A perfect afternoon

Enjoying a lovely walk through Chiswick House Grounds with papi.

What a perfect afternoon!

Not so secret admirer

Other than your family and friends, do you know who reads your blog?

If you are like us then you have some idea with analytics telling you where people are viewing from, right down to what country, city, referring site, network domain, network location and even what type of computer and mobile device.

Pretty amazing, right?

Well given that information mixed with some common sense mami has figured out that a certain someone in her office has been keeping up with our blog and liking what I write.

Awww thanks.

They may not be our typical reader, but they check in on a regular basis, daily even. Nice!

I'm guessing they will never admit to it, and that's okay. The important thing is that we know that you are reading us.

So on this Friday morning mami and I are waving hello to you and to a few other not so secret admirers we have discovered.

Enjoy the weekend and make sure to check back on Monday.

Bye for now!

Thank you for NOT cutting my hair

I would like to take this moment to say gracias to mami for NOT cutting my hair again and instead taking me to papi's barber shop.

They did a much better job AND I got a lollipop.

Sorry mami!

Caca on demand?!

Lately I have been losing my patience.

When mami doesn't change my poopy nappy right away I just take it off myself. I don't like the mushy feeling and really, would YOU want to sit around on a big pile of poo? I don't think so.

I've given her plenty of warning. When I feel that I am going to do something, I loudly announced that I am doing caca.

Still, she just changes me and ignores the fact that I have pulled off my nappy 3 times in past week.

But this weekend she finally got it together and I have been spending lots of time on the special Ducky Potty that Fisher Price sent me, or the pelela as it's called in Spanish.

 There it is, my potty. Completely empty and clean

Problem is, every time mami sits me on it I don't have to go. Does she just expect me to poo on demand?!
I spent an hour running around without my nappy on Saturday morning and nada. Then again in the afternoon and nothing.

Papi was terrified that I was "going to do something" on their bed or on the carpet. Please papi, give me some credit!

Then at night we went out and... boom! Caca happened. Mami had been waiting for it all day, but she just wasn't lucky enough to have me sitting on the potty at the time.

Sorry mami! Better luck next time.

And so it continues. Mami has offered dulces or candy if I do caca, but I just haven't felt the need to.

I'll let you know if anything happens this week, I just really don't like being pressured.

Vitamin D fix

The GP told mami her Vitamin D levels were very low.

She didn't look very surprised, as a matter of fact she just laughed and said "Yes, along with the rest of the UK".

I didn't really know what she was talking about, but I think it has something to do with not getting enough sun.

Today the sky looks really blue, like water and the sun is really yellow and shiny. We were out of the house nice and early - not very usual for us.

My shades

Mami's serotonin levels must be way up because we ran around the park, had our morning snack and went shopping all before midday!

It's amazing what a little sunshine does to her. And me!

Mami and me catching some rays

Today was also the first day in a looooong time that I didn't have to keep my jacket on. I hope it stays this way because I want to wear shorts, I think those are cool.

I hope it's a beautiful day where you are, I'm sure all mami's could use a little sunshine.

Bye bye,

M is for....Mess!

Hola everyone!

innocent drinks officially named mami the Queen of M and I'm her King, of course!

I think they gave us M for obvious reasons...Little M and Mami

The challenge

Take a picture of the M magnet next to something starting with the same letter.

So, I went into my room and did just that...

Can you guess what the M is for?

M is for... Mess!

Do you see it?

There it is!


Want to take your own pictures?

Each pack of innocent smoothies come with 3 alphabet fridge magnets.

So get snapping and then upload them on the innocent kids website to that day’s letter and play to win daily prizes!

Cool huh?

We think so!

Your Queen and King of M

Mami's LA Getaway: Featuring Glee, Matthew Rhys and Dunder Mifflin

Mami and papi's big vacation to LA turned out to be better than they ever expected! Not that they thought it would be bad, but mami came home gushing about all the great things they got to do.

I didn't do too bad myself here with grandma and grandpa, I got to go to McDonald's and eat lots of chocolate!

Before leaving I heard her tell papi, "I would love to meet someone from The Office, Mad Men, Brothers and Sisters or Glee"  (these are all her favourite TV shows).

Papi just quietly smiled and shook his head. But I know he was thinking I was thinking - Okay mami, good luck with that!

But low and behold, her three of her wishes came true in one way or another:

1. She went on Glee and got to see where the show is filmed - sorry to tell you McKinley High School isn't real, and neither is Mr. Shue's apartment. It's all make-believe or a "set".

Who knew?

Mami in the McKinley High Auditorium

Mami in the Glee choir room!

2. She and papi drove by the Scranton Business Park where the office of Dundler Mifflen is located (but only from the outside)

Scranton Business Park - The Office

3. And lastly, on her way back from LA she ran into actor Matthew Rhys at LAX airport!

He is on the show Brothers and Sisters and mami didn't hesitate to go up to him and they talked for a little while. Papi said she got on the plane with a huge smile on her face.

Cheeeeeese! Mami with actor Matthew - papi didn't know who he was!

See, everyone likes meeting someone from TV, but mami absolutely loves watching good shows and good movies and is always wanting to know where everything is filmed, how it's done, and who the actors are. Mostly I think because she wishes she could have continued with her acting.

Maybe one day she will, you never know, right?

Well, now it's back to reality for all of us, no more waking up late and doing whatever we want. I just hope next time they take me on vacation.  I want to meet Handy Manny or Dora!

Who have you met or would like to meet?

First Aid Beauty to mami's rescue!

Mami's eyes look more and more tired each day. I know she is all over the place, but slow down mami! Take things easy, like me.

You know how much she likes creams and stuff for her face. Recently FAB, that’s First Aid Beauty has come to her rescue and sent her their range to try out.

Having sensitive skin (like me!) She likes that theses creams do not have perfume and feel natural. They are not made with harsh chemicals and they have an antioxidant booster.

Apparently it is the latest ‘must have’ range in the in United States and it launched here in the UK this month at Boots stores – there is even a waiting list!

The packaging is really nice and has a star in the middle (I recently learned that word and every time I can I repeat it for mami). 

Mami says they are top of the range products at affordable prices!

As always, we want others to get a chance to try it out too – so mami and I have 5 Ultra repair creams for you to win!

All you have to do is:

1. Like FAB on Facebook – They want more people to know about them in the UK

2. Leave us a comment saying, “I want to be FAB” and the best way to contact you

3. Follow our blog on Google Connect

For an extra entry you can tweet:  
I want to win FAB repair cream with Little M and @verybusymama (5 chances!)  
http://ow.ly/4fEgx

One entry per person 

UK only

Closes Wednesday 30th March at 8.00pm

My grandma and grandpa are visiting from the US next week, so I may be tied up showing them the ropes. 

Good luck to everyone!

Mami at Crufts!

I can't believe mami did not take me to Crufts, the biggest dog in the world! I mean, I LOVE DOGS!

But she did explain that it was for work and that we could go another time. Okay, mami, I won't forget that promise!

But I did get over it pretty quick when I realised it would just be me and papi all day long. I love spending time with him - he lets me do almost anything I want.

Mami doesn't know that, but it's true.

Anyway, mami was at the NEC Birmingham and she got to meet some great bloggers who had been invited for a fun day out - Roz from Kin Hodgkins, Fi from Childcare is Fun, Liz from Me and My Shadow and Louise from Rock and Roll Baby World.

 Roz, Louise, Fi, Liz and mami 

I was hoping she would come home with a doggy, but all she came home with was a pen and sore feet. 

No fun!

Make Mine Milk Challenge!

Ever since mami met the Make Mine Milk team a few months ago, she has been drinking more milk (remember our milk tashes?!)

It's true!

Especially now that she is training for the London marathon, she has been having milk after her long runs and realising that milk is also a good snack during the day.

And to prove she drinks the white stuff we have taken the Make Mine Milk challenge!



I spilled it on my favourite dinosaur t-shirt and it was too cold for mami's sensitive teeth.

She was trying to beat Justin Bieber's time, but that didn't happen!

Total time: 48 seconds

Are you going to take the challenge?!

Ouch!!

Guess what? After hurting my finger yesterday at nursery my teacher put a band-aid (or plaster as she calls it) on my finger!

I've never had to wear one of these, but she put it over my cut and it stayed in place. I walked around very carefully making sure my band-aid and finger didn't touch anything. I didn't want it to fall off.

When mami came to pick me up, I walked right over to her and showed her my band-aid and said "cool" (that's a new word I learned recently).

Later, when papi got home I ran to the door and showed him my finger. And because I wanted to be cuddled, especially after cutting my finger, I asked daddy to give me my milk just like a baby.

Hey, sometimes you just want that extra attention. I mean, mami does it all the time!

Coffee anyone??

Mami loves coffee. I mean, really loves coffee.

I have a feeling she likes it as much as I like milk.

I've never tried the drink but I know her mornings are not complete unless she has a cup and then has a few more throughout the day.

I can't blame her, we all have something we can't live without. For me its my milk and tete (dummy) and for mami it's her coffee and iPhone.

Well, someone must be keeping close tabs on us, because the coffee people Douwe Egberts sent mami their new ground coffee product Douwe Egberts Aromettes that launched yesterday exclusively at Tesco.

What makes them different is that they are individually pressed servings of ground coffee. They have been compressed into the shape of a coffee bean and have the taste and aroma locked in. You can use one aromette for each cup of coffee.

Easy!

You can use it in a filter coffee machine like we have or in the cafetiere, which we also have.

There are two different kind : Smooth (that's number 3) and Intense (number 5).

Mami went straight for the number 5 - Intense.

She even has a cup of coffee before going for a run to give her "an extra boost".

Now you can try these too!

One lucky winner will win two tins of Douwe Egberts Aromettes AND a £50 voucher to Tesco (that's where they are sold)

So what are you waiting for? I know how much all of you mamas love your coffee!

Here's what you have to do:

Follow @DouweEgbertsUK on twitter

Follow our blog or mami on twitter (take your pick) @verybusymama

Leave us a comment saying "Show me the coffee!" and how best to contact you

For an extra entry you can tweet:

Show me the coffee! I want to win Aromettes and £50 Tesco voucher with @verybusymama and @DouweEgbertsUK  http://ow.ly/3WFrM

One entry per person

UK only

Ends Tuesday 1st of March
Winner chosen at random based on entry requirements

Prize sent out within 30 days

Buena suerte!

I'm just like mami!

I don't know why people still think mami is my nanny.

I mean we are so alike!

And what mami feels, I feel.

When she laughs, I laugh.

When she is upset, I get upset too.

When she hugs and kisses me, I give her a hug and kiss too (well, sometimes)

Don't believe me? Check look at the pictures!

Happy LOVE day mami.

Te quiero mucho!

P.S. that's a dinosaur on my face!

Mami and Dove Visible Effects

Holaaaaaa! It's been a week or of non-stop action.

Nursery is getting serious now, gone are the good old days of running around and playing with toys.

Now I actually have to pay attention.

I have to count to 10, learn colours, learn different shapes and repeat new words. They are even trying to teach me something called French. It can be overwhelming you know.

And mami, well, she says she is "all over the place" with work and well, mostly work. Oh, and training for the London marathon, running makes her extra tired.

Anyway, I'm here now and mami has asked me to do a special giveaway for all you mamas out there.

Dove sent mami their new visible effects body lotion and hand cream to try out. I'm sure that if I have dry skin during the winter, that grown ups do too.

It's a new formula that provides "supreme moisture" because it works and nourishes every layer of your skin and making your skin look really nice.

Mami has been using it a lot on her legs and elbows because she says those areas are the most dry. Just like me! (but I have my own lotions)

So far so good and it smells good too!

Mami likes it and since we like to share what we like, Dove has given us both the body lotion and the hand cream to give to one lucky winner - and it's really easy to enter.

This is what you have to do:

1. Give Dove a like on their Facebook page

2. Leave us a comment saying you have done so and a quick hello!

And if you want an extra entry you can tweet:

Say NO to dry skin! Win Dove Visible Effects with @verybusymama and Little M http://bit.ly/hHPJRk

(you will have to leave me a comment to tell me you have tweeted)

And that's it!

One entry per person

UK only

Ends Friday 25th February 8.00pm

Winner selected at random if No 1 & 2 are complete

And of course, buena suerte!

You cheered us up!

Some days are harder than others, you know the pressure of going to nursery, having to play all day, sing the loudest, dance the best. You get the idea.

And for mami too, being tired, having lots of work and all those grown up problems she seems to talk about.

But then the smallest gestures of kindness from others can cheer you right up!

1st thing that cheered us up

A few days before turning two, I got a card from "a fan". Yes, really that's how she signed the card. Well, I know her, she's Diane, mami's friend, a Style and Arbonne consultant, but still it made us laugh. She sent me card wishing me a happy birthday, now how cool is that?

Thank you Diane you really cheered me up!

2nd thing that cheered us up

Antonella from Living Abroad always stops by my blog to say hi and to see what mami and I are up to. She also knew it was my birthday and a few days later I got some very special gifts from her.

Antonella, you really cheered mami and me up and we are so grateful that you thought of us. We hope we can meet you in person some day.

Besos!

3rd thing that cheered us up

After losing the tops to mami's swiggies, you know, the water bottles that strap to your wrists, Louise from Swiggies UK not only sent her a new pair, but I got my very own kid sized swiggies! Hers are purple and mine are green.

Very, very cool!

4th thing that cheered us up

In one day we received a big box with yummy cupcakes and special honey from Rowse Honey AND a pint glass from Make Mine Milk to take the milk challenge. I tell you, the fastest way to a bloggers heart really is through their tummies.

Thanks for thinking of us!

5th thing that cheered mami up

However, the second way to mami's heart is through makeup and "girl things". So when the nice people at Montagne Jeunesse sent mami a love day, or "Valentine's" day package with a few goodies, including some fruit tasting lip gloss mami was beaming with happiness (and fruitiness).

Thanks for cheering her up - she needed a pick me up.

And the final thing that REALLY cheered us up

Now this one really took us by surprise, the girls at Azaria PR sent mami and I...wait for it...a Bloggy Brilliant Award in the form of a cookie! Not only do they like my blog but I can eat my award too! It really doesn't get any better than this.

But before I eat it, I took a picture to remember it.

That's me with my cookie award!

I hope it tastes as good as it looks. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the team at Azaria for thinking of mami and me.

You most certainly cheered us right up.

I'm off to take a nap now, but I'll be back soon!

We tried it! Batteries, a fryer and a book

Mami and I are very grateful when we are asked to review products. What we like the best is the different variety of things we get to test out and then we get to tell you all about them.

And we sure have a variety for you this week: batteries, a fryer and a book!

So here we go!

Tefal ActiFry

We don't really make too many fried foods. Mostly because smell lingers in our small flat and because mami is afraid of the hot oil. So when Tefal, the makers of ActiFry offered for us to try their low fat "deep fat" fryer, mami thought, "why not? It's got a top"

Mami and papi decided to make seafood empanadas, a Chilean like pasty. Normally you would have to fry them in a pan of oil, but with the ActiFry all you need is one spoonful of oil!

No mess. Easy to use and yummy golden empanadas

The fryer has a see through lid and it prevents any hot oil jumping up at you. There is a paddle that stirs the food so that is doesn't burn and to coat the outside of the pastry.

It can be used to fry chips, potato wedges, sausages, or even stir fries and many other recipes.

But our empanadas came out golden! Really! They were gently toasted, cooked all the way through and didn't have that heavy oily taste that fried foods can have.

Mami and papi are genuinely impressed. They normally don't buy too many kitchen appliances, but would recommend this fryer to busy families who want delicious low fat foods.

Papi says "Even easier than using the oven".

Mami says "Certainly worth investing in, especially for fast, healthy, great tasting meals"

Duracell Ultra Power Batteries

I wondered what had happened to all my toys. They suddenly all went quiet. I tried to turn them on and nothing would happen.

Turns out, the batteries had all run out and mami had never replaced them! She could have replaced them, but she just didn't like all the "noise" they made.

Sneaky mami!

It became clear when Duracell sent us a selection of their new Ultra Power batteries and papi put them into my toys.

Wow! They all lit up and I could now sing along with my tool bench, my choo-choo train moved on its own and my Dora the Explorer music box worked again! I'm not going to let the batteries run out ever again.

Besides, they have a little tester on the side, so I can see for myself how much power is left. But I have a feeling they will last a very long time.

Thank you Duracell for making my toys work again!


Ping and Pong

I love books. I also like to taste them too (sorry mami, I can't help it).

This month, one of mami's twitter friends Amy Trevaskus asked us if we wanted to review HER book Ping and Pong: Splash.

Can you believe it? She wrote the book. So cool!

I think it is for older kids, but mami reads it to me in parts. The pictures are very colourful and I like to look at the drawings.

Amy said another book about grandparents would be out soon. I can't wait for that one because I love my grandma and grandpa very much, I have four of them you know!

This book is all about a girl named Lucy who has two friends named Ping and Pong who live in a clock in her house. She takes them to the park in her pocket and they like to do what I like to do, splash!

My favourite line is "I love the rain and I love the park and I love PUDDLES!" Hey, just like me!

When mami reads me the book she pretends to splash around, but I know it's not for real (but it is very funny).

I give this book two hands up. Thanks Amy for letting us read this!


And that's all from us for today, let us know if you have tried any of these or want more details.

I know that mami has some other things she wants me to blog about, and possibly some giveaways too, so stay tuned.

Bye bye for now!

There's a mouse in our house!

I don't know what all the screaming and shouting was about.

We came home from nursery yesterday, mami turned on the lights and I ran into the living room like I do everyday.

Mami was talking to papi on the phone when suddenly she just started screaming "Ahhhhhhh, oh no, Little M, ven aqui, come here! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek! There is a mouse! Little M ven, ven" and she jumped on the sofa.

I had no idea what the fuss was about.

I thought "what is she yelling about now? I haven't done anything" and I just stood there staring at her. She looked different, almost crazy. I didn't want to move, I was happy were I was.

She kept saying there was a mouse. A mouse? I don't think I've ever seen one of those. She yelled at papi on the phone to "come home now. I'm leaving the house and not coming back until its gone!"

And so we put our jackets back on and hurried out the door. Mami was super jumpy and nervous and when a branch brushed her leg outside she squealed out loud! Geez, not again!

What was going on? This mouse business really scares mami.

We headed to our local Starbucks but had to leave because they were closing.

So we went to a better place....McDonald's! I had never been there before, but mami ordered a chicken sandwich for her and I had my very own FRIES! They were so delicious!

Thanks to that mouse, I got to have McDonald's!

I still haven't seen this mouse and I know it scares mami a lot, but if it means going to McDonald's again, then I don't have a problem with them!

But don't tell mami that.

P.S. this morning mami called "pest control" Does that mean no McDonald's for me??