Winter coats to summer shawls

I don't know about you but I've been really enjoying this little heatwave we've had going on.  A chance to finally throw off the winter coat and embrace the start of summer.  Yes, it's fair to say I've been loving it.

But, with temperatures starting to cool slightly a new dilemma has begun to present itself.  It's too hot to wear a winter coat but the evenings are now becoming much cooler; a little too cool not to wear any sort of jacket whatsoever.

What's the solution?  Why, a nice pashmina or shawl must be the obvious answer!  Check out this lovely one I spotted recently...

Swinging...and other adventures

Making the most of the glorious sunshine over the weekend...

When work takes over

I have never been so glad to see the weekend than I am today.  This week has been the longest, busiest and most stressful one since I returned to work nearly four months ago now.

...Has it really been almost four months already?

The tiring and demanding nature of this week hasn’t anything to do with my family or home life and everything to do with my job (although not for reasons that you might think).

*Leans back in chair* *swigs cider from glass* *wishes it was gin*

What to expect when you're expecting

The new film, "What to expect when you're expecting" is out in cinemas this week (25 May).  I'm not donning my 'film reviewer' hat, don't worry.  But, watching this film's trailer did get me thinking about the little things you may or may not realise about pregnancy once you get up the duff.

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So without further ado, here are five things you should expect when you find out you're expecting...

Commitments

It's nearly ten years since I made a commitment to my just-about-to-become husband, to be the best wife I could be.

It's been four years in total since I made a commitment to my then-unborn daughter, to love and care for her completely and utterly.

Just over one year ago I made a commitment to my newly born son, to be the best mother I could possibly be to both him and his sister; to love them both equally, uncompromisingly and without question.

Review - Flexibath bath toys

I recently received a set of Flexibath bath toys in the post to review.  Made free from potentially harmful chemicals such as BPA and things called phthalates (they're put into plastic products to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity), these products are touted as "cool bath toys without uncool chemicals".

The set is billed as a coffee or tea set with two cups, one jug, one funnel and lid and one table to put them all on (which attaches to the side of your bath). 

Out of the mouths of babes

Children can say the funniest things.  Even Dexter, at only one-year-old, can come out with some real beauties despite not being able to talk.

Confused?  Don't be.

Here are a couple of cute tales, as told by my husband, about some of the cute things that have been uttered straight from the mouths of our babes...

A finalist?! Are you blogging serious?

Today is a good day.  Actually no, the last few days have been good days.  Actually no, they've been great days.  I've started a new top secret (for now) project, Dexter took his very first couple of steps unaided and now...now...I've discovered I'm a finalist in some very prestigious blogging awards!!

That's right!  The Britmums Brilliance in Blogging Awards (or BiBs as they are affectionately known) celebrate a veritable array of blogging talent...and I'm in there.  Yes, really.  Surprised?  Me too!  Chez Mummy is only around six months old after all and you have to be established to even be considered for such accolades, don't you?

Apparently not.  I'm a finalist in the BiB's video category so I couldn't let this occasion pass without a special video messages to my fans readers.  Just for you, here is my thank you speech...

How to enhance the PR / blogger relationship

A couple of weeks ago I went along to a great event called BlogCamp UK where bloggers can meet, eat cake and learn more about how to make their blogs even more fabulous than ever.  There was lots of information about self-hosting, using and creating great photographs and video, stuff about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and, last but certainly not least, a debate about how bloggers and Public Relations (PR) people interact.

Unfortunately, I had to leave about a third of the way through this conversation to catch my train back to London but it got me thinking...

I am a blogger (albeit for only six months now) but I've been in the PR game for over ten years.  As such, I have a unique insight into the tentative relationship that currently exists between blogger and PR execs.  I am able to to understand what the PR person is looking for from a blogger and also, what a blogger is looking for from a PR person.  Here are my tips for a happy, healthy relationship between PR executives and bloggers...

Image credit: Adamr on FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

How much is your life worth?

With two children now both over the age of one, my husband and I can no longer put off the inevitable.  We need to think about the future; ensure our children are left with enough money so they don't have to struggle if anything were to happen to me or their dad.  Touch wood it won't of course *tries to find some wood to touch* *can't find any so touches own forehead*.  Yep, we've been thinking about our level of life insurance and whether it's enough.

Image credit 

The London Mayor, butterflies, a Dragon and the WSPA

Can a dragon roar?  Is that possible?  I know they breathe fire and all, but roar?

Sorry, that's not the point.  I'm actually trying to be a bit political.

Today, Londoners go to the polls.  It's election day in the capital to decide who will best steer the city through the next four years.  Although I won't get to vote, I think this is an important event.  The Mayor of London is a prestigious and powerful position.  But should you really care about who gets to sit in this hot seat?  There's only really one answer: YES, you should.  It could affect you in some way.  Yes, really...

City Hall: The Mayor of London's HQ. Image credit

ONE seed of change

Melitsa over at Play Activities has started a meme called Come Sow with Me.  Like me, Melitsa is a ONE Mum, raising awareness and campaigning for the grassroots organisation ONE.  In support of ONE's new Thrive campaign, Melitsa is encouraging people to plant a seed in support of developing agriculture in poverty-stricken countries across the world, and for fellow bloggers to link up their seed-planting posts to her  'Come Sow with Me' linky.

This is my contribution to the meme.  I'm being a little naughty and not sticking strictly to the rules, but I am planting a seed all the same.  It's metaphorical, but I think it still counts.

I've been wanting to change my situation for a little while now.  I haven't been happy juggling my work and home lives and I know deep down that I need to try to do something to change this.  That's exactly what I've started to do.

This is my seed of change.

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