Charity Spotlight - Smalls For All

As part of my promise to blog more I'm going to do one a month about a charity I'm supporting and shining the spotlight on.

This month its...........................Small for All!!!

It's never to early to mention the C word!

I acknowledge its July and that most of you will want to punch me in the face when you read this BUT we are now half way through the year and that time is fast approaching. Yes, I mean Christmas!!! Once the children return to school we are on the cost ridden slide down to the 25th December!

Does it still seem ages away? Well, what if I said Christmas is now only twenty-four weeks away! Doesn't sound long does it. For many it is only five more pay days away! If you gasped a little like I did when I worked it out don't worry we've got this covered. Let's get things in order now to avoid stress come December. As everyone else dashes round in a mad panic you can sit and relax, sip hot chocolate in your onesie and watch Elf for the forty-seventh time.

Mini Ice Hockey

This a great little activity. It's super cheap and can be used as an indoor rainy day activity or on a sunny day for an outside game! You'll probably have all the things in your cupboard. You just need to decide the night before if you want to do it so you can make the ice.

You will need

• Large dish or baking tray
• Tap water
• Lego/duplo/building blocks
• Bottle top
• Spoons

Paper Airplane Target Game

Today has been one of those rainy, dull days and to top it off its half term. For many of you this means being stuck indoors with the kids, which can lead to them bouncing off the walls at some point.

Reinforcements are here in the shape of this quick to do craft and game. Hopefully you will have the items needed for the activity in the house.

You will need

• A large piece of paper - wrapping paper or even newspaper will do
• Scissors
• Felt tips 
• A ruler or items to draw round
• Tape or Blu-Tack

Live Lagom - Living Sustainably - The Final Blog

When we started on this journey back in the autumn I never expected it to change our lives. I was the person that signed up in the hope of saving money and the joy of being given £500 to spend at Ikea! But it has honestly changed our lives. It's changed our house into a home. It's made us more aware of where things come from and if it's from a sustainable source. It's made us recycle more, which I didn't think possible. It's made us declutter, donate and share on. Somehow, it has given me more confidence, more faith in myself and what we, as a family and individuals, are trying to achieve.

Yes, we have saved money and yes, we got to spend £500 but the task the team at Ikea set themselves, to teach about living lagom and sustainability teaches so much more than that. 'Living Lagom' is about living just right. With just enough, not too little or too much. With that comes an awareness of your waste and how wasteful you can be. Our waste was in food and energy.

Making Toad Hall

Spring has sprung and along with the flowers come the animals. Furry, slimy and feathered, you can spot them all at this time of year.

Why not welcome them into your garden by building them a home. This week we've built a toad house, aptly named Toad Hall!

If you want to make one too here's what you'll need. You shouldn't need to buy anything. We found all our bits lying round the garden.

You will need

• Plant put
• Watering can or jug
• Hand trowel / spade
• A few weeds
• Stones 
• Twigs or small pieces of wood

The reasons why I'm unsure about baby number 2

Within moments of your first born making their arrival the inevitable questions start.

"Will you have another?"
"When will you have another?"

And with the questions comes the 'advice'.

"Don't leave too much of a gap."
"You're pushing 40, don't leave it too long." (I'm 33, you nobhead)

But the thought of having another feels me full of warm fuzzy, motherly feelings and the same amount of dread all at the same time. A friend recently asked me why I wasn't sure and I spilled out a bucket full of reasons.

Here's the most rational ones.

Cheap Chirp Can Bird Feeder

My latest craft post is the last of our bird feeders. It uses a lot of the same products so if you've done the others you won't need to buy many more materials and if you haven't done the others it is still a cheap craft!

You will need

• A clean and empty can
• Finger paints (I got mine on special offer @ B&M for £2.00 but they are currently £2.99)
• Peanut butter (if you haven't got any from last time it is currently 62p @ Asda, Tesco and Morrisons)
• Bird seed (69p @ Poundstretcher)
• A bowl or pot for the paint (I used a paper bowl)
• A bowl or plate for the bird seed
• String
• Scissors
• Spoon or spatula
• Bowl of soapy water 
• Kitchen roll

As with all my crafts don't buy anything you won't use again! If you haven't got paints, use felt tips or maybe the kids have some stickers lying around that you'd like to be used for something other than decorating the house!

What I've learnt so far

Time has passed so quickly and our little babs will be 2 in a matter of weeks. I can honestly say that the parenthood road has been bumpy. I've tried my best but yes I've made mistakes. Here's what I've discovered nearly 2 years in!

Cheap Chirp Toilet Roll Bird Feeder

Mummysnowyowl.com is the place for super cheap and easy to do crafts, so if you fancy getting crafty without breaking the bank read on!  

For this super cheap chirp bird feeder you will need

• Empty toilet roll
• Peanut Butter (if you haven't got any from last time it's currently 62p at Asda. Tesco and Morrisons)
• Bird seed (69p @ Poundstretcher)
• Spoon or spatula
• Bowl or plate

Remember if you aren't going to use all the items don't buy them. Maybe a friend or family member loves peanut butter and could spare you some. 

Cheap Chirp Apple Bird Feeder

One of the aims of the blog is to bring you cheap and cheerful crafts to do with the kids!! Lets be honest, nobody poops money!! Who wants to spend £10 on craft materials you possibly won't ever use again??!!

Here's one of my favourite cheap crafts. The prices are listed alongside the materials BUT if you aren't going to use them regularly or again, ask yourself can I borrow some of these items? Maybe you're having friends round over the half term and you can split the cost or bring an item each??

Cheap chirp bird feeder

You will need

• 1 Apple (£1.19 for a 1kg bag @ Lidl, making it 17p an apple)
• Peanut Butter (we had some in the cupboard but it's currently 62p a jar @ Asda)
• String (we had this to but it's currently 50p for a 40m ball @ Wilko's)
• Bird seed (69p @ Poundstretcher)
• Scissors
• Spoon or spatula
• A plate or bowl

Spring Spotters

Spring is here! So I've done a little activity to get you out the house and use up some of the kids energy! 

Print this page for the kids, go on a little walk and see how many signs of spring you can spot.

Flowers and trees - New flowers are a great way of spotting spring. Can you find daffodils, bluebells and tree blossom?

Live Lagom - Living Sustainably - Part 2

We are now well into our Live LAGOM journey. If you didn't read my earlier post 'living lagom' is about living just right. Not too much, just enough.

We now have all our chosen items. Bulbs, rugs, curtains, pans, batteries and a giant airer are scattered and in place around the house. We've redecorated the front room and if true Lagom fashion have used the paint from a selection we already had. For the first time since we've lived here we have curtains in our living room and have accompanied them with a thicker rug. As a result our house is warmer, less drafty and more welcoming. For the first time since moving here six years ago it finally feels like home.

To All The Mummies Still Waiting For Their Babies

Many months ago on an episode of One Born Every Minute an expectant father described his wife as being a mother without a child and that she would mother any child (and a few adults too) that she came into contact with. My husband turned to me and said "that's you, that's how you were".

The ability and kindness to care for any child in your life is a wonderful trait to have but it can also be something of a curse. Being an aunt, whether it be via family or friendship (what I call an aunty by acquaintance), gives you a quick fix but it doesn't fill that void in your heart.

Those of you that are regular readers will know I have now been lucky enough to blessed with a baby and therefore, parenthood. I am 22 months in and literally love every moment. Don't get me wrong there are some really bad days, shitty days (literally),  but when I climb into bed I feel forever blessed by the little ginger's presence.

Live Lagom - Living Sustainably - I Recycle, What More Can I Do??

If someone had said to me a couple of years ago "what do you think about living sustainably?", I'd have honestly have said it was a crock of poop! I recycle, what more can I do?

Push, Drag, Stitches

So, my waters have gone. It's official. I am in labour. The midwife has a look and confirms it's my waters and I haven't wet myself. Within a few minutes I am on the bed and having a drip but into my hand. I'm told it's to speed my labour up and to begin with it's fine. A midwife will now be with me for the duration and my husband goes off to get some lunch, as the midwife rigs me up to my friend, the monitor.

When he comes back the midwife tells him how well I'm doing and we chat among ourselves. Then the drip strength is doubled and the pain is stronger and quicker. Then it's doubled again and it's bad. The midwife times the contractions and they are lasting far to long with too little a break. I can't breathe. I need the loo. I'm going to be sick and then, well then, it all goes blurred and dark.

The Time Has Come

This is it. I have been admitted to hospital and all being well I shall leave with a baby in my arms.

My husband brings in my case and helps me settle in but once he's gone I feel lonely. Lonely and scared. The midwife has pulled everyone's cubical curtains back so I hope to spark up a conversation but it's not to be. The other expectant mums pull them back round and continue to talk on their phones.

Just after ten I am told it's time for lights out but as the doctor has said I should go back on the monitor and have a sweep I ask the midwife when this will be done. She tells me there's nothing on my notes and walks off.  Half an hour later I am woken by a tapping on my shoulder. The midwife is back with the machine I am now best friends with and tells me I need to go back on the monitor. It's like our earlier conversation never even happened! Bean's shuffling starts and I am on the monitor until gone one in the morning. There's no mention of a sweep being done and when I'm finally off the machine I'm left to settle down to sleep but I barely do. I toss and turn. Sit up and lie down. I am worried. I'm a bit scared. I'm lying, I'm bloody terrified! I want my husband. I want my baby. I want to go home.

The final countdown

So here I am again, wired up and lying on a hospital bed. Oh joy. I'm on and off for an hour as the baby keeps shuffling away from the monitor. I get a break when I'm sent for a scan and am greeted by the same midwife as before. She explains the scan will be the same as before, with measurements taken and the baby's movements being checked. The midwife makes a start and I quickly hear the baby's heartbeat but as I look at the large screen on the wall one thing is clear. The baby isn't moving at all.

After nearly twenty minutes of being scanned the midwife calmly tells me that the baby is probably asleep. She suggests I go back out to the waiting area and drink some ice cold water from the water cooler. The midwife shows me out of the room and calmly closes the door. I put my bags down and as I shuffle past the other expectant parents. I see her go at speed across the waiting area and into a side room. I see her outline through the frosted glass of the office and can see her on the phone. When the midwife calls me back in she tries to reassure me as much as possible but it doesn't work.

Spring 2014

So here I am between 34 and 35 weeks pregnant, sitting on a bed in the labour suite of the local hospital, legs akimbo and a light being shone up, well, you know where!

After an uncomfortable few minutes I am told my cervix is closed, which is a good sign. I am sent home and told to return the next day for more monitoring and another scan. I am exhausted but the thought of my husband or Mum packing my things prompts me to stay up a little longer and throw together my hospital bag.

The next morning I decide to go into work before my appointment at the hospital. My boss is really understanding and has already told me not to go in but I really don't want to leave them in a mess. I try and creep in but the waddle in my walk and the large bump give me away. I promptly get an almighty bollocking for going in, which looking back is well deserved! I do the bits needed and one of my colleagues, commonly known as my work wife makes me a drink. I'm not sure which is more of a miracle, the fact I am pregnant or that she has made a drink! I feel quite tearful as I leave and my work wife has to turn away as we sniffle our goodbyes.

Winter / Spring 2014 - Bringing it all up to date!

So I’ll admit it. I’ve been very slack on the blogging front. Posting little snippets here and there and not bringing you up to date. Over the next few days I will bring you up to date. So, here it goes, from 2014 to now. Hold on to your knickers it’s going to be a bumpy ride!!

I last blogged about January 2014. I had a kidney infection and my midwife had told me to ask the GP to check for a heartbeat with a Doppler. When she does the GP can’t find a heartbeat. I am obviously upset. Close to distraught. She tells me to relax. If the midwife didn’t hear it last time she wouldn’t be able to find it. I tell her the midwife did find the heartbeat. She looks uneasy and tells me again not to worry.

By the time my husband gets home I have turned the house upside down looking for the open letter the hospital gave me. I can’t find it. I admit defeat and call one of the numbers on my notes. I explain the situation to the midwife on the phone. She is truly lovely and agrees that telling me not to worry is not the best advice. The midwife tries the best to reassure me and tells me to make my way in to one of the wards. One of the staff will then call them when I’m there, as they work out of an office on the ward in the evening.