Tag: family

Christmas Shopping Online

| November 15, 2012

The desire to hit Oxford Street with Christmas approaching isn’t at the top of my agenda. The very thought of battling the crowds with my baby in tow and pushy shoppers after last minute Christmas bargains is keeping me away from the high street this year.

I’ve decided to do my Christmas shopping online. It’s easy, I’ll be in the comfort of my own home and I won’t need to travel on busy London public transport with my baby.

I’m looking forward to finding the perfect Christmas gifts for my friends and family whilst sitting comfortably with a cup of tea and a cat (or two!) on my lap. Many online stores have unique Christmas shops to help shoppers like me find the perfect gifts without traipsing the shops.

Some of my favourite online Christmas Shops for Christmas Decorations, Gifts and Food:

  • The John Lewis Christmas Shop has a delightful selection of everything from Christmas Decorations, personal Christmas Gifts, Partywear, Christmas Cookware, Christmas Hampers and some of the best Baby Gifts.
  • The GLTC Christmas Shop has a huge assortment of Christmas Stockings and Sacks, Advent Calendars and Nativity Toys, Christmas Decorations, Personalised Christmas Gifts, Big Present Ideas, Gifts for Boys, Gifts for Girls and lovely Stocking Fillers.
  • The House of Fraser Christmas Shop has Christmas Decorations, Christmas Candles and Tableware, Christmas Cookware, Table Settings and Home Decorations. As well as Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for Kids, Gifts for Couples, Gifts for For the Home. I love The Toy Edit and their selection of Family Games.

Toys for Christmas at House of Fraser

  • The world famous Liberty Christmas Shop has unique and luxurious gifts for everyone. There are Stocking Fillers, Liberty Print Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for the Home and a wonderful selection of Baby Gifts and Toys for Children.
  • The Feel Unique Christmas Shop has everything covered when it comes to Beauty, Skin Care, Fragrance and Healthy Living. There are Gift Sets, Stocking Fillers, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for Mum and my favourite selection of Baby and Toddler Bath and Skin Care.
  • For delicious treats and food this Christmas I’m shopping at the Waitrose Christmas Shop where there’s a large selection of Christmas Hampers and wine.

Super Vegetable Soup

| November 10, 2012

Super Vegetable Soup

Super Vegetable Soup

I’m not a fan of recipes, simply because I like to be a little creative and find it hard to stick rigidly to a recipe.

Unsurprisingly things don’t always work out as they should, but they still end up tasting great.

For lunch I made a Super Vegetable Soup.

It’s super because:

  • I use all organic ingredients
  • It’s packed full of vitamins, minerals and hearty goodness
  • It’s really quick to make
  • I make it using only one pan
  • It’s great value for a fresh and nutritious meal that feeds 6 people
  • I chop the vegetables roughly because they’re blended with a Hand Blender

This soup is perfect for anyone wanting an easy, quick, healthy and filling meal to feed their family.

Organic Ingredients:

  • 1 small Red Onion
  • 2 cloves of Garlic
  • 2 Leeks
  • 2 Carrots
  • 6 New Potatoes
  • Half a Buttnernut Squash
  • 2 large handfuls of Kale
  • A splash of cream can be added to taste when serving

How I make it:

  • Chop onion, garlic, leeks and saute in a large pan. When sauteed I transfer these into a bowl whilst I prepare the remaining vegetables.
  • Chop the carrots, potatoes and butternut squash into small cubes and add water to just cover the vegetables. Boil until cooked.
  • Wash and chop the kale and add to the pan of boiling vegetables. Cook for 2 minutes.
  • Blend the vegetables in the pan using a Hand Blender.

And there it is, cooked and ready to eat!

I don’t add salt or pepper when cooking the soup so it’s suitable for my baby to eat.

Pepper and salt can be added to suit individual tastes when serving. Add a splash of cream if desired.

Serve the soup with warm crusty bread.
 
What’s your favourite winter soup?
 

Baby Colds and Flu

| November 8, 2012

Calpol Vapour Plug & Nightlight

It’s that time of year when colds and flu are rife.

The majority of my Mum friends and their babies have suffered at least one cold this autumn.

Husband and I have been battling cold and flu symptoms for over two weeks with sinusitis, sore throats, headaches, chesty coughs and feeling drained of all energy.

Husband’s cough is so bad he’s been relegated to the sofa for the past few nights. I’m thinking husband could even have the dreaded ‘man flu’ which is why his cough is so loud even our neighbours can hear it.

Inevitably baby girl has now developed symptoms and has a chesty cough, runny nose and fever.

When there are symptoms of baby colds and flu I check my baby’s temperature with the Braun ThermoScan 5 IRT4520 Ear Thermometerwhich I’ve written about here because it’s such a quick, accurate and comfortable thermometer to use on babies and the entire family.

I was up all night on Tuesday because baby’s cough and inability to breathe through a snotty nose was keeping her awake.

Yesterday I ventured out to Boots the chemist to stock up on various potions and lotions to help baby’s symptoms. It’s important she gets a good night’s sleep to help her body fight the infection and husband and I are in desperate need of sleep too.

I had to go to two different Boots as the first one had completely run out of the baby colds and flu products I wanted. I came home armed with an arsenal of treatments to help her breathe better and Calpol to bring down her temperature.

After her bath I rubbed some Boots Mild Vapour Rub 3 Months Plus onto her chest and back to help her breathing. I gently wiped her nose and sprayed one spray of Calpol Soothe and Care Saline Nasal Spray into each nostril. She was surprisingly good about this, there was no fighting and no tears afterwards. Calpol Soothe and Care Saline Nasal Spray is suitable from birth.

Last night I used the Calpol Vapour Plug and Nightlight in her nursery which provides 8 hours of soothing oils slowly vaporised into the room to help with breathing and to provide an air of comfort and calm with added lavender and chamomile. I stocked up on Calpol Vapour Plug Refills so I can use these each night as needed. The Calpol Vapour Plug and Refills are suitable for babies from 3 months of age.

I placed 10 drops of Olbas Inhalant Decongestant Oil for Children, suitable for babies over 3 months, onto a muslin cloth on top of baby girl’s dresser and I put several drops into a cup of hot water and left it on the bookshelf in her room. It let out a lovely smell and transformed her nursery from being cold infested and stuffy to one which smelt of Eucalyptus, Cloves and Mint.

The result? She slept through the night last night, hurrah! I think the combination of the natural decongestants and lavender really helped to soothe my baby and allowed her to breathe more easily.

What a miracle for husband and I. It really is the simple things like a good night’s sleep that count when you’re a parent!

Here are some tips for adults wanting to treat colds and flu the natural way.
 
What do you use to treat your baby’s colds?