I tried it! Maclaren Triumph

Okay, so you remember back in July when my pushchair broke down and a certain company wouldn't replace it? Yes, that's the one! Mami and daddy where not very happy and really it just caused a great inconvenience to everyone involved.

However, a great opportunity came from Maclaren when I was offered to test out their Triumph pushchair.

Who are Maclaren you ask?
They are a premier British parenting lifestyle company that produces the worlds most safe, durable, innovative, and stylish baby buggies, strollers and pushchairs. And let me just say, daddy agrees with everyone single word!

I climbed right in - couldn't wait to test it out!

First impressions
You should have seen the look on mami and daddy's face when it arrived. They could not stop "ooh-ing and ahhh-ing". Daddy had selected the red one for "safety" reasons and because it is easier to spot. Daddy is very smart you know.

Mami immediately checked out the wheels to see how sturdy they were (this is where we had problems with the last one). They seemed to meet her approval and she smiled.

We took it out for a spin and it was the smoothest ride I have ever had in a buggy!

I think mami and daddy knew that they should have purchased a Maclaren in the first place. They had been trying to save a bit of money and decided for the less expensive option. But like daddy says "you get what you pay for". When in fact it is not that much more, especially when you consider how much we use it.

Why we love it
For us the Maclaren Triumph is just perfect! We do not have a car so we rely on a top quality pushchair to get all around the city.

Mami takes me to nursery and it is easy to fold up and put away. When we go out on weekends daddy can just take me up the stairs at the tube station, it is easy to get on and off the train and doesn't take up much room on the bus (we have had MAJOR issues with making space on the bus). It is also waterproof and the seat cover can be washed - good thing because I have already made a mess!

Hey! I'm a city boy - I need to travel light and in style

Daddy said the wheels swivel perfectly, the handles are very comfortable and no major effort is required to push like the other one.

Doesn't get in anyone's way - even on the escalators

 No need for mami to lift the front to get on the tube

Perfect fit on a London bus

Oh! And another reason mami loves Maclaren is for their newest  Stroll back to Shape campaign with Pushy Mothers  (mami loves anything to do with  fitness!) They are helping get mamas get back shape by using their buggies.

Even though mami has been doing more running lately, she loves this because we did buggy fitness for a long time. I remember going up and down and up and down Primrose Hill when I was just a baby. You can't say she didn't try!

What I say
I can get in and out on my own (yesssss) and  I can push it at the park. I do have to admit, that 5 point harness starp is pretty good. I can't seem to get out of these like I could with the other one. So an A+ is well deserved.

Strapped in tight -  I'm not going anywhere!

Mami and daddy's final say
They should have never purchased anything other than a Maclaren. They had always known they were good buggies, but now they are complete "converts". And just as importantly Maclaren offers a Sovereign Lifetime Warranty which shows their confidence in their own products. Unlike our last one that only had a 6 month warranty, this is no "disposible" buggy.

Bye bye

Say a little prayer

Mami and I walked over to the post office to pick up a package. I love it when she takes me out without the pushchair. The only rule is I must hold her hand. And I do. Very, very tight.

After I handed the man the red card with our package information he brought back a big brown pack.

We then turned to go home but went via the high street instead of the way we came.

We rounded the corner and looked at the houses displayed in the glass window. Then I peeked into the nail salon and the ladies waved at me. Then came the flower shop and the travel store. I always like going up to the windows to get a better look.

We carried on until we reached a big building with big brown doors and lots of steps. I pulled mami's hand to go in and she looked up at the building and followed my lead.

I had been in there before, with abuelita. It was quiet and empty. Mami dipped her finger in a water bowl and touched her forehead, then chest, then one shoulder then the other. She then dipped her finger in the water again and did the same to me. I just stood still and watched her.

We sat down on a brown wooden bench and mami got on her knees. Up at the front were more steps, a large table with a yellow cover and above that a big cross. She smiled at me, put her hands together and closed her eyes. I could see her lips moving but I couldn't hear her. I sat very quietly turning the pages of a green book. It didn't have any pictures, just lots of small words on every page.

I called out to mami and my voice sounded very loud! I did it again and mami said "shhh". It was so cool!

We then walked over to an area with candles and mami lit one. She held me in her arms and I stayed very calm. I looked up and there was a man looking at us. He wasn't really real, but he looked real and his hands were reaching out to us.

Mami whispered "ahí está Jesús/There is Jesus" and I reached out my hand like he was doing to us.

Mami had tears in her eyes, but she looked happy at the same time. She touched her forehead, chest and shoulders again and we quietly left through the big brown doors.

We got outside and she kissed my forehead and said, "gracias mi amor". She was smiling and the tears had dried.

I knew she would like going in there. Abuelita always looked happy after visiting, and so did mami.

Mami tried it! Lubatti Dreamy Night Cream

Clearly I am not the expert when it comes to the stuff mami puts on her face. The only creams I know are nappy creams and that slimy baby cream mami sometimes rubs on my arms and legs. Yuck! I don't like it at all!

So when Lubatti contacted me about mami trying out some of their products, I thought "Why not? Mami deserves it and she loves that stuff".

And she really does. I have seen first hand how she paints her face in the mornings and although I am asleep at night, daddy has told me all about her night time "routine".

It involves taking off the colours from her face and lots of cream! Come to think of it, I have never seen daddy do any of this, so I won't either.

I sat down with mami and she told me what she thought about the Lubatti Mango and Avocado Dreamy Night Cream  (two of my favourite foods by the way!)

Hola mami! Tell my readers a little bit about Lubatti Skincare

Hola mi amor. Well, Lubatti Skincare Collection is an exclusive range of luxury skincare products by Tracey Malone, who is Jo Malone's sister. You may not understand it all, but don't worry, all your mummy friends will!

What stuff have you been putting on your face?

The "stuff" you refer to is the Mango and Avocado Dreamy Night Cream. And let me just say, it really is dreamy. It makes your face feel soft and silky and gives it a tighter feel. Very important!

How is it different from the other stuff you use?
Well, for starters it is good for all skin types. I have sensitive skin and it has not irritated or made it itcty. Secondly, it is a thick but smooth moisturiser - many other creams tend to stay on surface of the skin and dry too quickly.

What are the special ingredients?
It has avocado oil which is naturally high in vitamins and helps soften your skin. Then there is mango fruit juice which has lots of vitamins and will leave the skin soft and silky smooth. And shea butter, which is also an excellent moisturiser for the skin. I know this may sound yummy, but you can't eat this cream.

Anything else you want mums to know?
It is priced higher than your average moisturiser, but that is because it is a luxury item. Everyone needs a little luxury in their lives and this one is just perfect! I love how smooth my skin feels and the smell is not overpowering like other lotions and creams. It is very subtle and delicate - it is just right.

What do you recommend then?
I suggest mamas add Lubatti to their Birthday and Christmas list. They definitely won't be sorry, and there is an entire range of luxurious skincare and gift sets. It really does make you feel like a VIP Mama! I have some other products I am using too, but I will tell you more about them next week.

So there you have it, mami and her creams. Her face really does smell nice - I should know she is always smothering me in kisses!

I will be back next week when we talk Sparkling Eye Gel. This should be interesting!

Daddy day!

Yesterday was a special because daddy was home with me all day long! Just the two of us. No mami anywhere in sight.

Mami  had woken up very early and left to take a train. She had a very important meeting with some of my blogging friends. She, along with @cosmicgirlie @pippaD @and1moremeans5 @himupnorth spent the day at the Asda offices in Leeds getting to know the team and eating yummy food.

Funny, but there were a lot of pictures and mentions of sausages on twitter (I followed her tweets to check in on her). Looks like she had a fun day. Hmmm? Not bad, not bad at all.
And here I thought meetings were boring because that's what mami says about the ones at her work. Oh well. But I will tell you more about Asda later!

Anyways, it was daddy and me day! I had heard him tell mami the night before "I am really looking forward to spending the entire day with him."

Daddy Day!

Me too! We played with blocks, then he put me in the special buggy and we went for run (always a personal favourite). Then after my sleep we went to Kew Gardens. We played in the dirt and picked red berries off of the trees. So cool. Daddy is a great picker.

I told him how much I love him and how I like to spend time with him. I miss him when he is not here. I wish daddy would stay with me again. I love mami too, but daddy is the best ever!

See the picture we sent mami? That was so she wouldn't forget about us.

I wish I could spend everyday with daddy.

Gone Bananas!

Lunch time again!

Mami sat me in my high chair and fork in hand I started poking at the chicken and tomato bits on my plate. I had a few bites, mami cheering me on for being so good with the fork and she turned to get my juice cup.

To tell you the truth, I just wasn't in the mood to eat. Some days I'm just not hungry. Mami doesn't get it and there she was trying to get me to eat.

"No no no no no" I yelled out shooing her away and moving my head to the side. I closed my mouth really tight and shook my head "NO".

"Okay, fine. But drink your juice" and she took the plate away.
She looked at me again, I could tell she really wanted to feed me. I just stared back and pulled off my bib. I threw it on the floor and waited for her to get me out.

"You have to eat something. We are going out now" and then she gave me a banana.

"Well, well" I thought. "Now we're talking!" and I grabbed it from her.

She smiled and said "muy bien/ very good" and stepped out of the kitchen and went to the computer. AGAIN.

I just sat and ate quietly. She kept staring at the screen.

Then I took a piece of banana and mashed it up. Still not looking.

I smeared it all over the side counter. Over her head.

I then rubbed it in my hair. She didn't have a clue.

So I put another piece, then another and then rest of the banana pieces in my hair. NOTHING.

Daddy walked in and said "come here quick, and bring your camera"

Mami jumped up and looked at me in surprise "Little M, why did you do that?" and she and daddy burst into laughter.

Then she said "Oh no! Now I have to give him a bath. AGAIN"

I just looked at her and thought "Mami that's what you get. You should have paid more attention to me. Your playtime is later, not now!"

 
 
 

I tried it! Mr Colour Maker

 

A while back mami let me paint in the kitchen and I made an absolute mess!

She turned for one moment and I painted the floor, the cabinets and when she tried to take the brush away, I even painted her jeans! It was so much fun! Although, mami didn't think so.

So when I was offered to try out Mr Colour Maker paint bucket by Tomy, mami was very happy for some good clean fun!
I am only a year and a half and even though it is recommended for kids 2-5 years old, I enjoy seeing the bucket light up when I pour the different colours. I don't know it does it, but the entire bucket begins to glow and I use the magic wand to stir it all up. You can even mix colours to make new ones!

It took mami a few tries to understand how it worked, but daddy and I got it just fine.

He asks you to pour in red, blue and yellow, sings back to you and explains how to make more colours. Mami and daddy help me with this, because I am still working on learning my colours. Daddy thinks it is a clever little invention.

Mami's only concern is that the lid came off right away. It didn’t break off, it just comes off all the time. And without the lid Mr Colour Maker doesn’t work. So when I hid the lid and couldn’t remember where it was, I couldn’t mix the colours. Oh no!

But daddy thinks this is on for a reason – the lid is meant to come off so that it won’t break off. See?

It also sings the rainbow song and there are 3 different modes depending on how well you know your colours.

One night, mami came into my room to check on me and she tripped on Mr Colour Maker and it lit up and said “wake me up with some colour please”.

This scared her so much she yelled out and woke me up. He is sneaky! He goes quiet after not playing with him, but mami wishes there was a permanent off button.

Lid aside, mami, daddy and I really like  Mr Colour Maker and I give it two hands up! It makes a great gift and you can get it for £24.99 from Tomy, Argos and other toy shops in the UK.

I also use it to keep my dummies and the rocks that I find at the park.  So it serves as a storage too!

Now get painting!

Mami's very VERY long run

The long run

Mami always manages to get herself into trouble, and last Sunday daddy and I thought she had gotten lost on her group run! He kept going up to look out the window and was very close to putting me in the buggy to go and find her.

Early that morning, she had filled her new Swiggies, or Swigglets as daddy called them (they are water bottles that go on your wrists, so cool!) and she was gone.

Picture: ARUK

In the meantime Daddy and I went to the park. We played, had a snack, I had a nap and even after all that, mami was still not back. She was gone for a very VERY long time! And that’s why daddy and I were worried.

Eventually she came home and her face was really red, her hair was wet and she didn't smell very good.  Daddy helped her over to the sofa and she just fell over.

“How was the run?” daddy asked a bit scared.

Mami looked at him, and said “I ran with the group for exactly 10 minutes! Their definition of slow is not the same as mine! And it was much more than 6 miles!"

But I was proud of mami. Remember she is running the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge on behalf of Arthritis Research UK, so she can’t give up now. But daddy said this was the first time she was running more than 5 miles, so it was harder for her.

Her motivation for running: Arthritis Research UK


This week, mami and I learned about how juvenile idiopathic arthritis is diagnosed. Mami read that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is actually difficult to detect and there's no single test that can confirm the diagnosis.

Doctors base their diagnosis on what mamas and daddies tell them, what they find by examining little ones, and on tests they carry out to rule out other possible illnesses.

Usually they do blood test and even eye tests. Children with JIA have a higher chance of having inflammation to their eyes, and if a doctor doesn't help you, can lead to blindness. That means you can't see. We don't want that to happen to anyone.

So, mami had better keep running and raising funds.You can visit her Just Giving page to donate too!

Doing it all over again!

In other news, we are all going for a family run today. After mami’s long run by herself, she would rather go slow but in good company. Can’t wait because I love zooming down the hills!

Mami and I are going to do another post about the best running gear, including the Swiggies so come back for that!

Happy running!