There was a smell in the air. A smell that I can’t describe – a freshness that adds a little smile to your face, a smell of snowdrops and birdsong that means you just know that spring is coming.

It was the perfect afternoon then for a half term outing.

Belle had a friend to play on Friday afternoon, so rather than just let them spend four hours taking turns to watch each other play on Belle’s DS, I decided to take them out on a spy trail. Now of course if I were a Proper Mummy I would have spent the night beforehand writing out ingenious clues and hiding them around Bristol, but fortunately we had a trail from Treasure Trails. View Post

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I was listening to the radio in the car this week when a song came on that immediately took me back to being about 19 years old, getting ready to go for a night out in the throbbing heart of Bridgwater – The Palace nightclub. With my straighteners in one hand and a glass of Lambrini in the other, I was getting ready to take on the world.

It was this: View Post

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We may still be bundling up in our warmest coats, jumpers, scarves, and mittens, but pretty soon it will be time to shove your woolies to the back of the wardrobe and make space for our spring clothes. Well known as I am for my fashion sense, here are some pieces that are trending for spring:

Bermuda Shorts
Yep, you read that right. Bermuda shorts are apparently trending for spring and summer. View Post

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Was the postman waiting for you this morning with two dozen red roses and a giant teddy holding a shiny red heart?

(I’m talking in a delivery person capacity rather than just as a secret admirer. That might be awkward.)

No. Me neither. I’m glad though. Those teddies are awful. View Post

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Hooray!

It may be grey and soggy outside, but inside my head the squirrels that are in charge of my brain are having a little dance and humming to themselves. It’s that time of the year where summer music festivals start announcing their line-up and this week one of my favourites, Camp Bestival, has been shouting about the fantastic acts they’ve got lined up.

Last year we had an absolutely brilliant weekend, as you can see from my Camp Bestival 2012 post. Rolf Harris was a highlight, and the laser and firework show was just incredible. Boyfriend and I are already looking forward to this year, especially as we’re going to be treating ourselves to some luxury camping courtesy of Tangerine Fields. (Because everyone needs exclusive use of a hairdryer at a festival surely?) View Post

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Not long after we’d met, I regaled Boyfriend with a fascinating tale about Paperchase mugs. It really was a cracking story, involving a detailed analysis of what in my mind makes the perfect mug, and how disappointed I was that Paperchase had reduced the thickness of their rims.

It was almost certainly the moment when Boyfriend realised I was The One.

It did make me wonder though whether it might not be a bad idea to broaden my mug horizons. I drink a lot of tea, so mugs play a large role in my daily life, so it’s normal* that over the years I have developed a Preferred Mug Shape. This is the original Paperchase mug that pretty much encapsulates everything I love about a mug – a good, sturdy shape, not tall and thin, not flaring out at the top into a silly lip, and made of a good chunky china, with a good thick rim.

 "Paperchase mug"

Over the last few months though, I have been experimenting, pushing out my mug boundaries, and now have three new favourites. Talk about living life on the edge.

OK, so what have we got…

Now this is one is a bit of a wild card, as normally I don’t like Emma Bridgewater. This mug though was a gift from a very good friend, and even though it’s shape flies in the face of sensible mug design – (a base wider than the top?? Crazy times) – I do love it, if not least for the message:

"Emma Bridgewater mug"

With this next mug, I am challenging my rim preferences.** Normally I like a mug with thick sides, but this is a finer bone china. I absolutely love the design though. I’m a big fan of waves, and it reminds me of one of my favourite pictures – The Great Wave Off Kanagawa – which I actually have as a laptop cover. This mug comes from My Rosie Lee, a lovely company bringing together British design and manufacturing.

"My Rosie Lee mug"

Last but not least is the newest mug in my collection. This one comes from Ducky Dora and I love its chunkiness. There’s no messing with this mug, it is proper sturdy, hand painted, and made from eco-friendly terracotta. It’s the kind of mug you could wrap your hands around in front of a bonfire on a cool autumn evening.

"Ducky Dora mug"

Now I don’t for a minute believe I’m the only person who is fussy about mugs, so what are your pet mug hates?

*Definitely normal

**Rim preferences are definitely a thing

 

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THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

I don’t really need to say anything more than that do I?

This is a chocolate hamper with a bit of a difference though, so while you’re stuffing your face you can feel a bit virtuous too. This chocolate hamper has been very kindly donated by RunNative, an online marketplace for UK social enterprises. Gifts bought from RunNative have a direct impact on communities and lives.

This chocolate hamper is from Chocolate Memories, an emerging social firm, established in 2010 by charity group Autism Initiatives. Based in County Down, Northern Ireland, the business offers training opportunities to people with Autism Spectrum Condition. The team at Chocolate Memories blend the finest quality chocolate with delicious flavour combinations, creating an unforgettable taste experience. All profits are reinvested back into the business to fulfil the social aims and objectives.

Enough about that though. To the chocolate!

This is what’s up for grabs – the large luxury hamper, which includes a selection of products from the Chocolate Memories range presented in a beautiful basket. (Not necessarily the products shown, but they will choose you a good range.)

"Chocolate hamper"

*drools*

There are a few different ways to enter. Each will count as one entry, so the more you do, the more chances you have to win/get fat!

  • Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite chocolate treat is
  • Go and like me on Facebook and leave a comment there saying hello
  • Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following – “#Win a chocolate hamper with @mummyblogger http://ht.ly/hBQyk”
  • Sign up to receive new posts by email. (You’re free to unsubscribe at any time if you get bored. I won’t give you a Chinese burn or anything).

The competition will close on 28th February and you can read the full T&Cs here.

Good luck!
As featured on ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

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As regular readers will know, I love a spot of crafting.

OK, that’s a bit of a lie. I’m not a natural crafter Knitty Mummy style, but I do have good intentions. I can knit. I can draw a bit if the thing I’m drawing is a plant, and I do quite enjoy cutting things out.

It’s not completely ridiculous then that I was invited for an evening of crafting fun with interior designer Danielle Proud and Kenco. The event was held to highlight the new Kenco Rewards Club, where you collect points and trade them in for lovely eco-friendly goodies. It was also showcasing this gorgeous new cup that has been designed by Danielle for Kenco, to encourage people to cut down on the number of disposable coffee cups they use, and to refill this one instead. View Post

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Yesterday I found myself, as you do, thinking about Pigeon Street. In particular, ‘long distance Clara’. Now that was a female role model ahead of her time – on the road, driving her juggernaut, not a care in the world.

I’m not normally a YouTube kind of girl, but it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and I thought I would indulge myself in a little, and had a browse of some of my favourites. First up then, Pigeon Street: View Post

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Have you seen Wreck it Ralph yet? You should. Wreck it Ralph is the new Disney film, released in the UK last Friday, and is everything you’d expect from Disney – fantastic animation, believable characters and a great plot to boot.

Wreck it Ralph is set in an arcade, and the imagination that has gone into creating each unique ‘world’ within each of the arcade machines in incredible. Here’s a little taster: View Post

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Fancy spicing up dinner time without having to get dressed up in suspenders and a feather boa?

Of course you do. No one wants feathers in their lasagne.

If you can handle a bit of a kick, get yourself some chilli tomato pickle from Love Pickle. We cracked open the mild version this week with our toad in the hole and although it made my lips burn a little bit, Boyfriend told me I was being a baby, that it was delicious, and not hot at all. This is the man though that would put hot sauce on everything if I let him. View Post

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If it had risen in line with house prices over the last forty years, the average weekly shop would now cost £453.

Yep, that’s £453 for food for a family every week.

When Shelter told me this I was absolutely horrified. “Bloody hell,” I said to them, “it’s no wonder I can’t afford to buy a house is it?” Shelter did the research to highlight how for many people in the UK, that classic dream of owning your own home, and providing a sense of security for your  family, is simply impossible. View Post

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