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With the onset of the wintry weather, it would be great of the only thing us mums had to worry about was kitting out our little ones in warm clothes, putting up the Christmas tree and – constantly – replacing lost gloves.

Unfortunately as the temperature quickly dropped I was having to contend with my little girl’s dry skin which was driving her crazy and her constant complaints about having ‘itchy legs’.

On the look out for a solution I came across Dry Skin Baby Lotion by Green People’s Organic Babies, part of their No Scent Range. The fact that it doesn’t contain any chemicals or perfumes is a total bonus, and I have to admit that I’m one of these parents who appreciate organic products, believing there’s a better chance your little one won’t have any adverse reaction to the product.

Certified Organic, 100 per cent free of Parabens and Lanolin, with ingredients that help to soothe and moisturise your little one’s skin – Hemp Seed oil, Aloe Vera, Apricot oil and Marigold – I was almost sold before I’d tried it! But after using the product for a couple of weeks I would definitely recommend it. With a price tag of £9.45 for 150ml it’s not cheap, but luckily a little goes a long way, so I believe it’s worth the money. Plus I no longer have to listen to my daughter’s complaints about ‘itchy legs’!

www.greenpeople.co.uk

I’m going to try and to be a bit more prepared for the next school holiday and think about things to do with the kids in advance, and not just leave it to the night before!
I’m lucky to have discovered 5 Minute Fun who come up with simple – and enjoyable! – ideas to keep little fingers busy and most importantly allowing you to grab five minutes to yourself.

It was great to see both my toddler and nine year working together to make a fabulous owl from the goody bag they kindly gifted us!

I’ve spoken before about how difficult it is to get them to enjoy the same activity, so this was a Godsend.

And the activity cards (only £1.99 atm!) could keep the whole family occupied for ages doing little fun tasks, in the house or outside, which don’t involve any extra cash being spent.

Check them out ahead of the forthcoming Easter holidays!

www.5minutefun.com

With the start of the summer holidays, I don’t envy the working mum who has to somehow juggle full-time work with young children looking to be kept animated for seven days each week – luckily, with my little one still at the age of three I can find some comfort in the regular opening hours of the nursery!

And so, the launch of Tickety Toc’s very first toy range could not have come at a better time – and to top it off, taking place in the toy heaven that is Hamleys on Regent Street.

Tommy and Tallulah, stars of the show which screens on both Nick Jr and Channel 5’s Milkshake, were there in all their (bigger than) life-sized glory to greet the VIP testers, who included Denise Van Outen joined by husband Lee Mead and their daughter Betsy.

Other VIPs enjoying a day out with the family included Tamzin Outhwaite, John Sergeant, Laila Rouass, Lauren Crace, Charlie Condou, Shaun Dooley and Luisa Zissman.

The children were all smiles as they joined in with the activities and dancing led by Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenters Kemi and Olivia.

While the obvious point of conversation was the fact that Van Outen and Mead were pictured out together for the first time in months, helping to put to bed rumours of marriage problems – I took the opportunity to chat to TV presenter Kate Garraway and see if she had any tips about the joys of juggling.

Mum to Darcey, seven, and William, three, 45 year old Garraway gave a wry smile when I asked for her words of wisdom.

‘Like alot of parents out there these days I do rely on my own parents – their grandparents – who help to look after the children when I’m working, but when it comes to summer, everyone, even my parents want to take their holidays, so I’d definitely advise people to plan, so no-one gets left in the lurch’.

The Tickety Toc toy range is available from a range of retailers including Argos, Smyths and Amazon and include talking Tommy and Tallulahs, a Clockhouse playset, and a musical Pufferty train, with prices ranging from £6.99 to £30.

MY daughter is going through a major slime phase at the moment, so when we were invited to the Poopsie Slime Surprise VIP event, she could hardly contain her excitement!

Arriving at the brightly decorated London venue, she made a beeline for the slime-making table and proceeded to lose herself in the different varieties of slime being created. Meanwhile, I occupied myself by taking a picture on a giant toilet, lol.                                             

The day was was a chance for fans to try out new additions to the range including Cutie Tooties Surprise and Sparkly Critters – which rather pleasantly spit or ‘poop’ slime.

The mix of toilet humour with sparkles is a winning combination for the brand – my daughter’s favourite is the Cutie Tooties Surprise which is a giant glittery poo complete with different types of slime, for example, water, crunchy, bouncy, marshmallow….! In addition, you also get a mini collectable character inside.

Meanwhile, my toddler is yet to show any interest in the wonderful world of slime and instead spent the day captivated by the balloons!

How long before he joins the tribe of kids fascinated by unboxing toys? The countdown begins….