Introducing the Jakayaan Balance Bike

I don't usually post about review items until we have given them a proper playing with, but I really couldn't wait to start telling you all about Lloyds Worcester and their fabulous Jakayaan Balance Bike!

Lloyds Worcester is a company based locally to me and run by Max. Max has designed and manufactured the balance bike so that children as young as 2 years old can learn to ride it! The bike frame is made out of solid Birch plywood and is solid but light for little ones to maneuver it. The seat can be adjusted over four settings according to your child's height and age, meaning that it can grow with them over time.

Leo has been incredibly lucky and has been sent the Jakayaan Balance Bike to review, I am writing this after he spent an entire hour this evening going up and down the drive on his shiny new wheels. His little face was an absolute picture when I brought it into the house to show him, he instantly got down off the sofa and came to sit on it. 

Max very kindly dropped the bike off personally at Granny's house today while I was at work, he had even taken the time to put the bike together so that Leo could hop straight on this evening! 

My first impressions of this bike is that it is AMAZING! 

The Jakayaan has foam handles for those moments when it takes a bump, Leo has demonstrated exactly why they are there this evening after a few little wobbles. Each time he has tumbled he has shouted 'crash' and 'ught oh' but has picked himself straight back up and got back on the bike again. It has 2 air wheels that handled the bumps in our drive like a dream and even comes with a Blue and Pink seat cover with the branded logo on. 

Leo did not get off that bike once (apart from when he tumbled of course) and had the most amazing time toddling up and down Granny's drive. He took to it straight away and even got a little bit faster towards the end. After just over an hour I struggled to get him to get in the car and come home with me for dinner! 

What Leo has really loved tonight it being able to play with his Aunt (12 years old) and go up and down the drive with her as she scoots on her scooter. He looked ever so proud of himself as he followed her around, and I think this is the start of many more playtime's like this one!

I have left the balance bike at Granny's tonight at Leo will be back there tomorrow while I am at work, and I get the distinct feeling that he will be wanting to play with it tomorrow! I hope Granny is ready to walk along side him all day as he rides his big boy bike.

This bike is recommended from 2 years on wards and Leo is not quite 2 yet (1 week and counting) and he is really getting the hang of it.

You can find Lloyds Worcester on their website and these super duper bikes retail at a very reasonable £52.99, and if you are in the United Kingdom you will also benefit from FREE delivery!

Make sure you pop by and say hello to Max on Twitter and give them a like on Facebook to keep up to date with all of their latest news.

I will be writing up a full review very soon (keep a look out for it!), but I just wanted to share this amazing bike with you. For now though I will let Leo do the talking....

Excuse Leo's nakedness... Granny thought it was a good idea to let him have an ice-cream before I came home...I assure you he was dressed when I handed him over this morning!

Disclaimer: I have been sent the Lloyds Worcester Jakayaan Balance Bike for review purposes, but this is my honest first impression. Full review coming soon.

See you at Brit Mums Live 2013!

This Friday I am heading to London for Brit Mums Live, I have had this weekend marked on my calendar since the beginning of the year and excited does not even begin to cover how much I have been looking forward to it.

It is a time where I can be let loose and talk everything blogging with people who get it, Luke often looks at me blankly as it all goes straight over his head. It is a whole weekend where I don’t have to wait until Leo is napping or in bed before I can let the geek in me out of the bag.

The conference kicks off on Friday afternoon and goes on for the whole of Saturday, there are a number of different workshops going on over the two days, so I am going to have to narrow down the ones that I feel that I will get the most out of.

This year I must make sure I take more notes so that I can look back on what was discussed in the sessions, l want to be able to use what I learn to take my blog to the next level.

I attended last year not knowing what to expect from a blogging conference, but I know this year that I will be coming away with fresh ideas going forward, and a rejuvenated passion for what I do. I am looking forward to putting names to the faces of other bloggers that I have been tweeting with over the past year, and also meeting new ones and discovering new blogs to add to my ‘must read list’.

There will be a number of brands at this years Brit Mums Live such as Panasonic and Butlins. Last year I was chosen as a Panasonic Intelligent Living Mum which was a real honour and a fantastic experience. This year I hope to schmooze with Butlins and apply to be a one of their ambassadors, I think Leo would absolutely love this now he is that little bit older.

I am really excited about this year’s Bloggers Key Notes and look forward to hearing some amazing bloggers recite their best work. Last year there wasn't a dry eye in the house through the laughter from Claire at Ministry of Mum and the most personal of posts from Hayley at Downs Side Up.

It was amazing hearing the author’s of the posts read them exactly as they were meant to be read. You can hear the feeling in their voice, the sentiment. You laugh with them and you cry with them and that is why the bloggers key note is my favourite part.

I am being sponsored to attend Brit Mums Live by the lovely people at Hilary’s Blinds, I am really grateful to them helping me out and sending me along to be with everyone this weekend.

You can find Hilary’s Blinds on their website, and you can also connect with them on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

For those of you attending Brit Mums I will see you on Friday!

The Birmingham Baby Show 2013

Last month I attended the Birmingham Baby Show, it was actually my third consecutive year running as I have been in attendance ever since I was pregnant with Leo. I absolutely love going along and having a look at all of the new nursery equipment that has come onto the scene, a big part of that for me is the pushchairs. I thoroughly enjoy having a look at the new releases and have a push to get a feel for them, I even occasionally stick Leo in the seat and have a real go!

I find that the Baby Show is the perfect place to find all of your favourite brands all under one roof, it is the most efficient way to get everything you need for your baby’s arrival and take advantage of special show prices.

You will not find a bigger collection of the pushchairs on the market anywhere other than the Baby Show, so my advice is if you are looking to buy a pushchair and you know that the one you are after isn’t stocked anywhere locally to you, head to the show. You will be able to have a proper play with it and also other models that people recommend. Not to mention having the brand right by your side to speak to directly about any of there products.

This year there were a number of baby brands that I was very excited to see, Easywalker, Cosatto, Britax, Kiddy, Maxi-Cosi and Tommee Tippee. So I joined the crowds of people descending upon the NEC to see what this year’s show was all about.

I was really impressed with how everything was set out and found it easy to navigate, as soon as I walked in I felt that I should either be expecting again or have a little baby in tow. But this year I had my toddler, and it occurred to me just how grown up he is getting. My Baby Show shopping list this year consisted of more grown up things such as a potty and new juice cups for Leo.

I was in good hands and found the lady on the Cheeky Rascals stand with the travel potty’s was really helpful. Having golden advice on hand at the show is another fantastic reason to pop along, whether it be breastfeeding or pain relief for while you are in the throws of labour, there is someone who can help with almost every question you could possible ask.

I stopped by the Maxi-Cosi stand to see the launch of the brand new Loola, I spotted the very beautiful Easywalker June in the new Mini style and I stood drooling over the Quinny Moodd. Cosatto had a great stand put together and were demonstrating their Giggle Travel System.

I would highly recommend the Baby Show, it is a fantastic day out even if you are going along for a browse, and I am already looking forward to my next visit.

The Build a Bear Work Shop

I am always looking for new things to do with Leo, 

magical adventures that we can share,

and new memories that we can make together.

So when Leo was invited along to the magical Build a Bear Factory, 

I was so excited to show him what he was about to witness.

We visited the Birmingham Bull Ring store, and were met by the smiling face of Laura (the lovely lady at Build a Bear) who helped us pick and give life to Leo's new friend.

Build a Bear have a wide selection of different bears available so it was really hard to narrow it down to just one. Leo and I eventually decided on the colorful stars bear as he really stood out to us. Build a Bear is more than just picking up a pre-stuffed bear off the shelf, paying and making your exit. At Build a Bear you do just that, you throw all of your imagination and creativity into creating your perfect bear.

You choose the bear you want to take home with you and then it is time to personalise your new friend with different sounds, from the cutest giggle or even One Direction! The sound station is where we lost Leo, he decided this was the best bit of the entire experience and he was going to stand there pressing each and every sound on the board, over and over again.

Once you have prised said child away from the sounds that are clearly driving other customers around the bend...You move on to the real magic. It is time to take your bear along to the machine that is swirling full of soft white stuff! It is time to stuff your bear and bring life to him!

This is where the real magic begins, and is the precise reason that I think the staff at Build a Bear deserve a real pat on the back. Laura was super and told us exactly what we had to do in order to bring our little bear to life, we were shown the beating hearts we could have inside the bear that would beat from time to time when Leo hugged him. We were shown the hugs and kisses that were being put inside our bear, and even asked how we would like the bear stuffed, firm, cuddly or a little in between. 

Leo was shown how to stand on the pedal that operated the flow of the stuffing, and with Mummy's help he stuffed his new bear until he was just right for lots of cuddles.

Laura had us stamp our feet up and down as we brought life to Leo's bear, and I really thought that her glowing attitude and way with Leo was superb, Laura really made the experience magical for all of us.

With our bear now stuffed it was time to give him his dignity and get him a suitable outfit. I was blown away by all of the outfit selections that were available, so Leo and I had a look through all of them to see which would be best fitting for our little guy. We set our eyes on a soldiers outfit with a super hat to go with it and tried it on him, Laura was happy for us to try on as many different outfits as we wanted but we quickly made our minds up.

After getting our bear dressed up so that he was fit enough to take on duty as one of the Queens guards, it was the moment that we had to register the arrival of Leo's new bear. We took a seat at one of the available computers that talked us through naming the bear and where we would prepare the birth certificate.

We took a little while in naming our new bear, but eventually decided to call him 'Bear', after all 'bear' was Leo's first word and it just seemed very fitting under the circumstances. 

We have come away with one very distinguished bear, dressed to the nines in his solder outfit and singing One Direction. Leo is really pleased with Bear and loves to squeeze his hand to get the song to play.

I thought the Build a Bear experience was truly fantastic, we were looked after from start to finish and nothing was too much effort. Laura was super with Leo even though he was not 100% on our day of visiting. I would highly reccomend a trip to your local Build a Bear as it is sure to bring a smile to your little one's face. There is nothing more magical than seeing your little one blown away by such an experience.

Disclaimer: I was invited along to Build a Bear for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Maxi Cosi Loola 2 Review

Maxi-Cosi are a brand that every parent and expectant parent knows about, they produce everything from car seats to complete travel systems to make life that little bit easier when you have little ones in tow. 

I have been sent the brand new and improved Maxi-Cosi Loola 2 to test out with Leo, and now after using it for the last couple of months I am happy to share my personal experiences with this stroller. We have certainly been putting it through it's paces and tried it in the town where we have hurdled curbs, and we have even gone to the park where we have tried our luck over the meadow. 

I will start this review off with what I was expecting from the Loola after reading all about the new specification online. I was expecting a light weight easy to use stroller with the capabilities to be used as a complete travel system. I knew that the Loola could be both parent facing and forward facing, a feature that I was really looking forward to trying out, to see just how convenient the switch around was. I knew from the images that it was very distinguished and I was pleased with the Black and Silver colour way.

I was actually lucky enough to have the Loola a week before it's actual release here in the United Kingdom. I took great joy in having a little nose around the Maxi-Cosi stand at the Birmingham Baby Show watching the official launch taking place, already knowing a great deal about the new Loola.

What's in the box?

The pushchair arrived complete within one box containing everything I needed to get started:

- The Pushchair Frame

- The Reversible Seat Unit

- Hood

- Bumper Bar

- Rain Cover

- Car Seat Adaptors 

Assembling the Loola

I found getting the Loola up and running really simple, which was lucky as I didn't think much to the instructions available in the box. The instructions are rather vague and just feature illustrations, I can't help feeling that they would benefit from explanations confirming what the images are showing. For me I need to be told exactly what I am doing and how I should be doing it, so images alone I don't find completely beneficial.

The frame comes ready to pop up straight away, the wheels are already locked into place so that eliminates one of the usual pushchair jobs! To put the pushchair up you have to push the 2 White clips closest to the handle bar up, kicking down on the tensing plate in the centre of the stroller. This will completely erect the Loola. 

With the frame now complete in front of you, you can now put the seat unit onto the frame. It can go on in either position, parent facing or forward facing and simply clicks into place. To take the seat unit back off and to turn it the other way you simply push in the white button either side of the seat unit and  lift it out when you feel it release. You can then put it into the other position by clicking it back in the other way around. 

To attach the hood you have to line up the zip on the hood with the runner on the frame and then do up the zip, this will keep the hood in place. It can be quite tricky to attach but once it is on you can breathe a sigh of relief...

The last part to get attached is the bumper bar which ever so simply clicks into place on either side of the stroller. Getting it on was easy but it was the taking it off again that completely threw me, the instructions were telling me there was a button to push in that would release it, but I located the big white ones on the side. The correct buttons are actually underneath the arm and release the bar instantly. You will know when you have found the right one.

First Impressions

I was very pleased with how the Loola looked and the ease of putting it together, but I was really surprised at how heavy it actually was. I wouldn't class the Loola as a lightweight stroller personally and I find it quite bulky. It actually weighs in at 12.9kg which is equivalent to just over 28lbs, and I can confirm that lifting that into the car can be quite tiring on little arms, even with the very handy carry handle.

The pushchair frame is really wide, and I actually sat there for a while just staring at it. It is a lot wider than any other stroller I have used and is equally as long. 

When the Loola is open it is 98cm high by 96cm in length and 58cm wide.

The Loola is really easy to put up and down which certainly makes life easier when you are in a rush, take the rain storm I found myself in for example! I absolutely love just how easy it is to change the seating position, I find this really important and have enjoyed taking walks with Leo facing me so we can have a proper chatter as we go. 

The seat unit is lovely and wide providing lots of room for a growing baby, and even has lots of space for my very big almost 2 year old. This pushchair could see him through until we no longer need a pushchair anymore (this thought actually makes me want to cry!)

Getting to know the Loola

The Loola handles really well in an urban environment, pushes really well and once the stroller is up and on the move you don't feel the weight anymore, well until you come to a curb. When handling a curb I find it too heavy with Leo's weight combined with the pushchairs weight in order to lift it enough to mount the curb. I have to put my foot on the back of the pushchair frame to get enough momentum to lift the stroller up the curb. Having said that I have found it incredibly easy to push one handed, which means I can go along munching my lunch or even drinking my drink while pushing Leo along with the other hand.

Now that really is parenting bliss!

I like how solid the Loola feels as safety is paramount to me, the entire pushchair feels completely sturdy and I enjoy pushing Leo around in it. I do feel that the Loola is more suitable for people who are out and about around the town rather than someone who is looking for a pushchair to take on walks accross the fields. I have tried the Loola in our local park and found that although it does go over the grass there are moments where the small wheels do struggle.

Leo looks incredibly comfortable in the seat and is happy to sit in either position, I do think the time has well and truly come for him to prefer facing away from me though. However it is really great to have the choice on which way he does face, and every once in a while I can persuade him to sit and have a chat with me about what we can see as we whiz around.

If Leo should fall asleep while we are out and about I can simply recline the seat fully so that he is lay down. I can even open up the hood so that it extends further by undoing the zip in the centre, it is a super hood that provides extra shelter from all of the amazing British weather conditions, even the sunshine when it decides to make an appearance. This does help Leo to sleep longer while in the stroller and keeps Mummy in the shops longer...

The Loola features one of my most favourite things on a pushchair. A really generous shopping basket! I have been able to fit all sorts in there and found that it is really easy to access. There is room to get into the basket from the back or on either side, which means it is easy to organise all of your shopping bags...allowing you to fit a few more in. The only part about the basket I am not 100% on is that the frame is exposed in the bottom, which divides your basket up somewhat, but this is not the end of the world and does not detract from the favorable space.

The brakes on this stroller are really easy to kick on and off, the red on the right hand side puts the brakes on and the white brake on the left takes them back off again. I love a pushchair that makes this task so easy as I have come across some in the past that are just incredibly stiff, meaning you have to get down and pull them back off with your hands. Not the case the with Maxi-Cosi Loola!

You will notice that this stroller has a unusual folding mechanism, in order to fold in one piece and as compactly as it does, the handle and the bumper bar need to fit in with the fold. Maxi-Cosi have achieved this by adding in a joint to both the handle and the bumper bar, which is absolutely fine but can be noticed in the handle when pulling the stroller towards you. The handle bends a little bit when pulling backwards but aside from this does not cause any issues or affect use in anyway.

The plastic handle bar can be adjusted into different positions depending upon how you feel comfortable using it, all you have to do is push in the White buttons by the handle bar and push up or down.

Overall...What do we think?

Overall I think this stroller is a good choice, at £300.00 and the capability to use the Loola as a complete travel system that will see your little one right up until a time that you no longer need a stroller, it is certainly money well spent. You can purchase a carry cot to go on the top so you get the full pram experience and you can even attach a Maxi-Cosi Car seat.

I do honestly think that the Loola is best suited to an urban environment rather than the open countryside, but it is perfect for nipping to park to feed the ducks.

I think that you will need a very big boot to fit the Loola in, and it does not not fit in the boot of my Peugeot 206. When I take the Loola out in the car I have to sit it on the back seat upright so that it fits in.

I will leave you with the video I have put together of the Loola...

And a few pro's and con's about this stroller. I hope that this honest first hand experience of the Loola 2 helps you in making the all important pushchair decision.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Maxi-Cosi Loola for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Getting Fit With The Britax BOB Stroller

When I was pregnant with Leo I was always really conscious of my weight. 

I know this is a silly thought when you are pregnant because of course you are going to be putting on weight! Your growing a little person after all, but silly or not it was certainly an in-security of mine and I am sure I am not alone in this!

Your body changes so much throughout the course of pregnancy, hormones rage and your belly expands to the point beyond recognition, so of course you are going to feel a little alien in your own body from time to time while your tummy becomes your babies home. 

Britax have teamed up with Laura Williams and created some really interesting content that you can put into practice while you are pregnant, and beyond. I have found watching the videos really interesting, and if you have had a baby recently you are sure to know all about your pelvic floor! I lost count of how many times I was asked whether or not I had completed my pelvic floors post birth...But really it is something you should start before even giving birth.

If you are unsure what a pelvic floor exercise is... Then just watch Laura and you will see exactly what to do.

The  videos highlight exercises that you can carry out safely and even while you are out and about with your little one. Who knew you could use the BOB Stroller to get fit!?

I have picked out a few of my favourite exercises highlighted in the videos:

Curtsey‘n’Swing. Hold onto the stroller with both hands before taking a big step back with your left leg, crossing it behind your right as you bend your knees lowering hips to the ground until your right thigh is nearly parallel to the floor. Make sure you keep your torso upright and hips and shoulders facing forward. Then, as you straighten back up, extend left leg right out to the side at hip before ‘curtseying’ back down again height (note: leave this part of the move out if you still have any pelvic pain, and just return to standing before repeating). Do 10 on each leg.

Stroller Squat Walk. Turn sideways on to your stroller, on your right side, with your right hand on the stroller. Then take a step to the right and as you do so, squat towards the floor, making sure you push hips back (as if you were sitting down) as you bend your knees pushing the stroller slightly to the right.  Return to standing and repeat. Do 10 of these sideways squats before switching to the left leg.

Waist Whittler. Stand tall with your right side facing the stroller. Keeping as still as you can in the upper body, gently push the stroller away with your right hand, while reaching overhead with left arm. Tense your abdominal muscles on the left side to pull the stroller back. Do this 8-10 times before changing sides.

 What would you like to start doing?
Or are you already well on the way?

A Best Friend

I can remember my school days as though they were just yesterday, a time where I had all the time in the world to make memories with friends and quite simply rejoice in the complete lack of responsibility.

In reality it is already been 8 years since I bid farewell to that time in my life. So many things have happened and changed since the school bell rang for the very last time, and responsibility has certainly caught up with me now!

My school life was fun and looking back I quite simply wouldn’t change a thing, I could often be found giggling with my oldest friend. Trouble quite simply used to follow us around, and we certainly used to act before we thought things through… I guess to some extent that is still true today.

It has been 14 whole years since I first met my mischievous best friend, and in that time frame we have certainly had our fair share of ups and downs. For every wrong we have made we always make things right, we have said things in the heat of the moment but kissed and made up regardless of any choice words we said. We have cried happy tears and shared nights where we have done nothing but laugh, and she was even the person to support me when I first found out I was pregnant.

We have been through absolutely everything together, we have grown up together and experienced many of life's lessons. But sometimes things happen in life that you don't expect. Sometimes you can be nothing more than a shoulder to rest upon.

In December 2011 Chelsea got dealt some life changing news, my best friend was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. For once even I was lost for words, and I didn't really know what she was telling me. I didn't actually really know what Multiple Sclerosis was until that day. I guess to a certain degree I still don’t understand exactly what it is, but I do know that from deep inside her MS is rivaling and making himself apparent to her in ways far less than desirable.

I have watched Chelsea fight this, and fight hard she does.

Chelsea is head strong and knows exactly what she wants, she always has done. MS certainly was not in her life plan, but as you walk through life you realise just how cruel it can actually be. You realise that even those people closest to you can get dealt a life changing set of cards and age has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Chelsea is 24 years old and dealing with this horrible disease at the same time as juggling her two beautiful children and loving husband. Multiple Sclerosis has no place or right to be taking away all of her energy and throwing multiple relapses in her path. Relapses mean being pumped to the nines on steroids, steroids that make you feel awful and then give a much needed buzz! But no amount of steroids can undo the damage that this silent disease has already done.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and take all of the pain away but I can't. Nor can I relate to how she is feeling...But I do try to comprehend what she is going through on a day to day basis. I wish I could go back in time to when she first started mentioning her eye sight problems and push her to book into the Opticians sooner...

It breaks my heart to think of everything that she is going through, sometimes I don’t know what to say because I cannot even comprehend how she is feeling. The only case of extreme tiredness I have ever experienced was in early pregnancy with Leo, and was gone within a few months. I cannot imagine my eye sight being permanently damaged and not knowing what MS will do next. But somehow she still lives her life to the full, and all the while is raising awareness of this horrible disease.

Throughout everything she is going through one thing is for sure, she is still the same girl that I met all those years ago, still as vibrant and fun loving as she always was, she really doesn't let this disease define her. She still strives to do everything she can, plays with her kids all the while creating an amazing childhood for them to reflect on when they are big and grown.

Even though Chelsea has been dealt this set of cards and her life has changed beyond recognition she is still here telling it exactly as it is. You can read her story over on her blog MS Mummy of Two, where she enlightens us into exactly what life is like, living with Multiple Sclerosis.