 days. My nails felt secure and in no danger of falling off. I was actually hoping to have worn my fancy nails on a night out as I was meant to have been going out for a meal last night for my OH's birthday. However, owing to the fact that we both have stinking colds and I had caused some car damage this week meaning an expensive week already, my new nails were treated to a night of tweeting and watching some rubbish film on TV!!!

From a practical mummy point of view, these nails would not really be appropriate I mean I can't imagine changing nappies, prepping and cooking meals and doing housework with nails like this!! BUT I have to say that if I were off on a night out I will definitely use these as they are as easy to apply as false eyelashes for example. They are really easy to remove too, just slide the nail upwards and roll away from the adhesive and it comes off just like that!

Priced at just £2.49p for the ultra adhesive tabs and £4.69 for the nail studio nails, these Nailene nails are fast, effective and very glam and I for one think they are great value for money and take no time to apply for a perfect, fuss free A-List look!

GIVE-AWAY

I have 2 sets of the Nailene Ultra Adhesive Tabs and Nail Studio Nails to give away to 2 Mummy Mishaps readers. 

All you need to do is:

Leave your name and twitter name in the comments box below

and

Please tweet the following message

I want to win some Nailene A-List Nails with Mummy Mishaps @JennyPaulin 
http://mummymishaps.blogspot.com/2012/03/nailene-nails-instant-list-glamour.html


Give away ends Saturday 10th March at 00.01am

thank you and good luck xx

I was sent these products to test myself for the purpose of this post. all comments and opinions are my own including the rough old woman hands that are modelling the nails!!

Jenson At 11 Months

I cannot believe that 4 weeks on Friday Jenson will celebrate his 1st birthday. I mean, seriously, where has that time gone?

He is standing up all the time when is able to and although he isn't walking yet he is cruising along the sofa, and can 'slide' his way across the floor. 

Neither of my two boys mastered the art of crawling, preferring instead to pull/drag themselves along the floor instead. I spoke to a HV about this and she said that this method of mobility is becoming more common in little ones with the addition of laminate and wooden floors in many homes nowadays.

He has a really good appetite and eats just about everything I pass his way except tomatoes and cumber which funnily enough Burton still won't eat!

And he definitely likes chocolate cake!!

He is mostly a happy little boy and pulls some very cheeky faces and likes to poke his tongue out to get me to smile at him. I have noticed that he does more of this when it is just him and I alone together without Burton being close by, probably because he is getting some attention all of his own on his own! His big brother does have a tendency to involve himself in everything that Jenson does! 

I am also pleased, but also a little afraid to mention incase I jinx it (!), that for the last week he has started sleeping through the night - yes through the night! He now goes to bed about 7.30 and more often then not sleeps for 12 hours! I am still in shock after more than 10 months of having to get up at least once every night, if not twice.

He is still very much a mummy's boy and doesn't like it if I leave him with someone else for too long - he is often off looking for me or crying for me to come back! He is yet to spend a few hours with one of his grandma's without me being there!

Of course it is Burton who makes him laugh the most and the two of them are so sweet together. 

Yes there is the occasional over exuberance by Burton where he plays a little too rough, but mostly his big brother is always wanting to hug and kiss him. Recently, he has taken to holding hands with Jenson in the car - awww it is just so sweet!

So now my mind is thinking about Jenson's first birthday: what kind of party I will throw and what cake to make!! Yikes it isn't long I must get focussed and make some arrangements because the way the last 11 months have flown by, this last month before he turns one will too.

Choosing The Right Baby Travel System

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I couldn't wait to start planning, choosing and buying all the gorgeous new things that having a new baby gives you the excuse to have. Having waited for what seemed like ages to have my wish come true and start a family, as soon as my 12 week scan had been given the all clear, allowing me to announce my pregnancy officially and make it public, I could barely contain my excitement at being able to look at baby wear, accessories, toys and nursery furniture. Plus of course plan what my baby would be seen in while we were out and about.

I remember picking up every catalogue I could lay my hands on whenever I visited a retailer which sold baby products, and would happily spend time browsing the internet to see what the 'in' and most stylish and practical baby pram/buggies were. Therefore, when the time came for my OH and I to actively go out one Saturday and choose the right 'travel system' ( I didn't even know this was the correct term until I was pregnant!) for our baby, I knew that I wanted one which would act as a pram aswell as a buggy so that my baby could lie down during its first few months, but as it got older it would be able to sit up and see where it was going once it was old enough to do so. 

However, what we weren't expecting were all the decisions we would need to make regarding the exact specifications our ideal baby travel system required! We were suddenly faced with a barrage of questions:  which make would meet our needs? What colour way did we prefer and did we want the co-ordinating parasol, changing bag, blanket and cocoon sleeping bag to keep baby warm? Did we want three wheels or four wheels? Did we want it suitable for off road terrains or inner city sophistication? Did we want a combination buggy, so that the car seat can be attached to it? Did we want it compact and light weight?  Would it fold down and fit into our boot easily? Was there space underneath for my shopping? (this was a question I asked - very important consideration I think!).

Oh the list went on and on. I never realised that picking out what you pushed your baby out and about in could be so complicated or have so many different gadgets and gizmos and accessories you could add on, all colour co-ordinating of course! It was exhausting and a bit mind boggling.

Its no wonder we didn't end up ordering ours until about two months prior to our baby's due date in the end- I think we both got a bit flummoxed by it all, and having so many - maybe too many - choices made available to us, we took a while to make our decision so that it was the right one for us and our baby. We just wanted to keep it simple like baby jogger : choose a comfortable travel system suitable from birth until toddlerhood in a colour which is unisex and at a competitive price. 

Of course our next dilemma was what to do with our brand spanking new travel system when it arrived a week or so before the due date at our house. So many people I came into contact with about its delivery to our abode, were like "oh its bad luck to have the pram/buggy in your home before the baby is born". Eeek!

Well, the buggy did enter our home and was set up ready for the imminent  arrival of our bundle of joy, and a few days later I gave birth to a healthy and perfect 8lb baby boy. 

This has been written by me as a 'guest post'. All the words and opinions are my own, as are the tales from my pregnancy that I mention.

Tales From Nursery - A Wall, A Kerb & A Trek!

Today was not a great day. In fact it has to be said it was a crap day.

I was woken up at 4.25am by Burton who, when I enquired what the matter was, told me that "me awake" ! After a little drink and a gingerbread man I said that he ought to be back to sleep because in a few hours he would be off to Ladybirds again. He replied with "me not want to go to Ladybirds. Me not like it. Me want to stay here with you". My heart sank but I said that he would feel differently when he got up later on...........but to be honest, I knew then that I would have trouble leaving him at nursery today.

Things got worse at breakfast. From the chat he had with Granma last week Daddy and I already knew that the reason he wouldn't go outside and play in the lovely playground, which he had enjoyed so much during his first session, was because he wanted to stay indoors and wait for mummy (awwww!). So Daddy was trying to persuade him to go out and play today but Burton kept saying "me stay indoors for mummy" in the end he got upset and started crying so nothing more was said on the matter.

When it was time to set off, he didn't want to go and kept saying "me stay home me not like Ladybirds" and he was getting teary. I was finding it hard not to lose control of my emotions myself, and I got him in the car but all the way there he was crying and I felt awful, even though I was telling him that he would have a fun time etc.... Once inside the nursery, he wouldn't leave my side so I took him off to the story corner and we found The Gruffalo's Child' which Tanita started reading. I did try to go during the story but he clung onto me very tightly. Once it finished, Tanita looked at me and I knew what her look meant so I nodded and I hugged and kissed him goodbye, and handed Burton to her and walked away while he screamed at me!! Outside I could still hear him. You can imagine how I felt.

So that was bad enough, but then I managed to make an already crappy start t the day even worse! Through crying eyes I reversed out of the car park and misjudged the width of the entrance and *bang!* I hit the wall!! I didn't stop to look what I had done, instead I drove the few miles home to investigate it there. Except, my crappy day that had just got worse became a ruddy terrible day because as I pulled up outside my house I scuffed the front left tyre against the kerb!! At the time I didn't think I had done anything so I looked at the rear lights and I had managed to shatter and break the plastic covering! Jon was already coming down the stairs as I entered the house, as he read my tweet saying how Burton had been crying when I left so loud I could hear him outside. He looked at me and I was crying and I said that I had crashed the back of the car into a wall, and he said that he had heard me pull up and  hit the kerb (he wasn't happy as he is always telling me to make sure I don't do that,which I never have until today) so off he went to investigate. 

His face said it all when he came in. Aswell as breaking the rear lights I had dented the bumper and ripped a small hole in the wheel rendering it undriveable! Oh and damage totalling about £600 *sighs* . He has barely said two words to me since it happened - I am in the doghouse BIG time! 

Of course being without a car meant I still had to collect Burton from Ladybirds which is about 2.5-3 miles from where we live. The bus only passes though once an hour each way and are no good as it means waiting 30 mins for Burton to finish and 40 mins once he does, and Landkey is a village so doesn't have a cafe we could wait in. So I had no choice but to walk it which is doable but half of the journey is on a country road with no pavements! Anyway, it took about 40 minutes to walk there and luckily Jenson slept so he didn't need entertaining while I was walking as fast as I could! 

Burton was fine when I arrived and he was so happy to see me. I had a really long hug and kiss and he held me really tightly. The staff told me that he calmed down about quarter of an hour after I left, but he wouldn't go outside to play! They also said that he is getting better each week and he is happy enough and loves to 'help' them clearing up!! 

His report said:

Burton soon settled this morning, after a couple of stories which he really enjoyed. this morning he enjoyed drawing a picture of his house and chatting about his family. He also joins in with a sponge painting. Burton has been playing q game about feelings and what makes us happy and sad. He as also been counting and practising his colours which he is fab at! He has been singing songs aswell. Burton has been playing with the animals and dinosaurs with his friends. 

I asked him on the long walk home what made him happy and sad, and he said that me playing with him made him happy and Daddy being upstairs and not playing made him sad (Daddy works from home). I would love to know the things he talks about when he is at Ladybirds and what he says about his family and other things! He also said that "me like Ladybirds" - fickle boy! 

So the moral to this story : don't cry and drive!

PS. a BIG thank you to those people on twitter today who were so kind and lovely about my crappy day :) 

My Week That Was - Pizza, Pancakes & Play

Monday

Was Burton's third visit to nursery and the hardest one yet for me to walk away from, as he really cried this week when it was time for me to say goodbye to him! still, when I returned four hours later to collect him he was happily playing with the other children and couldn't wait to show me his new coat hook with his name above it!

On the way home he couldn't wait to hold Jenson's hand and asked me to take a photo to show Daddy!! I love seeing them hold hands - melts my heart :)

Tuesday

Was Shrove Tuesday and I made pancakes for breakfast and Daddy and I had lemon and sugar as our filling of choice. Try as may we could not get Burton to try any but Jenson had a little piece and ate it!

After breakfast Burton lined all his bedtime 'friends' up to sit down and with some roadrunner cartoons! 

Later on we took a drive out to Croyde to take in the breath taking scenery of the coastline which Burton enjoyed looking at through the window while Jenson slept!

Burton went to his Granma and Grampy's late afternoon to stay the night which was a good thing given that our boiler decided to pack in again (it brook down last December!) and we have no hot water or heating!

Wednesday

Spent the day at Granma and Grampy's house and Burton and his cousin Ben, spent quite a bit of time watching the Loony Tunes cartoon that Burton had insisted on taking with him the night before!

Burton decided that he wanted to stay another night so Jenson and I bid him farewell and returned to our less warm and cosy house! Daddy and I bathed Jenson in the baby bath that we have only ever used once before! We had to boil the kettle a few times and heat some saucepans on the cooker but Jenson enjoyed himself and got the floor quite wet!

Thursday

Jenson and I went to collect Burton this morning and when we arrived at Granma and Grampy's he was making pizzas for our lunch! Burton used to eat homemade pizza when  he was much younger and then about a year or so again just went off them! Recently, I have been trying to get him to like them again as it would be a meal that we can make together and one the whole family could enjoy. Its been a bit hit and miss but today he ate a couple of small slices - which is progress indeed!

Jenson likes pizza thats for sure!

After our pizza I took the boys to see my Mum for a couple of hours and she and Burton made plans for him to stay with her and Grandad next weekend as he hasn't stayed with her for ages now. I just hope he will go as the last time he said he would (about 2 weeks ago), Mum drove here to collect him and he wouldn't go back with her!

Friday

I took the boys to my local library today. I feel terrible as its been about a year since I last visited with Burton and it has had a make over and has been modernised and now instead of librarians stamping the books that are to be borrowed, we do it ourselves on a touch screen scanning machine!!! How times have changed!! 

We went to the children's section to see if they had any copies of the Gruffalo and Gruffalo's Child (Burton is having a phase of watching these films now since his stay at Granma's earlier in the week - no more Loony Tunes at the moment!). The children's section has also had a little make over and Burton removed his shoes and made himself quite at home!! Eventually we found a selection of books to take home with us, and then I said we could hire a DVD and ended up renting three! Jenson especially enjoyed removing all the DVD boxes from the bottom shelf!

Of course Burton insisted on helping me to fathom out how the scanning machine worked, which resulted in me having to get help and then he kept touching the screen at the wrong time and the poor librarian had to show us again!! Monkey!

Back home after lunch while Jenson napped Burton and I read The Snail And The Whale which was one of the books we borrowed from the library - what a wonderful story it is! Afterwards, we did some drawings based on the illustrations from the book

Once Jenson awoke from his sleep, we all headed over to Funderzone for some soft play fun. We stayed for tea and they both enjoyed it......and some more pizza was eaten! More pizza eating progress - yay!

Saturday

We didn't do much this morning, but this afternoon we headed over to Woolacombe's Golden Sands resort where his cousin Casey was staying with his family and three school friends for the weekend for his 6th birthday. We went over along with other family members and the children played in a soft play zone  before going to the caravan where Burton's aunty and uncle and cousins were staying, for the birthday tea. 

On the way home I think it was evident that a busy afternoon had been had!

Sunday

We took the boys swimming this morning and then we head back across to Woolacombe as Casey and his fiends and family were still staying at the holiday village and when we were there yesterday, Burton was quite taken with the ten pin bowling alley. So his aunty invited us all back today to have a game as Burton has only ever played it on the iPad! 

He was sooooo excited and really loved it! The problem is he kept 'helping' everyone else with their go and so he got in the way a little bit really!! Bless him 

Afterwards we went to see Granma and Grampy and the boys held hands on the way and again Burton wanted me to take their photo!! Cute!

I am linking this up to MummyDaddyAndMeMakesThree 's

Saturday Caption 25/2/2012

Its Saturday again! 

How time flies when you look forward to making up with captions again!

Feel free to write one yourself for the photo  :)

Then check out what the other caption lovers are up to here