From the monthly archives: March 2012
Image from LucuisArt
Littlelish has really been cracking me up recently. She has always had a vivid imagination and sense of humour but lately her ideas have become wackier and sillier. Have you heard the one about the duck riding a bicycle? On the way to school last week she was imagining how funny it would be if a horse came to her school, in her words “with a lunchbox and sat on a little chair.” Visualising this made me really chuckle as did the duck on a bicycle. I have always loved listening to her play with her small world (dollshouse) but now she has now discovered the use of accents (albeit unrecognisable ones) for all her characters. Yesterday there was a wolf who spoke a little like this ” “Vood you lijjjk to coom to lernch at my hooos”. It is so flipping comical! Ask her the name of her make believe characters and they are never boring, they are “Peepee or Damby or Meepy”. I’m wondering if it comes from our love of Dr Seuss or just the fact that her mother is slightly quirky too ;) Wherever it originates from I just adore it and am storing all her funny ideas in a little corner of my brain for the children’s book I will write one day!
Littlelish was born in Holland, a seriously cool country with no shortage of seriously cool baby shops. Within the first year she had built up a seriously cool wardrobe.
Since moving home to my beautiful England, the choice of shops has gone rather downhill. Where we live (rural East midlands) there are hardly any kiddy shops let alone hip, affordable ones.
Online shopping is the savior of any countryside mummy and perhaps mummies all over the country (I know shopping with my little one is something I try to avoid).
So I thought I'd introduce you to this little gem of a shop - burp! boutique with some seriously cool clothes for children (independent designers such as Boys&Girls®, Tootsa MacGinty, Nippaz with Attitude and Flamingos & Dominoes) and a refreshing philosophy on dressing your little ones.
We love quirky, fun, bright things that will bring a dash of sunshine into yours and your child's lives. We hand pick all the best bits from independent designers to put together our strong collection. We're not into the pinkification that the world is following, we're not sheep. We come from the 70's where dressing androgynously and in lots of different colours was the norm. We want to bring highly creative, fun alternatives to the mass produced high street fashion. Our ethos is to support up and coming artists and designers and shout about gorgeous, fun stuff.
The summer collection is now in and to celebrate the Spring Equinox they are offering you 20% off everything ALL DAY TOMORROW!! We've picked some of our absolute favourites (but actually LOVED everything!)
Any mummy of a preschooler (who owns a television set) will know who Justin Fletcher is. He is the king of Cbeebies and even has an OBE! Currently on Cbeebies, Justin stars in and produces Gigglebiz, Something Special and Justins House – he is one busy fellow!
Over the years we’ve grown to love him and all his amusing characters. He has an incredible way of engaging with children through comedy and song. Around a year ago, Littlelish spent many, many months being obsessed with Mr. Tumble and we purchased Justin Fletcher Sings Something Special. We LOVED this album with all its quirky, catchy songs and it got a lot of play in our house!
Needless to say we were eagerly anticipating the launch of “Hands Up” on the 5th of March and thanks to Louise at Rock and Roll Baby world we were sent the new CD to review for you all.
Littlelish and I were both quite surprised when we first put the new album on. It was not quite as expected. We were introduced to “Hands up” by its title track and wow it was a disco tune, Ibiza style! Littlelish looked at me perplexed “erm, mummy shall we see what the next song is?” I agreed wondering if it was too much for her…. It turns out she actually she just wanted to do what mummy normally does when she gets a new cd, listening to 30 seconds of each song and excitedly declaring “oooh lets see what the next song is”.
There were plenty of familiar songs like the wheels on the bus, incy wincy spider, etc. Much to my delight there were also some new ones penned by Justin and some good golden oldies that I had forgotten about like Who is afraid of the big bad wolf, Nellie the elephant and Teddy bears picnic. Anyone who knows us personally will know that littlelish loves singing and at the grand old age of 2.5 can sing every childrens song I know from start to finish including Doe a deer, so all new songs are very welcome!
After doing a quick reconnaissance listen we went back to listen to the CD in more depth. By this time we were used to the disco beats and actually saw how cleverly they jazzed up these old favourites along with Justin and his many voices. We decided this would be an excellent party CD as it really makes you want to get up and dance. Yes even Daddylish and I were up dancing to many of the tracks including the Hokey Cokey. The music style is maintained throughout with excellent continuity which is also why I think it would really work well at a party. Having said this the variety of songs is perfect, there are songs to dance to, to do actions to, to sing along to… Something special for everyone!
I’m sure it is not the CD that you could quietly listen to in the background and I don’t know how long we will be able to endure the disco beats in the car. But this CD is meant to get you up dancing, having fun and giggling! And it certainly does just that :)
Hands Up by Justin Fletcher is available from Amazon
- Hands Up
- The Hokey Cokey
- Music Man
- The Sun Has Got His Hat On
- The Grand Old Duke Of York
- The Teddy Bear’s Picnic
- Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes
- Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf
- The Laughing Policeman
- Old MacDonald
- Nellie The Elephant
- Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside
- Incy Wincy Spider
- The Wheels On The Bus
- If You’re Happy And You Know It
- Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
- Ten In A Bed
- Frére Jacques
- The Sailors Lament
- Justin’s Lullaby
I’ve been tagged by the rather lovely Michelle over at mummyratesit with the instructions to answer these 11 questions below, then create 11 questions of my own and tag 11 other lovely bloggers to answer my questions. I’ll be honest I’ve been putting off answering these questions even though they are funny/clever/silly and the main reason is because I don’t think I even know 11 bloggers to tag!! Well I guess I do (I’ve 350+ twittermummyfriends) but well I’m rather too shy and polite to grab them and TAG! But I’ve sucked it up, so here goes!
1. Yesterday was World Book Day – if you could choose one book to be buried with what would it be? Oooh that is a tough one, a really tough one… I LOVE reading but I really don’t think I could single out one book to be buried with. It would have to be something that was very special to my heart. Ok so, it isn’t technically a reading book but our family LOVE book. Every year on our wedding anniversary my husband and I write to each other in here about the year just gone and on littlelish’s birthday we write an entry and I’m thinking we might start writing at Christmas/New Year too. It’s like a little family diary :) Although I’d want the book to go on when I’m gone too, so maybe just a copy :)
2. Marmite. Love it or hate it? Don’t HATE it but don’t eat it either ;)
3. A new animal has been discovered and it is a cross between an elephant, a chicken and a goldfish. You are chosen to name it. What do you call it? A feathered finny fat thing.
4. Times are tough at Cadbury HQ and they are going to stop producing either Cream Eggs or Caramels. Which should get the chop? Cream Eggs. Waaay too sugary sweet, even for me!
5. Pick a word that describes you first thing in the morning? Leisurely. I do not do rushing about. I like calm :)
6. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I would like to not be such a perfectionist.
7. Dogs or cats? Mmmm I am a huge animal lover but I find myself less and less of a pet lover. I would have always said cats but we have two of the little darlings who vomit and pee all over our cream carpets and wake us up at night by scratching on the door. So perhaps dogs? But then I think of my mothers sweet but rather smelly dog…. So I’d say neither, unless I owned a farm and then I’d reconsider and have both. But generally I’m more of a cat person. I do lazy and aloof :)
8. You are walking to the shops when you find a £20 note on the ground. Do you bend over and pick it up straight away or walk past and work out how to do it on the sly? No, I would pick it up brazenly and think it was my lucky day :)
9. The Queen’s motorcade is about to pass you when suddenly her Maj stops and pulls over. She winds down the window as says ‘Oi, I’ve got a spare OBE to give away’. She asks what your special ‘service’ is. You say ‘I should get an OBE for services to…’ My daughter. I live, eat and breathe her.
10. Bath or shower? Gone are they days of lovely, luxurious, hot showers which I adore. I share the bath with my daughter, every letter of the alphabet, 2 frogs, a penguin, a walrus, a fish, a shark and 4 my little (sea) ponies (which btw, sink, get hidden by bubbles and are incredibly painful if lodged in bottom).
11. And finally… are you ever going to play ‘tag’ again? Oh alright then ;) I guess it wasn’t that bad
And here are my 11 questions!
- Do you collect anything? If so, what?
- Where in the world would you like to visit and why?
- Today I really should ___________?
- Who is number one on your “allowed list”?
- If you could do any job in the world what would it be?
- Countryside or city life?
- What is your favourite flavour crisp?
- What is the funniest search term someone used to find your blog?
- Radio 1 or Radio 2?
- What is the first word that comes into your mind when you see the word “tree”?
- What is your favourite spot in your house?
Ok so here I go TAG! These are some brilliant, kind, funny bloggers I know (kind of) x
- imcountingufos
- reallymissingsleep
- romanianmum
- emmainbromley
- mammageek
- jenniferslittleworld.blogspot.com/
- insidethewendyhouse
- mummyslittlemonkey
- 365pearlsofwisdom.blogspot.com/
- aresidence.co.uk/
- managingthemayhem.blogspot.com/
Don’t forget you need to: Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post. Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.
Dinosaur train debuts tomorrow March 12th at 4pm on Nickelodeon! We were very excited to receive our preview pack this weekend and to tell you all about it :)
The show was created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!) and produced by Jim Henson Company and is based on input from paleontologists, science educators and early childhood education experts. Dinosaur Train promotes and helps children (age 3 to 6) to apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species and embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science.
The show stars Buddy, a curious, funny and intelligent T-Rex, in a family of Pteranodons, who loves asking questions about the world around him and is always ready to jump into action! In each episode, the family ride the Dinosaur Train, looking to investigate Buddy’s hypothesis with the help of his mum, the Conductor and friends. When Buddy isn’t taking exciting trips on the Dinosaur Train, he is plays with his siblings, Don, Tiny, and Shiny!
We really enjoyed watching the show it was fun, lighthearted and extremely educational. The information is presented in a manageable, cute way that left littlelish pondering further. She was even discussing what it meant to be a herbivore or a carnivore at dinner time! Dinosaur train cleverly injects music, song, rhymes and fun into the episodes which I think really appeals to the preschool viewer. The characters are very loveable and demonstrate excellent family values, being kind and patient with each other and working as a team.
Meet the other stars of Dinosaur train!
Tiny, who loves to make rhymes, is quite clever and very brave. Tiny approaches every dinosaur she meets with the confidence of a news reporter trying to get the full scoop. Tiny is so brave that she often wanders a little bit too far; but, Buddy is always there to help her get back on the right track. And in return, Tiny is fiercely protective of her brother Buddy. Tiny also has two Pteranodon siblings: Don and Shiny.
Shiny is more “girly” than Tiny and proud of her shiny exterior, but can become shy in social situations. Shiny is outgoing with her siblings and acts as if she is the “wisest.” She can be a bit of a show-off and loves role playing with her brothers and sister. Shiny is happiest at home in Pteranodon Terrace hanging out with Dad and Don, while her Mom, Buddy, and Tiny take trips on the Dinosaur Train.
Don is a sweet, mellow little Pteranodon. Although he has a goofy streak, he is steady as a rock and very focused on the task at hand. Don is loyal to all his siblings and graciously waits his turn. Once his mind is made up, though, Don goes enthusiastically head-first into every challenge.
Mrs. Pteranodon: teacher, companion, and tour guide extraordinaire. But, first and foremost, she is “Mom” to Buddy, Don, Tiny, and Shiny. She is always there to listen to Buddy’s questions about being an adopted member of the Pteranodon family. Mrs. Pteranodon is intent on a good education, but she is also always looking for ways to let her kids explore their world.
Mr. Pteranodon: The kids’ devoted, hands-on “sports dad,” Mr. Pteranodon loves to approach parenting like coaching a team. He can even make a squawk that sounds like a whistle when he needs to call “time out!” He exhorts his kids to work together towards their goals, often calling out, “Go Team Pteranodon!” He is fun, can be a little silly, and encourages the kids to “be adventurous.”
Conductor Troodon is a Troodon and a special friend to Buddy and his family. He becomes one of Buddy’s heroes because he is the Conductor of one the most awesome trains of all, the Dinosaur Train! The Conductor is very intelligent and is happy to explain facts about dinosaurs, the places they visit and even how the Dinosaur Train works.
Definitely recommend tuning in tomorrow. Your little one will love learning all about these amazing dinosaurs :)
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” – Plato
Last night my littlest sister (17) performed with The Young Americans. The Young Americans are a group of 20-somethings who travel the USA, Europe and Japan providing music workshops and performance opportunities to children and teenagers. Over the last 3 days they took around 150 children from local schools age 7 to 18 and taught them songs and dance routines so they could perform a show for their family and friends at the end.
And wow what a show! The first half was performed by The Y.A with a real passion and infectious enthusiasm. Each performer was incredibly talented in both song and dance and really let their own individual character shine through. You name it they did it, hip hop, tap, swing, The Beatles, African. The show was modern, catchy and fun.
In the second half it was time for the English children to participate and I was really overwhelmed to see so many confident children and teenagers loving being in the limelight. You could tell they were so proud to be joining the Y.A up on stage and that their enthusiasm was really catching. The Y.A group mix with the children while performing, bounding about with amazing energy, motivating and supporting the kids in all their singing and dancing roles. I could see for myself just how much these children looked up to them and I understand why. They are truly inspiring role models with not only a passion for song and dance but for life. I admire them – what a fantastic thing to be able to do, touching the lives of children all around the world, showing them what it is like to have a passion in life.
Music has always been a big part of my life and I am constantly amazed how it can move me like nothing else. It can speak right to my heart, lift me up, make me sad, nostalgic, inspired…. I was reminded of this tonight as I watched the children join together, having so much fun, bringing so much joy into the room. However corny ;) I even had moist eyes at their rendition of “we are the world, we are the children…”
If you would like more information about The Young Americans and how they could potentially visit your child’s school or local area please visit http://www.youngamericans.org/index.php/hosting-the-young-americans
This time I made this little creature, which littlelish absolutely adores already! There is something very satisfying about being able to make something for your own child especially when they are super enthusiastic about it. She just kept on saying “mummy it is sooo cute” x
Today a funny thing happened, I showed littlelish how I put my earrings in.
She was watching me with fascination.
“Mummy what beautiful earrings, what are those bits for?” (Pointing to the hooked end that go through the ear lobe)
“Well” I said, “I just put them through my ear like that.”
Her face drops in absolute horror.
“B..b..but, but mummy are you bleeding now?” she utters looking like she might vomit
“Oh no sweetheart I have holes in my ears to put them through. It is easy, see?” I say putting the other one in.
The look of sheer terror on her face deepens as she grabs her own earlobes and moves worriedly away from me. She looks as though she might cry….
Wow who knew earrings could look quite so barbaric through the eyes of a child?
QUICK UPDATE: Today she was examining my ears with earrings in and stated “Mummy those earrings do NOT look beautiful through your ears, please take them out!”
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.”
Perhaps you’ll have noticed it has been very quiet on the blogging front lately. My poor little blog has been quite neglected. more »
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.”
Perhaps you’ll have noticed it has been very quiet on the blogging front lately. My poor little blog has been quite neglected. We had flu,we had sadness but most of all I had a real lack of energy these past few weeks. I needed some serious downtime to recharge my batteries, that meant time away from my computer. I needed to switch off.
January and February really took there toll on me. I was going for it full throttle, determined to grow my little lish empire at full speed. Blogging, brainstorming, crafting, selling, packing, posting plus all the social media and admin that comes part and parcel with setting up your own business… and all that activity on top of maintaining the other very important jobs I have!
- Caring, attentive, fun mummy
- Attractive, sexy, attentive wife
- Thorough, diligent housewife (yeah right)
- Creative masterchef
- Caring, loving sister/aunty/ daughter/granddaughter
- Thoughtful, available, sociable friend
I’m sure I must be missing something here. Are there really mums out there who are managing to juggle everything? It just doesn’t seem possible for me to keep all the balls in the air. I don’t get it!
- I want to be a good mum (check)
- I want to spend quality time with my daughter (check)
- I want to look good (mmm bushy eyebrows/hair and outfits thrown together in 30 seconds do not cut it, must try harder)
- I want to be able to craft and paint
- I want a tidy house (definitely more difficult when crafting, painting and hoarding :/)
- I want to spend time with my husband (we are often within 10 metres of each other, does this count?)
- I want to build a business
- I want to play the piano (fail – falls to bottom of to do list)
- I want to be more sociable
- I want to care for people (check)
- I want to be one of those people who send cards
- I want to blog/read/exercise/tend a veggie patch/cook yummy food/email friends /call friends/go to galleries/shop for clothes….
Ok so I seem to be managing on the priorities, 1. being a good mum and 2. being there for the people I love, which is good as this is the essence of what makes me happy. But my own identity and goals are still very important to me.
I need to find new energy to drive myself. I’m thinking I might get a boost if I felt better about the way I look. I know, I know, how very superficial of me. I do wonder why this is so important to us? But quite frankly right now I don’t care.
I want to feel better… I’m thinking diet, exercise, haircut and some new spring clothes might just do the trick!
Keep you posted
Lish x
I’m a freelancer in creative marketing with a background in design and styling but when I'm not working I'm doing the most important job in the world, being mummy to my beautiful little girl! I love to create and craft and have a passion for colour and beautiful detail. This blog is all about my life, my amazing daughter, my inspirations and creations!
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