As a contrast to my previous country kids post, this weeks’ kite flying expedition was done in glorious sunshine. Bliss   Just look at the colour of the sky! My sister Nicki took these pictures.

Joe Browns are currently running a blogger competition to style a school run outfit from the items on their blog.  I’d love to wear the distinctive top in khaki along with the rip and repair jeans – even better that they are on sale at the moment.  The small wedge sandal isn’t too high to be rushing around in, and the Parisian jacket is just gorgeous (and also reduced!), and can be worn if the weather goes a bit colder again.  Set these off with some aviator sunglasses on the nice days and a lucky necklace (threw this in for some self-luck!) and a simple leather bracelet and belt.  The army surplass bag is just my style and size, because I do like to carry a lot of stuff ‘just in case’ (you never know when you’ll need a tape measure, you will thank me one day!).

I am pleased with my choices – what do you think?

As I’m sadly parting with my Graco Vivo, I thought I’d add a short post about buggies. I researched a massive amount before buying my Vivo and was extremely pleased with it in the end. It’s not top of the range but it certainly shines where others struggle, for example ease of folding and transferral of baby to car/house. You can buy a car seat adapter so that the baby carrier clips into and out of your car with ease. It is sold as one handed folding and though I never actually achieved the one handed bit, it was extremely easy to fold and put into the boot and Mums with more expensive models often commented on the ease with which I was packed into the car and ready to go.

There’s a massive difference in the cost of buggies and Babyhuddle has an excellent list here.

If you’d like to buy a second hand Vivo though, email me, or bid on the ebay auction here.

With the temperatures heating up, Zaggora would like to help you get into shape so that you can strut your funky stuff with pride this coming summer. Following the worldwide success of their HotPants over the past year, they have expanded the range to include a three-quarter length trouser called the Viva, and it is available in a beautiful range of colours.

How they work is a bit of a mystery for me but they have sent me a pair to try, and I’m having a bounce in them in this post here.  After a week of wearing them I’ve not lost any weight but I have noticed that they make my thighs seem smoother.  They have sent me an FAQ, which you can read here that might answer any questions that you have.

I tried the original HotPants and these are a lot more wearable I think, with them being below the knee – you can wear them and still look kind of casual, rather than screaming ‘I’m working out’ which I find the shorts rather do. Just remember to keep hydrated in this heat!

Zaggora have offered me THREE pairs to give away, so you can join my in my weight loss adventure.

With a nice easy entry, this competition ends on the 15th June.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oooh! the naughty Life, Ninja Killer Cat and everything else has given the game away…I’m not 23 – I know…I had you all fooled *ahem*.

So, what should I be doing at almost-40?

Do I stop wearing miniskirts? Well, I stopped at around 35…maybe I should START again?  I’m thinking Shirley off of eastenders (maybe not then!)

I’ve already dyed my hair pink…is this a sign of a mid-life crisis? If so, I’ve been having it since I was in my twenties!

I could…go to bed a little earlier, I really should, I’m always tired.

I could learn to knit, but I have the patience of a teenager and wool makes me itch. Or sew, but ditto the patience thing.

I’ve started growing my own veg, that is a very middle aged pastime.  Hoeing is the new clubbing, I say, as a weekend activity.

Maybe I should wear Boden and stop swearing.

And curl my hair and be sweet and nice all the time.

And not laugh too loudly and talk a little quiet-er.

Or just get a toy-boy and drink more alcohol, get a new tattoo, keep on getting fitter and slimmer (even though it’s harder now than ten years ago!), learn how to roller skate and laugh at the whole sorry ageing process.

40? I think somebody’s made a mistake on my birth certificate, I still feel like a teenager – full of angst and spots and everything still, half the time!

My recently deceased Grandmother had a plaque on her kitchen wall which I now own, that said ‘Grannies are just antique little girls’, and I really know what that means!

Pass the voddy.

Last Saturday we had so much fun in the lovely warm weather, we played in the woods for hours.  I tried to build a den but the dog kept nicking the sticks.  i did manage to get this fantastic happy picture though, and I’d love for you to think of a caption for it.

Then you can head over to mamasaurus’s blog and see if you can think of captions for the others:

Is your baby ready to start taking his or her first steps? If so, you are likely excited about helping your child reach this milestone. Helping your child to walk on his or her own is one of the biggest moments in your little one’s life. While you might be looking forward to this step, you will also need to help your child get ready by picking the best baby shoes for your new walker. Since young ones need support and comfort during this transition, it is best to pick out flexible baby shoes for early walkers rather than harder-soled shoes.

Image courtesy of Vertbaudet

Generally, you will want to select baby shoes that feature flexible soles. When your child wears these shoes, their feet will be able to move naturally just as if they were walking barefoot. This type of movement is essential to helping them learn how to walk on their own. Vertbaudet features many styles of flexible baby shoes for new walkers, including trainers, boots, and slip-on shoes.

If you would like your child to wear a sporty look that goes well with play clothing, you might choose a pair of flexible trainers. These are available in styles for both girls and boys and can be either solid-coloured or patterned. Baby girls can wear trainers that feature traditional girl colours of both white and pink and have butterflies on the side, while boys can wear trainers with darker colours such as brown, grey, and blue.

On the other hand, if you would like your child to have a more formal look, you might prefer flexible-soled boots or slip-on shoes, which could go well with slacks or little dresses. The good thing about slip-on shoes is that they are very simple to put on or take off, which makes dressing and undressing much easier, particularly if your little one is squirmy or anxious to get moving. Girls’ boots are available in darker colours with a flower pattern, while boys’ boots may feature solid colours such as brown or blue. Slip-on shoes generally have a Velcro closing tab at the top, which makes it simple for parents to remove the shoes when the kids come in the house.

Once your child has gotten used to taking a few steps on his or her own, it might be time to move on to walking shoes. These are available in many styles, including sandals, high-top trainers, and dress shoes. Training shoes tend to have firmer soles, since they are designed for toddlers who have gotten used to walking barefoot and are ready to venture outside more often. Baby boy training shoes typically feature darker colours, while baby girl training shoes are usually decorated in pastel, metallic, and neutral colours to match any colour outfit. Ankle boots for both genders are also available, adding a bit more stability around the ankle, and slip-on sandals help your toddler keep cool during the summer.

Whichever style of baby shoe you choose, make sure you check the fit and feel of the shoe as your child grows. Since babies grow so quickly, your child may be ready for a larger size shoe before you know it!

This is a sponsored Guest post by Vertbaudet