I’m going to start this post with a huge admission: I’ve never been a fan of tablets for kids. Go ahead and call me a judgemental so-and-so all you like, but I’ve always thought they were a bit of a cop out. Parents looking for an easy way to distract their kids, without having to actually play with them. Mums and dads using a tablet so they don’t have to go outside in the mud and get dirty running down hills. They’re not educational, are they? They’re just turning our kids into mindless zombies….

Yeah, I was wrong.

I am happily holding my hands up right now and admitting that, after trying out the LeapPad Ultra, I am the first to say that, actually, there IS a place for a child’s tablet in our home.

We were recently sent a LeapPad Ultra to review. Here’s a video of it in action….

So why have I suddenly changed my mind about kids and tablets?

Well the LeapPad Ultra is packed full of educational games. If my child is going to sit in front of a screen (which she is at some point in the day, whatever my protestations) then at least she’s DOING and LEARNING something.

Come 4pm and all my 3 year old wants to do is lounge on her beanbag and either scroll through my (snitched) phone or watch TV. She is lethargic, tired after a busy day being active. And I’m busy making tea and getting clean PJs for bedtime. The LeapPad Ultra has full parental controls, so I know I can let her have a play, learning something at the same time.

There are gazillions of educational games on the LeapPad Ultra, along with a camera (Frog’s latest obsession) and video recorder. So, as a mum who is intensely aware of the need to limit screen time, I have no qualms about letting her play with the LeapPad Ultra for a limited amount of time.

The (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine is an IT teacher with a healthy obsession in tech and gadgets. On these things, I bow down to his greater wisdom. He tells me he was impressed with the graphics, hi-res screen and endless options of activities. In fact, he admitted to being a little jealous.

As a screen-phobic parent I’m surprised to find myself readily recommending the LeapPad Ultra, even for a child as young as 3 and a half. I suppose, as with anything, it all comes down to moderation. Every afternoon running around fields getting muddy or going on the swings at the park simply complements half an hour on the tablet, learning about the alphabet, colours and letters.

My verdict? The LeapPad Ultra is worth every penny.

***

The LeapPad Ultra is available from a range of retailers from around £100. We were sent this product for the purpose of this review. All views remain my own. 

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I’d like to start this post with a disclaimer: I love Christmas. I like the sparkle and the glitter and the festive build-up and the sense of anticipation surrounding the main event itself. But I am not a fan of a certain craze that has swept across my Twitter, Instagram and Facebook timeline this weekend.

Elf on the Shelf is an American idea. It’s a little toy that parents purchase pre-December. Billed as a “special scout sent by Santa from the North Pole”, the elf is meant to keep an eye on kids, updating the naughty and nice list before the big day. 

Often though, the elf doesn’t just stay on the shelf. He ventures out in the middle of the night to cause havoc in a corner of the house, ready to be found with much hilarity by the children the following morning. In short, it’s a way to build the sense of excitement throughout December, giving children something to look forward to each morning when they spring out of bed.

A way to improve behaviour and add a sense of fun at the same time? Surely that’s a win then? Well, no, actually. Not in my book anyway. Because, you see, from where I’m standing the Elf on the Shelf has become just another opportunity for one-up-mumship.

It’s only 2nd December, but I can already foresee Competitive Parent Syndrome rearing its ugly head as mums and dads try to out-do each other on social media to have the best “Elf Experience”. Who can come up with the most creative naughty elf scenario? Who can make the funniest elf scene? It’s a slippery slope, I’m telling you.

Putting one-up-mumship to one side though, this blasted elf is a constant reminder to those of us who don’t take part that we haven’t invested the time and energy on creating yet another Christmas tradition for our children. It’s not enough that my daughter has a homemade advent calendar, lovingly sourced presents and a variety of festive days out. No, I am not winning at motherhood this Christmas unless I get an elf too. And don’t forget – it’s not enough to just sit him on the shelf. I have to actually move him around every night and then take pictures of him too.

I hear stories of Elf Facebook groups and Elf Twitter profiles. In some families, I understand, the elf has his feet well and truly under the table. Apparently that’s just a way to ratchet up the fun too, because it’s not enough to give him a name. And now I’m left wondering where it will end. Will the elf have his own Klout score? Will we get “Elf Social Media Gurus” ready to offer advice to other elves who have fewer Facebook friends and Twitter followers?

I’m genuinely interested to know what you think about this. Am I being a complete Scrooge? Am I missing out on a magical family tradition that my daughter will forever hold against me when she grows up? Will I always be *that* awful mother who didn’t do the Elf on the Shelf thing?

I’d love to know what you think. Because, at the moment, I just want him to elf off.

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I am already fearful of the big day. It’s not the concern over crying in public (although, knowing me, I will be an emotional wreck). It’s not even the immense feeling of parental responsibility at helping her learn her lines. No. It’s something far, far worse.

At pre-school drop-off yesterday, I was given a sheet of paper with lyrics to the songs in Frog’s Christmas play. Contained within the package was a CD. Oh good, I thought, we can have a jolly sing-a-long when she gets home this afternoon. I pictured some good mother-daughter bonding. Possibly even an early mug of mulled wine for Mummy. We made an imaginary stage and Frog stepped behind the curtain…

The first song comes on. It’s an up-beat number, all about a bossy king who is (from what I can gather) a bit rude. My three year old related to the lyrics, “Being bossy is such fun” and threw herself into the verse with gusto.

The second song was a bit slower. I encouraged her to pretend to rock baby Jesus. “He not Jesus Mummy. He baby CHEESE-US”. So that didn’t go too well.

By the third song she’d had enough. The Christmas cheer had all but evaporated and “baby Cheese-us” was not cutting the mustard.

“This is SOOOOO BORING Mummy,” wailed my sullen daughter. “I hate baby Cheese-us songs. I WANT OLLY MURS!”

So now you’ll see why I’m scared.

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Last year was a tough one. Long working hours, not enough family time and barely any holiday, family loss, high stress levels and a distinct lack of sleep, all made it less than perfect. But I smell new beginnings, big change and some exciting plans in 2013. All made concrete by an amazing ten days together as a family, with time to talk and realise that we actually rather like each other.

On the first morning of the holidays – Christmas Eve – we took our toddler to a routine hospital appointment for her hypermobile joints and she was given her first “Christmas present”; a pair of special insoles for her new “grown-up shoes”. She was thrilled. I considered telling Father Christmas to eBay the rest of her gifts, but thought he might not approve.

We followed up the riveting hospital visit with an afternoon making magic reindeer food (the glitter helps Rudolph fly, apparently)…

And writing very important letters to let a certain person know he was to help himself to a homemade mince pie and a sip of Amaretto (he’s gone off Port), but that the carrot was for his reindeer.

This is the first year Frog has really “got” Christmas. She was completely absorbed with her letter writing and reindeer food preparations. The excitement rubbed off, so that by the time she was fast asleep in bed I was as wired as I used to be when I was little. I now understand why my mum and dad used to love Christmas so much.

Christmas Eve ended with a special tea (prawn starter for Frog, with fishfingers to follow and, later, a steak for her mum and dad, washed down with champagne). We like food.

Then the big man arrived and sorted the gifts. I didn’t realise he’d got quite so many until I saw them all wrapped up together, under the tree.

Christmas Day passed with present opening and playing, eating and drinking, a crisp country walk (with a new umbrella) and a bit more eating and drinking.

It was an eye-opening day, with no tantrums or tears, just lots of laughter. It’s a funny thing, holidays. The (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine and I had no idea just how stressed and exhausted we’d both been until we stopped.

Shutting the door on the world and just spending time together, the three of us, we realised things have to change this year. Frog spent every day of the holidays – starting with Christmas Day – asking if it was “still the weekend?”. Turns out our two year old is more perceptive than we thought and relishes weekend time with us just as much as we do. She couldn’t believe it when, time and time again, we assured her that yes, it’s still the weekend.

Boxing Day was spent playing with new toys and reading books, baking and turning leftovers into freezer fodder, before a mammoth six days away. We went up north to see the NLM’s side of the family and to Devon, to see mine. Lots of driving but – again – not one tantrum from our diva child. As soon as she heard it’s “still the weekend” any sign of moodiness vanished.

Time with extended family saw cuddles with a gorgeous new addition, a delicious meal out, cousins playing together, more presents, wine, a night out at the pub, walks in woods and on beaches and a 1am toddler dancing show in front of Jools Holland (the one and only time she’s ever been allowed to get up and hang out with the adults post-bedtime, except for when she’s been poorly).

So that was the holidays. And now they’re over. 2013 is going to be a big year for us. Lots of changes we hope plus putting some exciting plans into action.

And how is my toddler feeling about the return to routine and non-weekend time? Oh, she’s totally fine about it. Honest.

***

By the way – something odd happened to my subscriber list last year (I love how last week is now last year) so if you’ve subscribed via email before you may need to resubmit your email address to continue getting posts in your inbox. Sorry about that.

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Never have I been so excited to give something to my daughter. Her main present this year is a second hand dolls’ house. We knew we wanted to get her one this year but didn’t want to spend a fortune as she has some other presents too and didn’t want the day to become a gluttony of stuff, stuff and more stuff – most of which she’ll cast to one side.

So we searched high and low for a special, yet inexpensive, wooden dolls’ house. And we couldn’t find one ANYWHERE.

A few weeks ago I put out a desperate plea on the noticeboards of the Netmums nearly new section. Within 48 hours, a retired childminder who lived just down the road had emailed me. She offered me an old wooden dolls’ house, with furniture for £10.

I was dubious but the gleaming price of a tenner was too much to resist. We collected it and I knew it would be just right.

Here’s the transformation:

I managed to get some sample bits of wallpaper from B&Q and used them to paper the upstairs and downstairs to add some colour to the walls.

Then I coated with primer.

The whole thing was finished off with a coat of white satin wood paint in cotton white, left over from a recent furniture project.

Tadaa!

With a little bit of furniture, I think it looks quite cute.

I’ve bought a brand new wooden doll family to go in the house (which actually cost more than the house itself) and I’m going to put them in my toddler’s stocking. My own mum and dad used to tease us with our main present by putting hints in our stocking. I still remember the excitement on Christmas Day as I’d open something and think, “Oooooh, I wonder….”.

I hope she likes it.

I really, really hope she likes it.

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It’s an old cottage – more than 500 years old in fact – and that means it has lots of “quirks” that provide a constant source of irritation. That said, those little quirks also make it 100% unique. It’s the place I brought my baby back home to and it’s the home where we’ve spent her first Christmases.

Maybe it’s because I’ve started reading more interior and home blogs, in readiness for when we buy our first place, or maybe it’s because I know we’ll be leaving soon, but I’ve made a conscious effort to prettify the place this Christmas.

I’m quite pleased with the results.

This post is inspired by posts at More Than Toast and Aimee Marie.

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I’ve won major points this month. The husband owes me BIG TIME.

These are some very posh cars. No, I didn’t buy them for him. But he did get to drive them, due to an incredible offer from Activity Superstore. The Triple Supercar Drive saw the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine get behind the wheel of three cars he regularly fantasises about.

As someone who knows next to nothing about cars (seriously, I don’t even know what car I drive, let alone anyone else) I didn’t realise what a big deal this was. To me, a car is for getting from A to B. And if it doesn’t have a boot big enough to fit a buggy and a week’s worth of grocery shopping then I’m not interested. My husband, however, takes an entirely different perspective. 

He drove a Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 360 and Aston Martin DB9 and had a hot lap in a Porsche GT3. Apparently these are all very fast, very snazzy, very expensive cars.

I am now going to show you some pictures of cars. Some of you will be excited by this. Some of you will not. Again, my husband assures me these are thrilling photographs.

I’ve never seen my husband go weak at the knees – not even on our wedding day. Not until the day he got in a Ferrari.

My 6ft 5″ man was an excited, quibbling wreck. The driving experience day left him with a spring in his step and a new-found love of domestic drudgery that he knows I loathe. In short, he has done the washing up every day for the last two weeks, in homage to the amazing day he had at the airfield in Oxfordshire where he realised his childhood dream.

Driving speeds that make my eyes water, the NLM was with a fully qualified instructor at all times and – I’m assured – in very safe hands. I was a bag of nerves when he first got behind the wheel, despite the fact he’d been in a half hour safety briefing. That said, once he’d done one lap and didn’t seem to be careering all over the place I started to relax. I could sense he was enjoying it. And when he pulled up and literally ran over to me to tell me all about it, I knew he’d had fun.

If you know someone who loves cars and hankers after the type that aren’t grocery / buggy / child friendly, then this is the gift for them this Christmas. They’ll get to drive cars you normally only see in films. They’ll get to imagine for a few minutes that they’re James Bond and not Mum or Dad. They’ll get to escape real life for a bit and experience a rush of adrenaline.

I loved seeing the NLM so excited. We both work bloody hard and, at the moment, thrills come with a bag of Kettle Chips and a glass of wine on a Friday night. So it was nice to see him really having fun – even if it was the type of fun I don’t understand at all.

***

Disclosure: We were given the Triple Car Driving Experience from Activity Superstore for the purpose of this review. The experience is currently available to buy for £99.

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He’s wonky and he has one leg that’s more of a spodge than a limb, but he’s full of joy and happiness. And he tasted delicious.

Oh, and he’s not actually made of ginger, because I realised too late that we’d run out. I suppose he’d better be called a Mixed Spice and Cinnamon Man, but that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

It’s been a strange old day.

I woke up feeling exhausted (not unusual, considering my alarm for work goes off at 3.30am) and drained. I drove into work at the pace of a snail, as I’ve lost a bit of confidence on the roads since a family tragedy last week.

But on that drive I made a decision. I was going to let myself be sad but not wallow in the worry. I was going to think of others but not forget myself and my own little family. And I was going to embrace every second of joy and life like it was my last.

You know what? I actually enjoyed the trip round the supermarket this afternoon, even when my two year old started to kick off. We looked at “choc choc” and talked about the food we’d eat on Christmas Day. We got excited about the impending holidays and soaked up the atmosphere and glitter. I usually hate the supermarket.

It’s funny how much brighter life is when you decide to try and enjoy it. I have raw, first-hand experience of how quickly our time can be taken. I don’t want mine to end with any regrets. It’s about the little, mundane moments of joy that punctuate bigger scenes in time.

Like making happy, wonky Gingerbread Men.

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I don’t think I’ve ever been more aware of the potential pitfalls of Christmas gluttony than this year. Having a toddler who is becoming increasingly aware of the idea of “presents”, I’m keen not to get into a cycle of materialistic abandon, buying everything in sight for my beautiful girl.

That said, she does have a range of gorgeous things to open on Christmas Day. Some of these are second hand (a £10 wooden doll’s house I’m going to paint) and some are new. The brand spanking new presents are all things I know she’ll love and get lots of use from. And there is no pink in sight.

The toys

I love wooden toys. There’s something old-fashioned and wholesome about them. Plus, they look so much prettier than a lot of the plastic stuff around for kids.

This bundle of toys was bought from a website I write and blog for – Mums and Me – and I was beyond excited to take delivery of them. Each puzzle, stamp or game in the collection has an educational focus and the bright colours are sure to appeal to my bright loving toddler. She was given a Melissa and Doug puzzle for Christmas last year which is still her favourite, so I know these toys from the same brand will be met with delight.

The books

I’m planning to get Frog a few second hand books from our local charity shop this year, as she has lots and lots of books already which she reads religiously every day. That said, there was a book we were given earlier this year which I would highly recommend if you have a pre-schooler who enjoys reading.

Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg is all about a dog who finds out he needs specs. The pop-up book is beautifully illustrated and very funny. Kids can take out the different types of glasses and try them on Arlo, an activity that my two year old loved.

I like the fact there are no princesses or annoying cartoon characters in it and she likes the interactive nature of the book. The only word of warning comes from the fact it’s a pop-up book and toddlers are rough. We’ve had to make Arlo a mum / Frog activity only. She’s not allowed near it without supervision!

The snuggly stuff

She’s a bit big for babygrows and little comforters now, but my toddler is still a lover of snuggles and reclining like the Queen on the sofa with a blanket.

This blanket from Jelly Babys will be the new living room cosy item of choice after Christmas.

Unlike Frog’s two “magic” blankets, it’s not an insipid tone of pink and has not a fluffy patch in sight. But it’s bright, soft and very snuggleable (I may just have made that word up).

Jelly Babys are an award winning online retailer in all things baby and toddler. They do some beautiful comforters for tiny babies, gorgeous soft toys and unique cot bumpers. There’ll be some very happy members of the family on Christmas Day (by the way, if you’re a member of my family then look away now – chances are you’ll be opening one of these soon).

As for the rest of it, Frog will be opening some homemade items lovingly sewn by my mum, some chocolate lovingly bought by me and some outfits lovingly purchased by her granny from the north.

Despite all of this, I’m quite proud of the fact I haven’t spent a fortune on her and I know she’ll be just as excited to wake up with her mum still at home on a weekday morning, which she hasn’t had all year. When I asked her earlier today what happens on Christmas Day, she replied, “Mummy and Daddy time, family, chocolate and presents”, in that order.

Love that girl.

***

Disclosure: The items in this post were sent to me for the purpose of this review.

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