Another Mum Blog

Mmmm, macarons.

It’s French Week at Lidl and the retailer is selling a pack of 12 for £2.99.

They come in raspberry, chocolate, pistachio and coffee flavours.

They look delish.

It’s Pancake Day tomorrow.

But can you remember the ingredients?

Here they are, in the very simplest format known to man.

100g plain flour 2 eggs 300ml milk

(12 pancakes)

And here’s what to do:

1. Whisk mixture in bowl

2. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and pour a thin layer of mixture into it

3. Cook for one minute on each side, or until golden

Fancy a mac for Spring showers?

Look no further, we have it covered...and all at a price that won’t have you running for cover.

1. It’s nautical chic at  Asda’s George. But you best hurry if you want to get your hands on one - at an unbelievable £15 (down from £28) they’re selling out fast.

2. Love this F&F yellow mac - so much so I snapped one up myself. Waxed and available in a range of colours, it’s also a snip at £35.

I LOVE this idea.

As a result of Jamie Oliver’s campaign for supermarkets to reduce waste, Asda has launched a Wonky Veg Box.

It includes enough seasonal produce to feed a family of four for a week - for just £3.50!

A spokesperson for the chain said: “The exclusive wonky veg boxes are packed with peculiar potatoes, crooked carrots and curved cucumbers which are all in season, as well as knobbly peppers, cabbages, onions, leeks and parsnips.”

Click the link within this story to see if you can get hold of a box at your local Asda.

A trip to Disneyland is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

But what if the budget doesn’t quite stretch to experiencing Disney overseas quite yet?

There are plenty of Disney events in the UK that you can experience with your little Mouseketeers to get that slice of Mickey magic.

So join Mickey and Co. for these five UK Disney escapades.

Mickey Matinee

Take your mini culture vultures to the theatre to see one of Disney’s current musical productions.

They include The Lion King at London’s Lyceum Theatre and Mary Poppins - currently on tour across the UK.

Cities included on the Mary Poppins tour include Bristol, London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

It will also visit Southampton, Norwich, Plymouth and Newcastle.

And - coming in May next year - Aladdin at London’s Prince Edward Theatre.

Ice Ice Baby

Disney on Ice is an institution in itself - and now to add to the magic is Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment, including all the hits from worldwide smash Frozen.

This month it visits Dublin and Sheffield and then London’s 02 Arena in December. You can book tickets here.

Just Cruisin’

Wow! This is the kind of ship Mousketeers will want to climb aboard.

The Disney Magic Cruise Line is setting sail on its British Isles tour in summer 2016 and there is something for everyone from a Deck Party to the Aqua Dunk - a three-story body slide.

There will also be live shows from Disney’s favourite characters.

It can carry around 2,700 passengers.

The cruise will be visiting Newcastle, Liverpool, Invergordon, Kirkwall, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and Dover.

See here for more details.

Let it Go!

Sing-a-Long-a Frozen has been gaining an army of fans touring far and wide across the UK with its magical mixture of song, fun and familiar faces..

The show features a full screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along with Anna and Elsa during the film.

It’s introduced by a live host with the help of the Singalonga Princesses who show you how to use your free prop bag, warm up your singing voices and teach you some hand actions and heckles before you sit back and Let it Go. Visiting hundreds of locations across the UK.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

As well as stocking up on all your Disney goodies - a trip to one of the UK’s many Disney Stores can also bring the Mickey magic to life with in store events.

It's certainly scary in our house at the moment.

We're knee deep in snot and I certainly look a fright with eye bags down to my chin thanks to midnight Calpol runs.

Thankfully my little monsters were cheered right up with the delivery of a box of Halloween goodies from Asda for us to road test.

In our box of wicked delights was a spooky spider jelly sweet, a skull place mat for serving naughty nibbles and a cute hanging ghost amongst other bits and bobs. Colds were all but forgotten.

Our favourite was this Tinsel Ghost - a thrifty £2.

                         Our mistake of Halloweens past is not stocking up on goodies in good time - and being left with not a lot on the shelves.

How cute are these tees (and Harriet of course...)?

Ethical, organic, fairly traded - but above all comfy cotton and cute designs. 

Anything not doused in nasty chemicals is a huge plus for me. I'm no eco-warrior but by choosing WWF's Animal Tails range of clothing you know you're ticking so many environmentally friendly boxes.

This seahorse design is £13. It's super soft and made from organic and fairly traded cotton. A reminder that all species of seahorse are in danger through over fishing. 

I've invented a new game! (Possibly).

It kept George entertained for hours - and for a three-year-old that's no mean feat.

It's ideal for summer outdoorsy parties and i'll definitely be keeping it in mind as the weather hots up.

You will need:

* Water guns (one for each player). We used this one, £1, from Tesco.

* A bubble machine. This one is £5, again from Tesco.

* Loads of washing up liquid/ bubble mixture

* Someone to keep score

Load up the bubble machine and aim it so that the bubbles fly over the garden/ open space.

Fill the water guns, arm each child with one and the player who can pop the most bubbles with their aim wins. Easy.

There can be as many or as few players as you like. Younger ones may just enjoy playing on their own, like George.

Love this. It's so cute and perfect for Easter parties.

With Peter pan collar and polka dots your princess will also be on-trend for spring.

I'd pair with white textured tights.

£6 from Primark.

Hitting the right note with maternity fashions can be tricky - and weddings with a bump can pose a style panic.

I love this dress, £40, from ASOS. It comes in a mouthwatering selection of pretty pastels and features one of the season's key looks: lace.

Also a sure winner for a summer baby shower.

Be quick though - I can't imagine them sticking around for long.

As far as bibs go these Funky Giraffe ones are pretty cool. I reckon if SJP designed dribble-moppers they'd almost certainly look like these:

Here's my little girl Hattie rocking one:

When it comes to bibs though, it's probably the thing you want to splash the least cash on...

The 'bandana bibs' are £4 each - but the more you buy the more you save. So five would cost £11 (£2.20 each) and 10 £20.50 (£2.05 each). And after an order 10 they are £1.90 each.

I may be tempted to stock up so I always have a stylish but practical baby present in the house for newborns.

The quality is fantastic. The design is printed onto cotton, they have a snug fleecy backing and two sets of nickel-free poppers to the rear so babies of all ages are catered for.

The selection of prints available is fantastic. Take a look here. I'm a convert.  

It's bloody miserable outside today. But there is a way to lift the gloom. Look at the latest coats from Joules luscious kidswear range. Just wish they did them in my size.

1. Baby Girls Quilted Pram Suit, Pink, £37.95. 

Sizes: 0 - 12 months

 2. Girls Hooded Raincoat, Praline Garden, from £49.95.

Sizes: 3-12 years

3. Girls Hooded Raincoat, Candy Pink Pony Print, from £49.95.

Sizes 3 - 12 years

4. Boys Hooded Jacket, Marine Navy, from £49,50.

Sizes: 3 - 12 years

And, as always, we have a great discount for you - £10 off when you spend over £50 at Joules online. It even applies on top of current sale prices. Just enter the code BOOTS13.

I lied. It's get fit for 99p actually. And it's an absolute revelation.

No poncey gyms. No embarrassing fitness classes. No red-faced jogging.

The answer? My new pedometer. 

A pedometer counts how many steps you do in a day. You simply clip it to your waist and you're good to go.

So far I'm falling into the just above average bracket, which is between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day.

The aim is 10,000 steps a day. If you reach this golden goal it will have a significant impact on your health - which is what we're all after, isn't it?

And the best bit is that you can step to it at every spare minute, fitting it in and around your average day.

I have a new spring in my step knowing that all my running around is for a good cause.

The benefits?

* It can help weight loss

* It tones your legs, bum and tum

* ...and your arms

* It strengthens your heart

* It lowers risk of disease including diabetes, asthma and some cancers

* It can help prevent dementia

* It can help prevent osteoporosis

* It can boost your energy

* ...and your mood

And there are hundreds more reasons to walk it out that I'm hoping to soon discover.

A tea towel on the head and dressing gown cord around the waist. How things change.

If you're running low on creativity - or are a bit rubbish at sewing - then Asda has the answer for this year's nativity... at £8 a costume. 

Tesco is also in on the nativity action. Their outfits are 50% off at the mo. A cracking £5 for the Mary costume and £3 for the star. Bargains.

  And let's not forget Sainsbury's. Sometimes a bit posh and pricey I find, but they've come up trumps with the nativity wear this year. £10 for the king and £11 for the sheep.

Christmas fashions fill me with dread. Why retailers think we like glitter-laden Lycra is beyond me.

Thankfully Matalan has stepped up to the plate this year. I adore the Abbey Clancy range.

This Abbey Clancy Space Dye Midi Dress, £20, is my choice for the office party. Use this code for 20% off: XFF520 (and 30% off if you spend over £50).

Start a tradition and kit yourselves out in Christmas jumpers on the big day.

Here is my bargain-busting round up.

1. Festive Christmas Jumper, £3, ikrush

The best Christmas jumper deal around. As part of ikrush's 12 Days of Christmas offer, on December 10 you can bag this top for just £3! Mark it on your calendar now.

2. Father Christmas Sweatshirt, £32, Cath Kidston 

Cath Kidston quality but at a fair price. Don't forget to get your 20% discount code from yesterday's blog post, which would bring the price down to £25.60.

3. 3D Christmas Pudding Jumper, £14, Asda

George at Asda has a fantastic selection of festive winter warmers at fabulous prices. I like this one the best.

4. Maternity Grey Seasons Tweetings Robin Christmas Jumper, £17.99, New Look

One for the mums-to-be. You mightn't be able to enjoy a Christmas booze up but you can enjoy this sweet treat. And get a cool 20% by signing up to their store card here.

5. Women's Retro Skier Jumper, £12.80, Peacocks

This for me is the clincher. Retro cool. Made cooler still as it's been marked down from £16. 

There's a tradition in our household: Christmas Eve PJs.

Santa is not allowed to see you in shabby PJs when he comes a-visiting. 

I love these from Cath Kidston. 

Yes they're a tad pricey, but in my experience quality nightwear does last the distance. And with this special 20% discount they work out at a more thrifty £40. Use the code BBY13 at the checkout. There is also a special £1.80 delivery offer if you order today.