Posts by Leila:

Girls n Gadgets Gaming: Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure

November 7th, 2011

When I asked my 7 year old step son what he wanted for Christmas, there was only one thing on his list… Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Being aware of the original series, I was totally baffled when he tried to explain what it was. A couple of days later, I was offered the opportunity to review the game and everything become clear!



Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure

Activisions Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventures is a multi player adventure game for all ages. Bringing this new concept in gaming to your living room, just in time for Christmas, the game features Spyro (which you may know from the PS1 series years ago) and his friends Trigger Happy and Gill Grunt. ‘For Generations, the Skylanders have used their magical powers and weapons to protect Skylands. But now, an evil tyrant has frozen them and banished them to Earth. Only you can put them on the Portal Of Power and bring them to life to save Skylands forever.’

The pack comes with a ‘portal of power’ which brings your character to life on screen. It’s a beautifully thought out game which will certainly not disappoint your little one this Christmas. As well as the characters, portal of power and the game, the pack also includes trading cards, a sticker sheet and webcodes to use on the Skylander site. A great package to give your little one this Christmas and there are also 30 characters to collect keeping the adventure alive.

The game is available on XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. RRP is £59.99, however, is available from a number of online retailers for around £45. This is going to be a clear winner this Christmas!

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Maclaren XLR – A stroll in the park.

September 9th, 2011

One of the biggest decisions as a mother or father to be, is purchasing a pram/ pushchair. When I was pregnant, I was insistent that I wanted a pram. My husband, having one child already, told me not to. “It’s a waste of money” he said – “You’ll use it once or twice and then it’s redundant. A good pushchair and carrier is the way forward”.
But I was determined. “I want a pram!” I said. So he gave in. We bought a travel set. A beautiful pram and pushchair set.

I hate to say it, but he was absolutely right! When Alex was born, we only used the carrier when we went out. The pram was used twice and so it felt like a total waste of money. Alex slept well the couple of times when he was in the pram, but it was a nightmare to take places. I visited my husband twice with the pram in central London… very bad idea! This is where the carrier is a genius invention!



The Maclaren Techno XLR Pushchair

I was given the opportunity to review the Maclaren Techno XLR. As a new mum, I was always under the impression that Maclarens are for older babies/ toddlers, but apparently not. This attractive chair is suitable for babies from birth and comes in five different colours. It’s so easy to set up straight from the box. The box also includes the footmuff and hood. The website does say it also comes with a rain cover, however, there was no rain cover in the box.

The seat has four reclining positions which can be adjusted to suit your child’s requirements. Your child is well secured in the pushchair with a 5 way harness, which as well as being child-proof, is almost adult proof – but I don’t see this as a negative. There are two pockets on the back of the hood which are perfect for phones, purse and keys and also a reasonably spacious basket at the bottom of the pram where I put some nappies, wipes and changing mat which means I don’t require a handbag.

The maneuverability of the pushchair is fluid and extremely flexible. It folds with ease and in fact, I managed to pull the chair from the boot of my car and set it up, all whilst holding my son in the other arm. Incredibly easy! Serious top marks to Maclaren for that. I was beyond impressed! I certainly didn’t expect to be able to do that whilst holding my son. Size wise, it’s one of the few pushchairs that will fit my tiny boot as I own a Renault Clio and the boot isn’t exactly it’s best feature!

All in all, I could rate it highly enough. It’s been well thought out and if it had come with a rain cover and possibly a sun umbrella, it would have been perfect! The pushchair retails for around £200. A great long term investment.

As an accessory to this fantastic pushchair, I would suggest purchasing a Buggylock. If my Maclaren was stolen, I would be distraught and with this great little gadget you can secure your pram/ pushchair. It’s extremely affordable and in most cases it can be purchased for around the £10 mark. In my opinion, a must have for all parents!

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Medela – Pumping it’s way to the top

August 17th, 2011

Breastfeeding can be stressful and time consuming. I decided to breastfeed my baby exclusively from the start and I was very lucky that my baby latched immediately and has fed really well ever since. Obviously there’s the pain that comes with breastfeeding which is pretty much unavoidable unless you’re very lucky. Despite my baby latching correctly, I still suffered from painful cracked and sore nipples. Some women are advised to pump when this happens. I continued though the pain though and only pumped when I was in excruciating pain or when I had to leave my little boy with my Mum for a few hours.



The Medela Swing

Whatever your reason for pumping, you need to have a pump that’s going to make the process as easy as possible. This is where the Medela Swing comes in. The Medela Swing is an electric pump that works like a dream, right out of the box. It has a comfortable SoftFit breastshield, it’s lightweight and easy to carry around especially as it can be battery operated as well as mains operated. The motor is quiet which is perfect for discreet expression.

However one feature I would have liked to see on this pump, is a manual lever as well. I found that when I went abroad and didn’t have a plug converter or any batteries (I forgot to pack some) I was unable to use the pump. I first saw this on a Philips pump and I think it’s a great feature to have, just in case.

I’ve found expressing times with this pump extremely good. I can express around 4oz in 20 minutes, which compared to other pumps I’ve tried, wins hands down! Certainly worth the money and not that much of a chore to do!

In the box

Medela Swing breastpump motor unit
Medela Swing tubing
24 mm SoftFit breastshield
Connector
150 ml Breastmilk bottle
Bottle sealing disc
Bottle stand
Silicone teat
Sling
Swing storing bag
Valve head
Valve membrane
UK mains adapter
Instructions for use

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Birth and Breastfeeding must haves

July 26th, 2011

If you are a new Mum, you might get very confused by the sheer number of products on the market for giving birth and especially breastfeeding. The one issue I was faced with when I gave birth was that I didn’t have any nursing clothes or products to support my breastfeeding. As you can imagine, when Alex came along, there was a huge rush.

Here are a few of my favourite bits n bobs that I have religiously used since giving birth:



The birthing shirt co

So lets start with the birth. There’s not a great deal you need other than something comfortable to wear during and after birth. I opted for The Birthing Shirt Co nursing nighty. This fabulously versatile nighty can be used from pregnancy as an alternative to your usual nighty/ pjs as it’s roomy and incredibly comfortable. During labour it’s great as it’s loose fitting and it’s bamboo fabric allows is moisture absorbing and is breathable. I found the poppers at the top perfect for when Alex was born as it allowed me instant skin to skin contact and feeding. For post pregnancy it continues to support you during breastfeeding as it’s easy open top allows you to breastfeed at anytime. I found this shirt especially handy at night times as it kept me warm whilst breastfeeding.

In addition to this shirt, there were some nursing tops and bras that I just couldn’t do without. Emma Jane has to be one of my favourite brands from pregnancy through to post pregnancy. As well as using the Emma Jane maternity bras whilst pregnant, I had to try out the nursing wear they offered. The Emma Jane Nursing Top 826 is so soft and comfortable, together with the Emma Jane nursing bra made breast feeding exceptionally easy during the day. The top was a lovely soft feel bamboo material and has great functionality with an easy to do/ undo clip for quick and easy access whist breastfeeding. The top comes in back and white as does the bra.



Vertabaudet breastfeeding top

Last but not least is probably my favourite top to wear out, the Vertabaudet nursing top in grey marl. I’m pretty sure everyone feels rather frumpy after they’ve given birth, I know I did, but this top looks great, covers the flab and has easy access openings to feed your baby. I felt smart and confident wearing this top as most maternity/ nursing wear can be rather dull. Definitely one to get all the colours in and a bargain at just £19 a pop!

In our next post, we’ll be looking at the Medela Swing and Calma bottle range. So keep checking back for more up to date parenting news!

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Birth Announcement!

June 18th, 2011

Apologies for the lack of posts of late. I recently gave birth to my baby boy, Alexander. He was born on 6th June and weighed 6lb 2oz.

We will be back in the next few weeks with reviews of the Maclaren XLR, Ewan the Dream Sheep and the Medela Range, so stay tuned!



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Dental hygiene in pregnancy and beyond…

May 16th, 2011

After a short break away, we’re back! With some fantastic features for you.

Today we’re going to be talking about why good dental hygiene is especially important in pregnancy.

During pregnancy, it’s even more essential that you take care of your teeth. You’ll notice as your pregnancy goes on that your gums are much more likely to bleed when brushing and sometimes when eating. Pregnancy hormones are to blame for this – they cause swelling and inflammation, both of which will give you that sore, tender feeling. They also leave your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque which is why the extra care is needed.

Here are a few tips on dental care during pregnancy:

- Visit your dentist at least once during you pregnancy for a check up and a thorough clean.

- Brush and floss at least twice a day. Don’t forget the tongue as this will carry a lot of bacteria also.

- Ensure you are getting a decent daily calcium intake to keep your teeth in ship shape!

- Make sure if you’re suffering from any sickness during your pregnancy that you’re rinsing your mouth out afterwards.

- Invest in a softer bristle toothbrush if you find you are bleeding a lot. Aggressive brushing will not help your teeth, it will only cause you more pain and discomfort.

We all know that getting a dentist appointment can be a real chore sometimes.

There are times I have had to wait weeks for a check up, just because it wasn’t urgent. For those of you who are London based, there is hope!

Smilepod are a new ‘high street’ dentist, where you can walk in and be treated at reasonable rates. We went to try out Smilepod to see if their results matched their hype!

With stores in the City, West End and more recently, Canary Wharf, they have London pretty much covered! Their stores are welcoming and close to transport links, so if you are travelling in from outside London, you won’t have too far to go.

Prices start from £35 for a smile on the run, which is a 15 minute cleaning treatment. We tried out their High Gloss Diamond Polish which is £85 and takes around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the patient. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical before the treatment as I have slightly overlapping teeth which I’ve always found hard to brush and so had yellowed over the years. However, when presented with the mirror afterwards, my teeth were whiter than I ever remembered them and felt so unbelievably clean!

For those of you who are smokers, there are specialist treatments for that also. The ‘Smokers Makeover’ is £125 and will leave you with lovely whites. They boast the best smokers clean in London! That’s quite a claim.

Overall, I think for the convenience and the price combined, Smilepod are great value. Not only do they offer cleaning, they offer straightening, protection and even facial treatments!

So, you have cleaned your teeth and now you want to keep that sparkle… Your toothbrush isn’t much to shout about… What do you do?!

Look no further than Phillips Sonicare range! I have never been one to buy a super expensive toothbrush, but after experiencing the Sonicare range, I was converted. I’ve been using the Sonicare Flexcare+ and I have been astounded by the results! You can pick them up at the moment half price at around the £100 mark. They’re not exactly cheap, but for the difference it’s made to my teeth and my daily routine, it’s certainly well worth the money.




Sonicare Flexcare +


The toothbrush has 5 settings:

- Clean: for maximum cleaning efficacy
- Gum care: improves gum health
- Refresh: perfect for the quick freshen-up
- Sensitive: extra-gentle on sensitive teeth
- Massage: to stimulate gums with an invigorating and pulsing motion

Other features of the brush include:

- UV sanitising storage
- travel case
- Multi-voltage travel charger
- 2 contoured brush heads
- 30 second interval changer
- 3 week battery life
- Patented sonic technology


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Baby Bjorn Magic!

April 18th, 2011


Baby Bjorn - Original Carrier - City

The Baby Bjorn is one of the most popular baby carriers in the UK. When looking for baby carriers, you want something that’s going to be comfortable, secure and supportive of your baby. With over 50 years in the baby carrying business, you can be assured Baby Bjorn know what they’re talking about. Working closely with parents as well as medical experts, all of their products have been extensively tried and tested.

Not only does the Baby Bjorn carriers cover all of the above, they also have an attractive design and there are various designs for different age groups and uses and climates. The carrier comes in Midnight Blue, Navy, New Denim, Herringbone Red, Gingham Black, City Blue and City Black.

We have had the privilege of reviewing the standard Baby Bjorn Original Classic Carrier. Priced at £64.99, this is a great little carrier for your baby. It can be used from newborn (at least 8 lbs and 21 in/3.5 kg and 53 cm) up to 25 lbs/11 kg. Depending on the age and strength of your child, you can have him/her facing you or facing away.

The carrier is 100% cotton and the carrier is “guaranteed harmless to children’s sensitive skin and will not trigger allergies”. Taking care of the product is also easy! Just pop your carrier in a warm machine wash at 40 degrees – Simple!

All Baby Bjorns are especially designed for the optimum comfort and support for your baby and extend as your baby grows. Baby’s head, back and hips are all correctly supported and the carrier is also Pediatrician Recommended.

The carrier is easy to assemble and as well as being comfortable for baby, it is extremely comfortable for Mum and Dad too.

A Bumps n Bubs must have! 10/10.

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Pregnancy Underwear: Feel Fabulous!

April 4th, 2011

Pregnancy is not the most glamorous of times, as most people can appreciate. Finding the right under garments can be a bit of a nightmare and during this time of huge change within your body, you want underwear that’s practical and supportive.

Being pregnant myself, I can appreciate how hard it is to find a nice brand that makes you feel more confident with your clothes off. Afterall, your body during pregnancy is beautiful, even if it doesn’t feel it!

Here are a couple of brands we swear by at Bumps ‘n’ Bubs:

Carriwell

Carriwell are a nursing and maternity brand who have been around for over 14 years and have expanded to over 30 countries world wide.

They have a wide range of products and styles. So no matter how you’re feeling, they have something to cater for your mood, from comfy seamless bras through to sexy lacy ones for those more intimate moments.

Carriwell’s latest addition is their organic range. The soft organic cotton is perfect for how sensitive your skin becomes when pregnant. The fabric is flexible and allows for any growth in your changing body and breasts.



Carriwell Organic Bra

The product of Carriwell‘s that I SWEAR by is their Seamless Maternity Support Band. What an absolute God send this has been! Since wearing this, I have felt so much more support and comfort. My growing bump hasn’t seemed too heavy and there really is a noticable difference in my lower back when wearing the band. Other than my Dreamgenii pregnancy pillow, this has got to be the best pregnancy item I own!



Carriwell - Maternity Bump Support

Carriwell are an affordable and great quality maternity brand. I would higly recommend them and their products. They can be found on various online retailers including Amazon.com.

Emma Jane

The other brand I have taken to wearing during my pregnancy is Emma Jane. Again, their bras especially are very comfortable and provide fantastic support. They have been in the maternity underwear business for 25 years, so they surely know their stuff!



The Emma Jane 311 Bra

Their swimwear is also great! They have a fantastic new Tankini, so no need to go to the pool or seaside showing more flesh than you’re comfortable with!



Emma Jane Swimwear

As with Carriwell, Emma Jane’s products are also very affordable and are available to buy from various online shops, including www.figleaves.com. See their full range on their website http://www.emma-jane.com

So two great maternity brands at affordable prices and everything you need to feel comfortable with your body during pregnancy.

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Beauty & Fashion Fortnight: Changing Bags – The essentials!

March 27th, 2011
No fashion week is compete without the mandatory bag. I for one, like a lot of women, can easily spend a pretty penny on a nice bag. In fact, it’s a bit of an obesssion of mine…

Just because you have a baby, doesn’t mean you can’t have nice accessories anymore. Changing bags are’t exactly glamerous, they’re practical, must haves! But we’ve found three fab changing bags which will make you look good as well as being practical.

I’m going to start with my favourite of the three – Pink Linings Queensdale Tote Bag. This is my favourite because, not only does it have a pretty design inside and out, it’s functionality is also great! The bags come with padded signature changing mat and zip wet bag. Two outside pockets for all your essentials. It also has two insulated bottle pockets, two nappy pockets, one zip pocket, a mobile pocket, dummy fob and pen holder also comes with 2 clip straps for easy use on your buggy/pram.






Queensdale Tote - £75




Although the Queensdale Tote was my personal preference, Pink Linings most popular range is probably the Yummy Mummy Bags. Probably the most desired and talked about changing bag, they go for impressive amounts on EBay, second hand. Overall, a real investment during this not so glamourous period






Inside Pink Lining Bags



Another very sought after changing bag range, is the Cath Kidston Range. They look like any normal tote and come in variations of the famous Cath Kidston floral designs. The bags come with a changing mat and insulated bottle cover as well as handy pockets for all your essentials. They’re certainly not something you’re likely to part with once your little one’s grown up as they are pretty.




Cath Kidston Spray Flowers Nappy Bag - £60



Last but not least in our little collection of changing bags, is JuJu. A lovely collection of bags, both patterned and plain. They have one for pretty much anyone and if the girlyness of the other two makes are not your style, these are probably for you. As with the other two, they come with plenty of pockets and changing accessories. They retail slightly higher than the other two, but are great quality.



Ju Ju Be BeAll Navy Berry - £89.99Inside the Ju Ju BeInside Pink Lining Bags





Inside the Ju Ju Be




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Beauty & Fashion Fortnight – And Relax… Pamper yourself!

March 23rd, 2011

Due to some technical issues, we’ve extended our Fashion and Beauty week and renamed it … Beauty & Fashion Fortnight!

Last week you saw some amazing maternity wear from Tiffany Rose, some affordable and evrey cute clothes and accessories from Store 21 and some gorgeous make up tips from Bourjois!

Today we’re going to be showing you some of our favourite pamper packs for Mums, Dads and Mums to be.

We’re going to begin with the Mums to be. During this time, there are a lot of things you have to be careful about. One of them is what you put on your skin. Boo Boo Shop’s ‘Congratulations Mummy Pamper Pack‘ is our favourite! It’s great as a baby shower present or even to just treat yourself! It’s priced at £34.99 and is available from their website: http://www.boobooshop.com/ShowDetails.asp?id=325






Congratulations Mummy Set from Boo Boo Shop




The Pack contains

Splendidly Soothing Bath Soak, 250ml
With white water lily and mallow to deeply moisturise and chamomile and arnica to soothe sore muscles.

Super Stretchy Miracle Oil, 100ml
Made with a special blend of oils… argan, to nourish, moisturise and improve elasticity and passion flower oil to calm stressed skin.

Soft & Creamy Body Smoother, 190ml
A super-nourishing blend of hibiscus, centella and shea butter that work together to increase elasticity, boost moisture and reduce the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite.

Another of the lovely Mummy Products I came across were Maclarens Beginning Range. In particular, the ‘Nourishing Gift Set for Mother‘. What I like about this range is that everything feels so fresh and non greasy. You’ll find that the majority of Mummy pampering packs are all about the oils, but not this one – In fact, you barely know you’ve used the creams/ lotion!






Maclarens nourishing Gift Set for Mother



Contents
100ml / 3.4 fl oz. Nurturing Bath Milk
100ml / 3.4 fl oz. Alleviating Leg Lotion
60g / 2.1 oz. Supporting Belly Balm
Bath Pouf

For more general pampering for everyone, my favourite has to be the Soap & Glory range from Boots. Soap & Glory is such a loveable brand and not just beacue of it’s very cool packaging, but they are actually pretty damn good products. Here are a few of my top picks:

Breakfast Scrub – £7.50 (save 1/3 with Boots)






The Breakfast Scrub from Soap & Glory



Leaves your skin silky smooth and smells totally scrummy!

A super skin-softening blend of:
- Golden Sugar scrub particles
- Natural Organic cupuacu bio scrubs
- Gentle Oatmeal grains
- Banana, Almond and Honey extracts
- Shea Butter
- Glycerin

Wonderfill – £10 (Save a 1/3 with Boots)






Wonderfill from Soap & Glory



For those lines you want no one to see!

- An infusion of a scientifically proven level of LINE FIGHTING SUPERPEPTIDES™
- A SPECIAL OXYGEN BOOSTING SKIN STIMULATING COMPLEX
- Exclusive light-activated SUPERBLUR™ line-disguising spheres
- A wrinkle plumping moisture matrix
- Suitable for all skin types

Do you have dull looking skin? Looking for that product that actually delivers a bright complexion and leaves your skin not only clean and fresh but looking radiant? Then Club Cleo’s Probiotic Skin Sheer & Radiance with Pearl Extract is the product for you! This product has a special patented co-fementation process which they boast is ‘a new & wonderfully light way to exfoliate, unclog pores & brighten the complexion’. After giving this a try, I have to admit, I did notice a difference in my complexion. At £19.99 it’s not cheap, but the bottle does last and I was certainly impressed by my results and would certainly say it’s worth a try!






Club Cleo's Probiotic Skincare Range



Rich in natural nutrients including: amino acids, peptides, probiotics & lactic acids this unique mineral & herbal formula promotes biosynthesis of collagens, fibronectin & keratin, increasing the absorption of oxygen to encourage healthy cell renewal.

Finally, we haven’t forgotten the Men! Not a fan of trapsing around Boots with your other half looking for toiletries? If my average time spent in Boots is anything to go by, then I don’t blame the guys for not wanting to join us! This set is not only great as a present for that man in your life, but it also comes with sweeties you can steal!

I can’t help but think the set is fab, but could probably do with a toothbrush to go with the toothpaste… especially with those sweets in there! The Essential Male Grooming Set by Men are Useless is available from Prezzybox.com and is £14.95






The Essential Male Grooming Set by Men are Useless




Contents:

- King of Shaves Azor Razor
- Spare blade
- Original Source Hair and Body Wash (250ml)
- King of Shaves Sensitive Shave Gel (50ml)
- King of Shaves Face Balm (50ml)
- Whitening toothpaste

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