Lazy day

Mami has found her anthem.

Lazy Song is a song by Bruno Mars. And if the title doesn't give it away, he sings about wanting to lay in bed all day, not get dressed and do NOTHING AT ALL!

She said to papi, "That's how I feel everyday!"

So I don't understand why mami gets upset when I don't want to get dressed and I just want to lay around chilling with my blankie on the the sofa watching Peppa Pig and having my toast.

Not happy about being made to get dressed

Really mami?

You always talk about taking it easy and relaxing, so why did you make me get dressed and wash my face and comb my hair when I didn't want to?! Huh?

Remember just because I'm little doesn't mean I don't want a break. Nursery is fun and all, but some times I need a lazy day too.

Papi and I let you have one sometimes, so now it's my turn!

So do you think we can have one this weekend?

Tidy up time with Fairy Non Bio

Remember when I told you about my very special and personalised toy box from Fairy Non Bio and when I got to go see Winne the Pooh the movie?!

Well, I have some really good news - Fairy Non Bio has given us one toy box to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Haven't seen my box? Have a look below - the winner will get their name or blog name on it.

I actually enjoy tidying up or ordenar. Really! Mami has a special song that we sing together while we pick up our toys.

"Ordenar, ordenar cada cosa en su lugar/tidy up, tidy up, everything in it's place" and we march around picking everything up and putting it all away in my box.

And because Fairy Non Bio know how important it is for families to spend time together (even if it is tidying up) they teamed up with Disney’s Winnie the Pooh to encourage families to share those magical moments. 

And that is where I come in to give you the chance to win a special limited edition gift box, including Fairy and Winnie the Pooh goodies. 

Trust me, you will LOVE them!

And besides that, mami absolutely loves how soft and fragrant our clothes are with Fairy. Oh, and its gentle on sensitive skin like mine.

Now, back to the toy box, all you have to do to enter is: 


1. Comment and tell us how you make tidy up time fun or your special technique 
2. Follow on RSS OR Google Connect OR subscribe to receive emails (your choice)
3. Recommend our blog to one other person (tweet or email)
4. Leave your twitter or email so we can contact you if you win
5. For an extra entry you can tweet I want to tidy up & win a personalised toy box with Fairy Non Bio and @verybusymama http://bit.ly/mOmHEf 

One entry per person
UK only
Winner selected a random
Competition closes on Monday 20th of June at midnight
Must do numbers 1- 4 

Good luck and remember to ordenar!

Mami please slow down

Mami is ALWAYS in a hurry.

Even when she isn't running late she is telling me to ¡apúrate, vamos! /Hurry, let's go!

I don't get, I just want to take my time and wander, explore, touch, smell and just look at things. Just because she has seen it all doesn't mean that I have. I think she forgets that I am only 2!

For instance we zoom by the really pretty flowers outside our door. Mami has never really stopped to smell them and I usually stop to examine the yellow and black insects flying around them called bees.

Oh and how was I supposed to know that the circular, coil-like shell stuck to the side of the porch is a snail? I saw it on the wall last week and she wouldn't let me touch it.

But papi did! And now every morning I stop to say "hola snail".

And why is it that she pretends not to see ants on the ground when she knows how much I like following them?

And what about the ladybirds? Or "ladybugs" as she calls them.

They are my favourite insects ever and I just want to collect them in my bucket and bring them home with me so that I can play with them later. I don't see why that would bother anyone, they don't take up any room at all!

I could go and on, but I will leave it here for now. I mean, I do have fun with mami but I wish she would listen to what I want to do.

So this is for all mummies and daddies who are always in a rush: please just let us enjoy our time outside, there is only so much we can take of legos, drawing and cartoons.

And mami please, just slow down a bit and let me take my time.

We've come a long way

The Monday after my first birthday party, mami and I got up very early that dark winter morning. I noticed she was dressed which was unusual because she was usually in her PJs well into lunchtime.

Something about that morning was different, mami kept hugging and kissing me and daddy was also up and ready for work. On other days, we would wave to daddy from the window.

We headed out the door all together and before I knew it were we on a bus! Where were we going?

We soon made our way past the park, and then got off a few stops later. I had been here before, but I couldn’t remember why. Then we rounded the corner and then I saw it: the place with all the toys and lots of kids. It was my nursery!

My first birthday!

See, mami was going back to work after one year of staying at home with me. She said it was very difficult to leave me, but had decided she would work 3 days a week and spend 2 days with me. She thought this would be much easier for everyone.

That day was the longest day ever. I waited and waited, but mami was nowhere. I played with new toys and sang new songs. There were other kids there too; but I had never seen them before. Even the lunch was a little different than I was use to, but I still ate it. I asked for my dummy and I kept looking for mami.

After my nap, mami still wasn’t there. I looked and looked, but she was no where in sight. I cried out for her, and one of the girls came to pick me up.

She gave me a hug and said mami would come soon. Finally, after what seemed like days of curling up with my nursery teacher, the door opened and there was mami!

First morning - mami off to work and me going to nursery

I crawled over as fast as I could, stood up and held on to her legs. I cried and cried, not wanting her to go away again. She scooped me up and wouldn't stop kissing me. We hugged and held each other. I felt tear drops on my head, and when I looked up I saw mami wiping her eyes.

It was a very different and tough day for both of us, but I know we are not the only family who has to go through this new stage in life.

Nine months on and mami and is still working 3 days a week, and I have learned that mami will come back for me at the end of the day.

Being a working mum and a nursery-going toddler is not easy, but we have adjusted nicely and we are now more settled into our routine.

Having my breakfast at nursery

I really like going to play with my friends and when mami drops me off I run over the the breakfast table to eat my cereal!

It's never easy and mami says that even when she is very busy at work, she does miss me and can't wait to see me (I miss her too!)

But I just want to say that it is okay now! I like nursery and mami and I both get a “break” from each other.

Yes, even us little one’s need some time away.

 

Mami tried it! UNE and Lubatti

HOLA! Mami has some "girl stuff" for me to write about and even though I love her very much, I really don't like writing about those things.

But since we do share this blog, I had to let her get her review in. Besides, you mamas like to know about that stuff. So, for the very first time ever, I have invited mami to guest blog!

Soooo here's mami with her review on UNE Cosmetics by Bourjois and Lubatti face cream  (be nice to her, she's new at this)

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Very Busy Mama
Testing 1,2, 3. Testing, 1,2, uh? Is this thing on? Oh! Hello. Sorry. Not really in the habit of blogging. I tend to tweet and just brief my little guy on what's going on. A bit weird this blogging business.

Anyway, I hope you don't miss Little M too much, and don't mind me jumping in this week. Poor guy is tired of reporting on makeup and face creams.

I don't have a lot of time, and I know that neither do most of you. However, I believe a little makeup goes a long way.  Ever since I had Little M, my good friends Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier have had to be dropped like a bad habit.

Now I scan the ailes at Boots looking for the best deal and hoping and praying the cover up will do just that, cover up. The blusher will last more than a tube ride, and that the mascara won't cause an allergic reaction.

So you can understand my excitement when I was sent a little gift set of UNE Cosmetics, a natual makeup range by Bourjois to try out and Lubatti face cream. I had never heard of UNE before, but I had been fortunate to review Lubatti night cream and eye gel previoulsy.

dummy not inlcuded

UNE Cosmetics
I was given Soft Minerals Powder Foundation, Glimmer Eyes Shadow, Breezy Cheeks Blush, and Sfumato Eyes Pencil. All UNE products are made with 98%-100% natural formulas and use organic ingredients. Very impressed at their efforts to be more environmentally friendly, they also do not use synthetic dyes or fragrances.

Better yet was the feel and actual application of the makeup. Other powders and blushers tend to cake on or disappear before even leaving your house.

The pressed powder is smooth and creamy. It goes on light and stays on.

The blush is a perfect compliment, also light and creamy, it goes on and blends in to your natural colours without looking too made up.

Best of all was the eye shadow which almost looks invisible. You think you may not have anything on, then it catches in the light and your eyes stand out in a subtle manner.

It is ideal for those who want quality make up without breaking the bank and busy mums on the go. Quick to apply, light and fresh and gives you glowing look through out the day!

Lubatti Gorgeous Day Moisturiser
Okay, yes, I love Lubatti! It is a luxury range by Tracey Malone, Jo Malone's sister, and treat it like liquid gold.

But before you jump all over me for proclaiming the gospel of cheap finds, I repeat, Lubatti is a luxury range. And I do believe every woman needs a little luxury in her life.

Lubatti is the kind of product you want to make last forever. I have been using the Gorgeous Day Moisturiser made with Orange and Jojoba and it is just that, gorgeous. Smells terrific and when putting it on I do so carefully and with care making sure every last inch of my face has been lathered.

Lubatti wakes up my face each morning (which is hard to do by the way) and gives it a nice tight feel and perfect before applying your makeup.

If you are like me, a slave to face creams, you will want to add this one to your list of indulgences. Don't forget, only 93 days until Christmas.

Mami's lazy Sunday

Daddy got up today and said to mami:

"today, you can do whatever you want. If you want to sleep all day, then go ahead. It's your day".

Mami couldn't believe it. She had gotten up early with me like she always does, but as soon as daddy had walked into the living room and said that, she jumped up and yelled out,

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, mi amor. I love you so much. Thank you!"

She ran off to her room and closed the door. Unlike last week when she was sad, she had a big smile on her face and had moved off the sofa very fast, forgetting that she has to be careful with her ankle.

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She really did need the sleep. Especially after the last few weeks of working late and feeling sad.

I didn't help much either. I have been waking more at night and calling out for mami to come to sleep with me. But I heard her tell daddy that I "snore very loudly" and that she wasn't able to really get a good nights rest.

So, while she happily slept, daddy had his coffee, I played with my blocks and then got dressed. We headed out to the park and I got to do whatever I wanted!

We were gone for a very long time. When we came back mami was up and reading a book. It didn't have any pictures in it and it had a lot of pages. I had never seen her read such a big book. She had her feet up on the sofa and was drinking coffee. She looked very happy and "relaxed".

I ran over and gave her a big kiss. Daddy walked over and asked what she had done today, and mami looked up at him with a big smile on her face and said,

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing".

She said it had been a perfect day.

Now mami wants to know when we can do this again. I looked over at daddy, but he just pretended not to hear her.

Mami is sad again

Been quiet lately.

Mami and I have been dealing with our own "issues". She has been staying late at work and I think I may be getting more teeth. How many more do I need? I have a mouth full!

Apart from late nights at work, mami has been sad again. Really sad.

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Daddy and I can always tell. She doesn't smile as much, her eyes are teary and on weekends she gets up with me then hands me over to daddy. She goes back to her room closes the door and we don't see her for hours.

This weekend daddy and I went out alone, no mami. Normally we take long walks or go for our family run, but daddy and I slipped out the door quietly.

When we got back she was curled up on the sofa with the shades down. She was staring at the TV and her coffee cup was still on the table. She hadn't even finished it! Daddy asked if she was feeling better and mami didn't answer him. She just looked at us and gave us a very, very small smile.

"Do you want to go for a walk then have tea at the cafe?" daddy asked.

I know she was trying to be nice, but she said she didn't "feel like doing anything".

Daddy tried to ask her again, but she just raised her voice and said "I just want to be alone!"

I ran off to play with my blocks, and mami and daddy kept talking. I could hear them in the living room talking about things I have never heard of before. She was trying to tell him why she was sad, then I heard her cry.

After a few minutes I heard the door open and by the time I ran out to see who it was, I heard the door slam shut and mami was gone. I stood behind the door calling for her, but daddy said she "went out for a little bit". Daddy looked sad too, but he called me over and I curled up in his lap.

Daddy and I spent the afternoon together. We read books, watched BabyTV, and ate raisins. I waited and waited for mami, but she did not come back.

After my bath, just when daddy had put me to bed, I heard the door open. I heard mami's voice and I called out for her. She came into the room and gave me a hug and kiss. Where did you go all day? I wanted to know, but she never told me. She held me for a little bit, then she said "buenas noches mi amor" and walked out of the room.

Today she forced herself to get dressed and we went out to lunch with friends. I think she had a good time. I even saw her laugh, but she has yet to be the fun mami I know. I hope mami feels better soon, I like going out with daddy, but I miss the days we can all be together.

Dear mami,

Daddy and I love you very much.

I hope you are not sad this week.

Mami tried it! Lubatti Sparkling Eye Gel

Mami has been an "absolute zombie" lately. Based on her looks, I think that means she is very tired and not getting enough sleep. I guess she has been working longer hours and on our days together we are always out with friends.

She says the winter is going to be long and dark so we need to get out while we can.

But she knows she has to give me a complete update on her reviews so that I can tell you all about them.

This week mami talks about the Lubatti Sparking Eye Gel. And really, I don't know what it does, but she needs a little boost!

The "good stuff" Lubatti Sparkling Eye Gel

Mami says "the eye gel is cooling around the eyes and helps get rid of the puffiness. Especially first thing in the morning. It feels really good!"

Some of the ingredients I have never heard of, but apparently are good for mami's skin. The cold sensation around the eyes is because it has aloe vera and green tea extract. Yucky! Doesn't sound so good as the Dreamy Night Cream. Now that sounded yummy.

"I just put some on after splashing my face with cold water and it instantly feels refreshing. I use it at night too and the tingly feeling lets me know its working. Really love it."

Mami's tip: She always recommends when applying eye gel, it is best to use your ring finger because it its gentler and won't pull the skin as much or very gently pat the area with your index finger (that's the one I use to point with).

Girl stuff.

bye bye,

Chillaxing

You know when all you want to do is sleep ALL DAY LONG?

I bet you do. Mamas always complain about not getting enough sleep - including mine!

Well, mami and I have been feeling like that all week. Mami walked around in a daze today. She wasn't her cheerful self and I wasn't in the mood to be made to sing. I'm getting more teeth and it hurts.

Mami has been really busy at her work, and she is not happy and together we are one big mess!

Today we stayed in our jammies until after lunch. We haven't done that in a few months and kind of liked it.

Mami laid on the sofa and I played with my new blocks.

No rushing around to go to the park. No getting ready to meet one of mami's friend whose baby cries all the time, no having a "quick" lunch so that I can take a "quick" nap, so that we can go out for a "quick" coffee and chat with yet another one of mami's friends.

Nada.
None of that.

Just mami and me, "chillaxing" as she says (that's a mix between chilling and relaxing. I had to explain that one to daddy) and because sometimes you "just need a break"

We make a good team, mami and me.

I tried it! Plum Foods

It’s no secret. I love to eat and I have a big tummy to prove it. I weigh 13.5kilos and as mami says, the scales don't lie.

That's me on the scale!

It was a dream come true to open up a box full of delicious Plum foods a few weeks ago. After all, I am a toddler foodie – and I know what is yummy and what is yucky.

Some of the food mami makes is yucky – I can tell you that! Anything green and I won’t eat it. She tries to fool me and mix it in, but oh no! I pretend to eat it and then I throw it on the floor.

There were lots of different kinds of snacks, cereals, fruit packs and little pots. All have been eaten by the way! And it wasn’t just me – I saw mami eat some few of the biscuits with her tea. I knew it wasn’t just me.
Here are my two favourites:

Mami served me the Four Grain with Mango and Banana Fruity Porridge. It was very yummy and you guessed it, fruity! It reminded me of my baby days. I haven’t had this in a long time because I’ve moved on to toast but it was nice to have for old times sake. Even mami had a bowl because she had run out of her cereal.

Mami liked that it doesn’t have extra sugar and for mamas looking for gluten free food – this is perfect for you!

Then there are my all time favourites, the fruit and vegetable pouches. I could eat those all day long! Mami thinks I don't realise that I'm having vegetables, but they are so yummy and smooth that I dont mind at all (oh yes, and mami says they are really nutritious too!)  I can eat them anywhere and save some for later.

There are some other baby foods which mami use to give me (which I won't name here) and they were YUCKY! I didn't like them and no matter how hungry I was, I would not eat it.

But not with Plum, they taste like daddy could have made them. Apparently they are also good for me (that's what mami says).

Don't believe me? Look how happy I am after having the Lemon Chicken, Sweetcorn and Tarragon!  Or is that the Mango and Banana? I can't remember, but I do know it was gooooood!

Yum and Fun!

You can read more about Plum at http://www.plum-baby.co.uk/. If you really want, you can also become a Plum Mum and taste them for yourself! I really recommend that you do.

bye bye

"gordo" (it means chubby in Spanish and that is mami's nickname for me)

In it to win it!

Philips AVENT: Win a set of 3 Truman Cups

Mami and I have been really busy lately!

With her running, my rock collecting and working on getting nominated for a Comso Blog Award we are pooped!

But not too tired to bring you a very special giveaway!

Philips AVENT, the No.1 recommended childcare brand by mamas in the UK got in touch and asked if I would like to giveaway a set of 3 New Truman Cups to one very lucky reader.

These 260ml/9oz cups keep water or juice cool and fresh longer and they are non-spill which makes mami very happy. They have a hard spout, making it more difficult to bite. And as you can see, they are decorated with educational story-telling designs. I really like the blue one with the bunny watering the plants!

So you want to win too? It is really easy!

All you have to do is watch this fun video about toddler feeding with mummy Lucy and little James





Then answer this question:

What percentage of toddlers feed with their hands?

Please make sure you are following my blog (add to Reader or on Google Friends Connect) and leave in the comment box below:

• The correct answer
• Your Twitter name/or best way to contact you

One entry per person please.

The competition is now closed. Mami and I selected a winner using a Random Number Generator.

The winner of the cups is @mummygetsyummy!

Congratulations!!!

bye bye and ¡buena suerte! (that's good luck in Spanish!)

  

A day called Monday

Mami and daddy always talk about different "days".

Its not easy for me to know what day it is.

All I know is:

• Some days I go to nursery

• Other days its just mami and me

• Then it's mami, me and daddy!

Oh, and I also know that I go to sleep when it is dark and wake up when there is light outside. In between I take a nap, but that is only for a short time and mami turns off the lights to make it look dark. But she can't fool me!

After being at home with mami and daddy and after 3 sleeps, it is time to go to nursery again. Mami calls this day Monday, but she says it with a loud groan. Mami doesn't do well on these so-called Mondays.

I tend to sleep in on this day, especially after all the fun I've had with daddy over the past days. Mami wakes up panicking because "we are running late!"

She pulls me out of my crib, says "Little M, you didn't wake me up!" (What does she expect? When I do wake her ups she takes ages to come get me!) and then big rush begins.

Her eyes are puffy and her hair is messy. So funny!

She quickly gets me dressed and brushes my hair with her fingers and yells out "ya, vamos. VAMOS!"

Then before you know it, we are running down the high road to catch the bus.

It's pretty much the same every single Monday. And on top of that, she always forgets something:

"Oh no! I've forgotten my keys"

"Oops! I left my lunch in the fridge"

"Ahhhh, I forgot my Blackberry" (this causes the worst reaction of all!)

Once she even had on mismatched socks! Silly mami.

I don't know how she copes for the rest of her Monday. But as for me, I'm pretty chilled - 12 hours of sleep does wonders!

How are you on Mondays?

Bye bye
Little M

Mami rocks

Abuelita/grandma is gone bye bye. She left on an aeroplane.

I miss being with her. She reminded me a lot of mami. Sometimes she kind of looked like mami too. Even her laugh was the same. I liked feeling that mami was close by even it wasn't really her.

I can tell mami is extra tired again because she has to wake up early instead of sleeping in. Abuelita would take care of me, and mami is having a very hard time getting back into our routine. Bless her, she does try!

Yesterday, after "resting" all day we went for an afternoon in the park to get back to our old selves.

But I didn't recognise the way.
We went on a new path.

The ground was different.

 I kept looking at it. I had never seen this before. They were all over the place!

What where these little pieces everywhere?

I took a step and my feet made a funny sound. I took another step and felt a something inside my shoe. I stopped to bend over and touch them. I rolled them in my hands and they made a cracking sound. 

Can I eat these?

"What is it?" I wanted to know. It wasn't like anything I had ever touched before. They didn't feel or look like the sand from the sandbox, they were not soft like the grass, they were not sticks.

So what could these be?

I held some out for mami, and said "eh".

She smiled at me and said, "thank you for the rocks mi amor"

"Rocks"

"R-r-r-r-rocks" that's what these are. Rocks"

I piled as many as I could into mami's hands and hid some in the buggy to play with later. It was the best afternoon!

Just mami, me and lots of rocks.

A very secret club

Oh no! I completely forgot to tell you about me and mami's first Secret Post Club experience! See we are part of a very secret club where bloggers exchange gifts every month. Its so much fun!
Last week the doorbell rang and mami panicked because she was still in her jammies - so funny! She quickly put on her jeans and a robe and ran to the door. The mail man handed us a box and after getting the tape off the box, mami handed it over and said "here Little M, this is for you".

Wrapped in pretty colourful paper was a some sort of lip makeup for mami (she loves that stuff!) a cupcake magnet, a pretty notebook, a carrier bag with flowers and a tray to make ice lollies for me! Yessssss! YUMMMMY!

Mami read the card and I couldn't stop clapping with excitement. I love paper and boxes!! She looked over at me and said "Little M, mira/look, our secret friend is Julie from All About Us and Such Like! Lets take a picture to send her to say thank you!"

Opening our presents. Thank you Julie!

Julie made mami and me very happy!

So, today was our turn to send our present to our secret friend. But, shhhh! I don't want to ruin the surprise (but I did help choose the gifts by pointing to what I liked at the shop). I wrote her a special note with my green crayon and I hope she can read my writing!

You can be part of the club too. Just read the directions and promise to follow the rules. And you can be anywhere in the world, not just in the UK. And if you are lucky mami and me will send you a nice present!

Bye bye,

Little M

Dear mami

Dear mami, 

I love you a lot and I missed you and daddy when you were gone.

Abuelita/grandma and I almost melted here in London because it was so hot, but we made it. Next time can I go with you please?

We did lots and lots of things.

First thing abuelita did was cut my hair! She heard daddy say I had a “mullet” and she cut little bits off the back. Did you see she put my curls in a bag for you?
Because it was so hot, abuelita let me hang out naked! Yesssss! No nappy and no shirt. I was just drinking my cold juice when suddenly water came right out of my willy! I did this twice this weekend, once behind the TV and another time next to your bed. I think you stepped in it. Sorrrrrry!

My teeth hurt again! I woke up at night and I don’t think abuelita was too happy about me crying. But just for you to know, she didn’t get up right away. You may want to have a “quick talk”with her.  Just like you do with daddy.

te quiero mami y papi/I love you mami and daddy

I'm very close to saying my first big boy word. I've been holding back - but when I shout out "heeeh" that’s my way of saying Hola/Hello. And "neh -neh- neh" is how I pronounce "no". Remember mami, I have a British accent, you don’t.

Oh, and you know that baby gate you put in the living room to keep me from playing by the fireplace? Well, you can just put it away because I can squeeze through any opening! Got between the sofa and the gate and abuelita couldn’t find me! 

She kept saying “Little M, Little M ¿dónde estas?/where are you?” So funny! Got black stuff on my hands and I made a little drawing for you on the wall by bookshelf. Did you see it?

Lastly, don’t be upset with abuelita, but she gave me candy when we went to the fair on Saturday. It was so yummy!

I drew this picture for you it says I love you very much mami and daddy and I am so happy that you are back and take me with you next time.

te quiero mucho
Little M

Simply and honestly me

Been busy here entertaining my abuelita/grandma who is visiting for a few weeks. Hard work I tell you, I have to show her where my milk is and which cup to give me, how to open the door to take me out, and which park to take me to.

Poor abuelita, she can't keep up with me and she tells mami that she is "muy cansada"/ very tired after spending a day with me. Funny how everyone I spend a day with seems to say that. Not sure why?

Either way, I have not had much time to blog, being cute is hard work too, and I've been doing a lot of that lately!

Last week both Holly at Its a Mummy's Life and Emma at Mellow Mummy tagged me with A Blog with Substance and The Blogging Meme. Boy was I excited - not only because they are very lovely and pretty mamas (mami met them at CyberMummy), but because we have been reading their blogs for some time now. Thank you very much!

A Blog with Substance - Holly asked, why do I blog?

Simple. I blog to help mami keep a record of all our fun and sometimes "difficult" experiences (those are her words by the way). Years from now she will enjoy looking back and reading about our early days together. Especially if one day we leave England and move to the USA, she will want to remember all of our adventures here. That, and I remind her what its like to be a little one.

My blogging philosophy in 5 words: Keeping it honest and simple

The Blogging Meme - Emma asks:

What is my favourite blog? Ooh, hmm? Ah yes! It's got to be Foodie Mummy! French expat living in Ireland, Foodie Mummy deals with life as it comes, loves football (well, not the French team at the moment) and is always very honest about her daily adventures as a new stay at home maman. Go and visit her, you won't regret it!

Blogger I respect? A fellow bilingual mama, Steffi over at Mummy do That! is brining up her little one to speak both German and English. I know that it is no small task, and mami and I salute her for that.

Best blog to join with? No weekly write ups or links to worry about. Just stop by RedTedArt blog for craft and art ideas. Mami is not very good with paints, but I always stop over at Maggy's blog for new art projects mami and I can do together. A few weeks ago we made a mini-sailboat for daddy that I saw on her Get Crafty with Children section. He loved it!

Best post by fellow blogger? Ha! this one made mami laugh out loud "Google yourself and you shall find" is a post by Nordica In London about Googling her blog name and coming up with a very different result than expected. Check out her post to see what its all about.

A Blog with Substance goes to: RedTedArt

Christmas, Chris-t-mas?

Mami and Chef Phil Vickery

I don't know how mami spends her days. She takes the train after leaving me at nursery, but after that I have no idea how she fills her time. I have heard her talk about her "office" and "work". But that is as much as I know.

So when she came home last week talking about seeing new toys and food for something named Aldi, I was even more confused than before.

"There was a room full of delicious food and chocolates and fun toys in another!" She told daddy.
I perked up from my high chair. "Toys?" I thought.

"It was Christmas in July" she exclaimed 

"Aldi has a whole range of toys, I had no idea they had anything other than food at their stores. Remember Aldi stores from Spain?"  She asked daddy and emphasising the word Spain  (I don't know what that is either) but daddy just thought for a moment and said,

"Oh yes. They have toys there?"

"Yes! That's the German store. I had forgotten they had them in the UK. They have amazing prices" said mami.

"They had a display of all products that will be out for Christmas".

"Christ-mas, Chris -t -mas" I thought slowly. I know that word. How do I know that word?

"So what else did they have?" asked daddy.

"Hold on!" said mami and she ran out of the kitchen into the living room. She came back with a white bag and began taking out chocolates and cookies.

"Yummy!" I thought and pointed for a piece. "No Little M, you finish your dinner"

Daddy looked at her and said "well, this isn't very good for your diet" Mami just snorted at him, took the chocolates out of his hand and put them into the fridge. I could tell she couldn't wait to eat them! I can't blame her because I want some too!

Changing the subject quickly she said "well, the best part of all is that I got to meet with Phil Vickery!"

Daddy stopped stirring the sauce and looked at mami wide eyed "You did? How? What's he like?" he asked excitedly.

"Well" said mami slowly, "He's a really nice guy. Very funny, big advocate for getting kids cooking.  He's been working with Aldi stores for 2 years now."

"So that's what Aldi is, a store" Got it.

"Oh, really?" said daddy "Wow! I had no idea"

"Oh yeah, he's got an online school called Phil's Cooking Academy that helps kids learn to cook from scratch. Something I want Little M to learn when he's older".

"Sure! I've seen daddy cook and I want to help too" I shouted out. Mami looked at me, wiped away some sauce from my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

"So, did he give you any advice?" asked daddy

"Of course!" Said mami and read off a list of tips that Phil recommend for all mamas:

• Bulk cook so that you can freeze 2/3 of it for another day - Daddy smiled because he does this already.
• Keep your meals simple and have balance of sweet, fruit, veg, meats - Mami smiled this time because she cooks very very simple. Daddy rolled his eyes.
• Fast-food does not mean junk food. He says you can have healthy packaged or frozen food that is fast and easy to make but that does not mean its "junk"  - No reaction. Guess they both agreed.
• Kids should be introduced to a variety of foods early enough so that they are open to try it all later on. He said it is something called "flavour profiles" - Daddy perked up and said "its like muscle memory, the mind doesn't forget"

"Don't forget meeee" I thought. And I threw some mashed potatoes at mami to get her attention. She turned to me and said, "Okay mi amor, lets get you in the bath".

I still need to figure out what this Christmas business is all about and how it involves toys.

At least I learned that Aldi has "great value" for money as mami says, a yummy range of fresh and frozen foods, and Phil Vickery on their side!

Hot hot hot!

I've been very sticky and wet lately. I have never felt like this before. I feel warm all over just like when I was sick a few months ago - but I feel fine.

I hear mami and daddy say "hace calor/its hot" and that now it is "verano/summer time". There is a lot more light and sun than I remember and on some days its so hot that mami doesn't even dress me - and that never happens!

Mami says she want to eat my toes - I hope she doesn't!

I'm going to be 18 months soon, so I would have had a summer before, but giving it another thought, last summer we went to Chile when it was hot - and it was cold there in July! Daddy said it was winter there when it is summer in the UK. 

So this is my first real summer - and I'm loving every moment!

Mami sometimes looks a little flustered and her cheeks get red. She is constantly folding up magazines or paper and waving it in front of her face. I once saw her pour water on the back of her head - silly mami.

I don't know why she doesn't just take off her top and shorts like me. It sure helps keep me cool!

Whatever mami and daddy say - I sure do love verano/summer!

I don't have to wear socks!
I can see my toes through my shoes :)
I like being able to feel the sand and sun on my legs
My shirts don't cover my arms
No jacket to put on before going out - I don't like them at all!
I can drink as much juice and water as I want
I get a bath, every single night!
We go to the park 3 times a day
I get to eat with no shirt on
I get to splash aournd at the paddling pool
Ice cream! Mami gives me an ice lolly on our way home from the park - yummy!
Abuelita comes to visit - that is the best part of all!

Summer is great - I wish it could stay like this all the time!

Something for all mamas

Remember when I said someone named abuelita / grandma showed up in my room one morning? Well, I have now remembered who she is – she is mami’s mami! Tonight, after putting me to bed, I heard mami say to abuelita that she had a special “girls only treat” and that “she needed to relax”.
Turns out, the nice people at Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques sent mami some sort of creams for her face.Luckily I was drifting off to sleep when they were trying it out, but daddy said they were covered in it!

Abuelita used the Apricot Scurb and mami the Strawberry Souffle

I couldn’t believe it – this is just what mami needed! After all she is always saying how tired she is, and how much she needs a break. I’m just a boy, so I don’t know the fine details but she did explain to me how the process worked so that I could tell you on the blog.

First, mami cleaned her face, and then opened up the yummy smelling mask – she decided to use the Strawberry Souffle in honour of Wimbledon. Since she can’t go, this is as close as she is going to get! Then she smoothed the cream all over her face and she and abuelita relaxed on the sofa with a glass of vino.

I wish I could have gotten my hands on that cream!

According to daddy, after about 20 minutes and lots of laughing – which I could hear them all the way from my room, but I was just too tired to join in, mami and abuelita went to wash off the cream. I think she may have used my washcloth because it smelled very fruity – and that’s not my style!

Smoothing it on - doesn't she look so funny?

 

Mami said her face felt smooth and refreshed - especially since it’s been so hot lately! And mami has sensitive skin, but the masks are gentle and don’t make her face itchy.

Mami and abuelita relaxing on the sofa. She never lets me put my feet up!

The best part about using Montagne Jeunesse is that they are easy to spread, freshens up your face and they are only 99p each! That was definitely the part that mami liked the most.

Washing her face

She said it was a “sweet deal” and recommends it to all mamas looking for a relaxing evening, or just a pick me up during our afternoon nap! Since I wasn’t up to see mami applying her mask, I asked daddy to step in and take some pictures for me. I think he did a great job, don’t you?

Now for the important stuff! Where can you get Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks?

Happy and relaxed mami. She said her face felt very smooth

Mami said they sell them in many many places such as: Amazon.co.uk, Asda, Boots, Blackledge, Claires Accessories, Co-op Pharmacies, Ethel Astin, Home Bargains, Holland & Barrett, Morrisons, New Look, Paul Murray, Peacocks, Sainsburys, Savers, Somerfield, Superdrug, Tesco, T J Morris, Wilkinsons, W Boyes & Co Ltd. You should also visit their colourful site at: http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/

I haven’t heard of all of these places, but maybe you have. Either way, they are available in lots of shops!

WIN!  Thank you for entering, competition is now closed.

That's the best part! Mami and I have some to giveaway! All you have to do is follow my blog, or mami on twitter @verybusymama and leave a comment saying that you have and what your favourite way to relax is.

Five lucky winners will receive 3 different masks to try! Enter and tell your friends!

The competition closes on Wednesday 7 of June at 5pm. (UK only)

¡Buena suerte!