Food for thought...

                                              

 

                                              

                                              

                                              

 

                                              

 

                                              

 

                                              

                                              

                                              

 

                                              

                             

                            

                            

                             

                               

 

 

I am a real fresh food fanatic when it comes to cooking for Mia and sometimes it's nice to look back at all the meals that I have made for her and feel proud that I haven't given in to sugary treats!

 

 

Baby Facts

Here are a few new things that I have learnt since becoming a mummy!

1. When babies teethe they can have disgusting green, sticky snot for days or even weeks constantly causing candles down their face! Yes this is one of the more gross things I have learnt since having Mia!

2. Babies can go through all sorts of bizarre fazes, walking on tip toes, shaking their heads randomly, pulling their own hair and hitting themselves in the head for a few examples. These can be a little scary sometimes especially hitting themselves in the head, Mia used to do this and sometimes quite hard but I was assured it was a faze that many go through and can often be used as a way of gaining attention. 

3. I can't ignore or zone out of Mia's crying. I have heard people say that you get used to crying and you learn to zone out. I have never and I don't think I ever will. 

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case

                                    

The Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity case is an essential in our home. Mia loves technology and gadgets as she sees Adam and I using them she wants to use them too! Obviously there is a limit, as with everything to the amount of time we allow Mia to use the iPad, iPhone and watch the television.

 

I had seen other bloggers and youtubers talk about the Fisher Price Apptivity case and so was already interested in purchasing one for myself. After all iPhones and iPads are very expensive so you want to ensure it is protected when you let your toddler use them. I purchased our apptivity case for the iPhone as Mia's time to play on apps is usually when we are travelling home on the train and therefore I usually let her use my iPhone rather than the iPad which I don't always carry around with me. The case cost me £3.99 from Asda in a sale. They usually retail for around £10 for the iPhone case and £15 for the iPad case on Amazon.

 

The description states that the product is for iPhone 3G, 4 and 4S but not for iPhone 5 or 5S. I have an iPhone 5S and this case works perfectly with my phone. It fits snuggly inside the case and feels very protected. Mia has used my iPhone many times with his case and so far it has withstood Mia dropping it and bring rough with it. It is easy to get the phone in and out although complicated enough that your toddler couldn't undue it by themselves. You are supposed to place the phone inside a certain way up so that you still have access to the middle button to change apps etc, however I tend to put the phone the other way so that Mia can't access the middle button otherwise she exits an app and starts deleting and messing up my phone! Haha! I will write a separate post with some suggestions of apps for babies and toddlers. There are some brilliant free apps on the app store! The case has easy to hold handles which allows Mia to hold the case steadily with one hand while using the other hand to interact with the app.

 

Overall I would recommend this product and I would repurchase it as even if I had of paid the full retail price of £10 that's a lot cheaper than if my iPhone were to break!

 

 

                                                   

Vintage Wedding Ideas

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I am getting married next year and that I am going for a vintage, English country, cornflower blue theme. Here are a few ideas that I love if you are planning a wedding with a similar theme!

 

 

Homeschooling

Have you ever considered homeschooling your child/ren? I have taught children who are being homeschooled, some who have never attended school and some who have left school due to various reasons. Homeschooling is not something I have considered for Mia. It's certainly not something I would do without careful consideration. I think the social side of school is imperative for children to learn to socialise with their peers. Even the arguments school brings, especially in an all girls school, these arguments, however horrible at the time help to build character and an understanding of the world around them. Welcome to real life as they say. Even as adults arguments and bullying happen in the workplace. It is possible to socialise children who are homeschooled into social situations with other children of the same age. This can be done through hobbies such as sport or creative classes. 

I have taught children who have left school through bullying or because the school wasn't giving the care and attention needed for that particular child. These cases are terribly sad and as a teacher they make me feel like our education system lets some children down which just shouldn't happen! 

For me if I did chose to homeschool Mia it would be pretty easy for me to do as I am a teacher so know the curriculum well. I also own/run a tuition centre specialising in maths and English so she could easily have an hour of each subject per day and I wouldn't even need to be her teacher as I have other tutors working for me. Trying to teach your own children is hard! If I lived in an area where I considered none of the schools 'good' that's when homeschooling would be the option. I'm very lucky in the sense that I live close to a number of lovely nurseries, primary schools. Not so sure about secondary schools but I think great secondary schools are hard to come by. 

There are many great websites with free resources available which you can use if you're homeschooling or even just helping your child at home with some extra work. 

UK Resources:

Primaryresources

Teachitprimary

Teachit

BBC Bitesize

TES

US Reaources:

Superteacherworksheets

Englishforeveryone

Mathsisfun

Being in the UK myself I obviously use and know more of the UK resource sites but the superteacherworksheets site is brilliant for maths, science and English and although you have to pay a small subscription, in my opinion worth it if you are homeschooling and need the bank of resources. 

Toddler fish pie recipe

Ingredients

Potatoes

Fish pie mix

Cheddar cheese

Flour

Milk

Sweetcorn (optional)

Peas (optional)

Method 

First peel and boil potatoes until soft. 

While potatoes are cooking make your cheese sauce to go inside your pie. 

Pour milk into a pan on a low heat and add flour slowly until the milk starts to thicken. 

Drain potatoes and mash. 

Turn off your pan with the milk and flour and add your fish mix, then add grated cheddar cheese. You can add as much or as little cheese as you like. The more cheese the more cheesy your sauce will be. 

Pour fish and cheese sauce into an oven proof dish. 

Cover the top with mash potatoes and sprinkle a little cheese over the top. 

Cook for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees. 

Serve with corn on the side or other vegetables. Obviously check all fish for tiny bones before serving to a young child!

The toy farm

Mia's new obsession. 

Farm - £20 Ikea