Smyths Toys
Well maybe everyone knows about the Smyths toy exchange deal they have going at the moment but I shall mention it just in case you missed it! One little advert on the tv, which I missed during the X-Factor break last night and their website was busy, busy, busy.
My kids mentioned it to me! I could not get on the website as the server was too busy, wow! Every Mum must have sat there and thought "hey let's declutter for christmas", I know I am already doing it, so I'm with you ladies.
So, on first reading I was not too impressed because you only have
until 7th November 2010 to use the vouchers received in exchange for
your kiddies toys. However, the toys are donated to a good
cause/charity so worth taking in the old toys whether you use all the
vouchers or not... Symths Toy Exchange
Take care and have fun.
Freebie for Baby!
The Aptimil Baby Club is giving away a free huggable polar bear when you join the club. They say they have lots of information for baby and toddler and they have a forum too! I like the fact that on one of their pages they point out that breastfeeding is best for baby.
I remember after I had my first born when my husband came back to the hospital to visit us after going home for some sleep! Haha, that does make me laugh. After we have been through all the labour and everything they get to go home for sleep. Anyway, he visited us and brought a little plush puppy as a gift for our son and placed it in his little cot. Sometime later I was going for a bath so the Midwife took the baby into the nursery with the other babies. After my bath I went into the nursery and the Midwives were sitting chatting and all the babies were happily sleeping in their cots. My baby however, had his plush puppy on his belly (it looked cute). The Midwife told me they did that because from where they were sitting they could see the puppy slightly moving from baby breathing so they knew he was fine!!
I did that every time from that moment on. He slept with a plush puppy on his belly... that's when he did sleep!
Take care and have fun
Children's Toys
Well, I go off on a tangent as you have probably noticed if you have been reading my blogs. Today is no exception! A home educating friend of mine recommended a website to me. This came about as she mentioned a science kit which I was thinking of buying my son for a christmas present. In Argos the kit is £24.99, however, she purchased it for £18.00 on play.com and everything is free delivery... I love free delivery which is why I also send out all my t-shirts to anywhere in the world free!
So, if you are looking for what seems to be lower priced toys be sure to take a look, I am certainly going to be purchasing from there.
Take care and have fun!
Pauline
National Childbirth Trust
I have had a read of the National Childbirth Trust website and it really does have loads of information regarding C-Section and lots more! I get the impression that obviously as every woman is different the recuperation of a C-Section is dependent on many things but obviously the C-Section is a whole load better today than it was many years ago!
Did you see the film footage on the tv of the mum of twins who's baby lived due to having her baby placed on her chest. That was absolutely wonderful, totally beautiful I must say. I personally realise how important it is to have that first skin to skin bond with your baby because I did not have it with my daughter.
Due to her quick appearance I went into slight shock I guess and I could not hold her for at least 10 minutes because I was shaking so much! Well, as I said earlier... she was born within 45 minutes in the living room doorway!
Well, I'm afraid I have to dash tonight as I still have loads to do.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Wow!
Samantha Cameron is out of hospital after having a C-Section, after only 2 days I believe! Is that normally all you stay in hospital for after a C-Section, 48 hours? How do you get over an op and get your rest and recuperation that quick? Is that the same for all mums...I certainly never realised that.
I was very lucky as both my children came along naturally of their own accord rather quick to say the least. My firstborn was 4.5 hours and my second was 45 minutes! Hence the reason for her being born in the living room doorway, yes, the living room doorway and the front door was open. Thankfully the Postman was late that morning!!!
I'm off to check out how they do C-Sections these days...
Take care and have fun.
Congratulations!
Hello, and Congratulations to all of you who have had your babies and Congratulations to all the Big Brother and Big Sisters who now have their little siblings to cuddle.
I heard last night on the news that the joke going around on Twitter is that as David Cameron's wife has had their 4th child and Nick Clegg is 'acting' Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has just made Paternity Leave compulsory for 5 yrs LOL!
Hopefully, you all get plenty of time off with your babies and plenty of sleep and rest. I always remember when I had my second baby wondering what on earth I did with my time when I only had one!
My time now is spent home educating my children, running my business and renovating the house. I think I shall carry on printing the t-shirts for you as it is less work than looking after another baby. I always admire the mum who goes on to have more than 2.
Congratulations again.
Take care and have fun with your little one's
Pauline
The Magic Flannel!
I had the day off yesterday. We are renovating our bathroom. We have a rather large bathroom to say the least. The previous owner built an extension and made it one huge bathroom so we are renovating it and making it smaller.
Yesterday was my job to take down the dividing wall... I love doing things like that. The wall was plasterboard and covered in many medium sized tiles. So I took the hammer to the tiles and had great fun banging them off being somewhat careful of flying debris. It certainly didn't take long to get the lower half off... piece of cake so to speak.
In preparation for the top half of the wall I get the step ladder and am standing halfway up the ladder (visualise this...) with one hand holding the top of the ladder and the other hand with hammer in place I am banging at the lower tiles when, to my absolute surprise the wall of tiles fell down on my head LOL! Actually, it fell on my head, bounced off, the full weight of that part of the wall hit my arm then slid down my leg... ouch! Well, words to that effect, hehe.
Damn, my arm really hurt. I went to the living room and asked the kids if they heard the crash, no they didn't and they did not seem that concerned that I was holding my arm either, bless them. But then my darling daughter, upon seeing the red mark across my arm, confidently and caringly told me not to worry she will get me the Magic Flannel. I was running cold water on my arm and she brought me a damp flannel. We wrapped the flannel around my arm and then I found out... The Magic Flannel does not work!!!
However, all is well. After all that all I have is minor marks on my arm and bruising of the bone. I was extremely lucky that really is was the plasterboard that hit me and not the sharp edged tiles. Not sure what to think that 15, yes I counted how many hit me, 15 tiles bounced off my head and not one of them broke!
The children have always told me though that The Magic Flannel works!
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Is This a Good Idea?...
Or will it backfire on me? I had a thought the other day to keep the kids occupied but now I am having second thoughts!
How about giving each of the kids a copy of the Argos catalogue and some paper (a cheap roll of wallpaper) and some glue and let the kids have a field day cutting out all the pictures of the toys they want for christmas? Is that a good idea or could I regret it?
I have started my Christmas shopping, aagh! I know we don't want to think about Christmas in August, but my son's birthday is only 6 days before so I have to be, or pretend I am somewhat organised. I always obviously have his birthday party and everything organised and then I have a few days to panic about Christmas last minute shopping. Last minute shopping and panic normally means what on earth are we going to buy Dad/hubby, oops, haha.
Well, I am going to have a go at this idea and you know what I am going to join in! Yep, I think I shall cut out a few piccies of things I would like on my wishlist, if only for the house!
Go on, have a go, get your catalogue or magazines out and have some fun putting everything you would like on a piece of paper and then just sit back and allow it to come to you...
Right, I'm off now to get another one of my new photographs on to the website and then I shall start my "I want" list.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Back to the Grindstone!
How you all doing? I hope you are all well and rested. I know I am revitalised from our day out and have been back to working on the website, which involves sitting on my bum so not that tiring!
How some of you manage to look after a home, kids and go out to work beats me, I admire you all tremendously.
I was watching a programme the other night about two families who's children did not sleep. One poor mum had only had 2 hourly sleeps for 20 months, aaaagh. I can still remember that pain. So I do hope your little one's are getting their sleep so you can get your's.
My little girl still gets into our bed in the middle of the night which I don't mind, if you does it without waking me but bless her, sometimes she just wakes me with a kiss and says "hi". You just have to love 'em.
So tonight I am either going to be working on the website or printing t-shirts as I have some to print up and my son has made a design that I am also going to print. I have always wanted to print a multitude of colours in one go. Remember I screenprint the vast majority of my t-shirts and I want to use only one screen with a rainbow of colours. James happened to be doodling the other day and I am going to use his doodle and see what happens... just for fun!
I best go and get the kids ready for bed and start work.
Take care and have fun.
Family Day Out
Are you looking for a relaxing, reasonably priced, family day out? If you are, I highly recommend the Small Breeds Farm Park & Owl Centre in Kington, Herefordshire.
We went to the Owl Centre on Sunday and it was brilliant. The cost for myself, hubby and the two kids was £24.00. We were lucky enough that they had an event on that day. We had no idea it was on so it was a great surprise as it was a Hawk and Owl display. Absolutely brilliant value for money.
The owls are absolutely beautiful and we were able to stroke some of the baby owls to my daughter's delight... she got to stroke 3 of them. There are lots of different breeds of owl and they are great fun to watch.
As the name suggests it is also a Small Breeds Farm so there are many other animals to see and as it is a reasonable size farm you can just walk around each enclosure and feed them too. It was not overly busy and so it was really relaxing and you can spend the majority of the day there.
We took a picnic and you can sit at the picnic tables and relax and eat as well as buy drinks and food from the small cofee shop which is amazingly reasonably priced. Normally, stopping for a tea and maybe a choccie bar or something to eat costs an arm and a leg but it doesn't at the Owl Centre. We were so impressed we are going to be buying an annual ticket because it was so nice to go somewhere and have fun with the family in a relaxed way as we never heard the children saying "I want... Can I have?" Well worth your time and money. The weather was great too!
Back in Stock!
Hooray, I have managed, at last, to restock the blue long sleeved Humbugz I'm the Little Brother t-shirts. I have also brought out the white I'm the Little Brother T-Shirts in 6-12 months as well as the 0-6 months. So hopefully I now have all ages covered for Little Brothers. These t-shirts are beautiful, soft tees for your beautiful, soft little baby boy or boys!
I do hope you are drinking plenty of water as the weather does appear to me, and that is saying something coming from me, but I do really think it is getting warmer over here in Wales. Hopefully, the sun will get it's hat on and come out to play on a full time basis.
So the rules for all you expectant mums is drink plenty and rest plenty as I was reading an article the other day that after baby is born we lose a total of 6 months sleep! Personally, my experience is it is a whole lot more than that. So rest while you can.
Good luck and best wishes.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
T-Shirts On Line
Wow, I have been extremely busy with my t-shirts on line. As you can see I have been improving my photographs on the website. So far I have the I'm the Big Brother, I'm the Bigger Brother and I'm the Little Brother completed and the t-shirts are on line!
I do have I'm the Big Sister t-shirts on line however, the photographs are not showing the true quality of the t-shirts or my printing. So I am having to wait for sunny and not windy day to get them right. I am sure the lovely warm sunny days are on their way.
In the meantime, I have been printing up stock as I am pleased to say the website has been extremely busy. Once again, I would like to thank all my wonderful customers for purchasing from my website and wish you all the best and hope you do not have too many sleepless nights!
Take care and have fun.
T-Shirts Online or Tennis?
Oh definitely tennis I would say. Did you see the record breaking match? Thankfully I only started watching it from something like 54/54!!
I was working here on the website and my photographs of the t-shirts online and my husband called out to me to say I should see the match. So I stood and watched thinking I would only be in front of the tv for 5 minutes, haha. I actually sat down and watched it...not to move again until 9pm!!! It really was sooo intriguing watching grown men take turns at winning a game LOL!
Of course there was the added element of the American whom I though was cute (oh dear, I'm probably old enough to be his mother). But I noticed his broad chest and large feet and the next thing the commentator mentioned that the guy was 6ft 9!
The following day I had tv back on to find out what time the match was to restart. My kids were saying "since when does mum like tennis". I mentioned that it was when Virginia Wade won and apparently that was also the last time the Queen attended Wimbledon. Looks like we both stopped sulking that a Brit has not won since haha.
I sat down to watch the 3rd day of the match. Personally, at the end of the second day I thought the French player made a mistake asking for the match to be suspended. Good grief the American was just about managing to stay on his feet poor guy. It was amazing when the 3rd day started with them taking turns again at winning, absolutely incredible. When the match point was for the American I stood up and prayed... I needed the loo for Goddess sakes! How that Umpire managed 7 hours without a 'bathroom break' was amazing.
I was rather surprised that the 3rd day went on for as long as it did, but I was pleased... I sent the kids out on to the trampoline so I had a couple of hours peace and quiet. Hey, I was not the only one. I saw on a mums forum quite a few mums discussing it all and I was in tears laughing at the comments, they were hysterical to me.
So, well done to both the French and American guys for breaking every tennis record in the book and records that are unlikely to be broken too. Simply the best.
I will get on to the t-shirts online went I get some more time.
Take care and have fun. Pauline
Happy Solstice
Actually, I don't really know what Solstice is all about! What's even more embarrassing is the fact that I know I have been told a zillion times. I think on a number of topics I have a mushy brain. If you want to talk about t-shirts and printing... hey, I'm in there, haha.
How are you feeling today? I am guessing for all you expectant mummies it is far too hot! So just put your feet up during the day when you can. Yes, I know you said... "chance would be a fine thing". I remember when I had my second baby I wondered just how much time I spent doing nothing because once you have your second (or more!) you find time, somehow, to do a zillion other things.
I popped into town today and had my hair cut and restyled. Oh, I feel sooo much better for it too. There was a young man waiting to have his hair cut and talking about his baby. Bless him, the pride in that Daddy's voice was lovely. He was telling us all how the baby slept through the night from 6 weeks and now at 4.5 months baby appears to be teething and barely sleeping. Aaaagh! I remember that rude awakening. Although my first born never slept.
So if you are lacking in sleep because you are too hot, too big or your new baby is waking you constantly... my heart goes out to you and remember... there are many other mummies feeling the same way as you, you are not alone.
Put those feet up!
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Father's Day
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, and if I am I shall blame my husband! I believe Father's Day is this coming Sunday. So if you have a special design you would like printed on a T-Shirt let me know as we don't have much time left do we! I am working on one at the moment but never seem to have the time to get all the designs on the website.
I had a close call as it is my husband's birthday today. My 7 yr old daughter was going to make his birthday cake! Yes, she is amazing at cooking...she does not get it from me I can assure you, haha. I mentioned to my husband that I had to buy his cake as we did not have time to get one made by Wednesday, he told me his birthday is today, Monday. Oh, we have only been married 28 yrs (I think!). I get his birthday mixed up with his Dad's birthday which is two days before and I have just remember, right here and now, it is my friends birthday in a couple of days, and Father's Day. How are we supposed to remember all these things????
Must dash as I now have a birthday card and present to get.
Take care and have fun. Pauline
So...Where was I?
Oh yes, a while back I was telling you about how I started my t-shirt business, as usual I went off on a tangent!
Well, I had got as far as telling you it all started when our daughter was born and friends and family started asking for t-shirts. From there I started selling my tees on Ebay and it really was from there that I built up my range.
The tees were selling really well and people started asking could they have one in pink or blue and so, as the requests came in I started increasing my stock and range. I then set up a shop on ebay. However, the fees on ebay exploded and it was just taking up far too much of my time.
The next step was to set up my own website!! I shall again come back and tell you more as I set up my website 3 yrs ago. This website, Kiddietees.co.uk is 'the little sister' site.
I'll be back soon.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Enjoyed the Holiday's?
I hope you have all enjoyed the school holiday and had sunshine and fun. It sure goes by quickly doesn't it!
Having been kept extremely busy with orders I am now printing up more stock, and as you know I love the printing. I am also busy at the moment designing t-shirts for customers and friends which is also great fun.
Have you seen my new photographs? I am still practising and even if I say so myself, I am improving all the time. But photographs are not something I necessarily enjoy doing.
So, must dash and get some more of these photographs sorted out and the printing done.
Thank you all so much for your custom and loyalty... returning customers are my favourite!
Take care and have fun.
Home Education
Have you ever thought about educating your children at home. Have they been bullied at school? Maybe you have another reason for preferring your child to not be in school.
Educating your child/children at home is in fact legal. That I know, from personal experience, is a surprise to a lot of people. I have been educating my children at home for the past 3 years. In fact, my daughter who is 7 yrs old has never been to school. Yes, she can read and write and can do maths!
Yesterday, we had our French Science Club and then History. All carried out at Gloucester Cathedral with our home educating friends. It was great fun... a nice day off for me and a great day out as a family.
The children managed to complain as we went up the 200 plus stairs to the top of the Cathedral. I, on the other hand was too out of breath to walk and complain, which actually, is rather unusual, haha. We happened to be in the bell tower at 2pm, which was fun and rather loud, although not as loud as I was actually expecting.
Today, we have managed to complete some maths workbooks and writing and spelling for my daughter and my 12 yr old son is making a pear and pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
Does all this sound very Mrs Walton. Take my word for it, I'm not. People always say to me "Oh I have not got the patience". Who said I had patience!
If you want any advice or information on home educating feel free to contact me.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Wonderful Weather!
At last summer is here. I hope you are enjoying it too! Although if you are heavily pregnant maybe not. However, as you already know you can rest. It is far too hot to do anything, it is for me.
Inside the house it is lovely and cool. Obviously though, the children want to be out in the pool so I have spent the last few days outside under the canopy...I have no idea what these tent things are called but they do look smart! Yes, yes, I have been in the pool a few times but you know how it is, as you sit down in that cold water, aaagh!
So, having a spent a few days enjoying the heat and relaxing I get to work in the evenings again through to early hours of the morning and really that is best for screenprinting because otherwise the heat dries up the ink.
Today I have work to do on the computer so I shall be in the cool until the children summon me to "watch mum, watch" in the garden.
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
Supporting the UK Anti-Bullying Campaign
As I am trying to raise awareness of the UK Anti-Bullying Campaign and supporting children who are affected by bullying, and in fact their families I came across this Squidoo lens by a mum. She writes of the tell-tale signs and ways of getting help if it affects you or in fact, anyone you know... Bullying at Primary School .
If you would like to help raise awareness and support the UK Anti-Bullying Campaign, be sure to check out our Matty-Boy T-Shirts. We donate £2.99 to the campaign for every t-shirt purchased in this range...Matty-Boy T-Shirts
Take care and have fun.
My Best Photograph...So far!
Well, I have finally achieved a really good photograph. Have you seen it? Anti-Bullying T-Shirts
As you will see, I donate £2.99 to UK Anti-Bullying Campaign from every t-shirt sold. So, when you purchase one of these t-shirts you are actually helping 29 children. That's a fantastic feeling.
I will now be working at getting my other photographs just as good. I love the fact that at last my photograph shows the quality of the t-shirt and the print. Anyway, that is enough of me blowing my own trumpet!
Now, I also need to get on with printing the organic t-shirts which I will be doing this weekend as I have been extremely busy with customised orders and all the other things us mums juggle.
Here is my Squidoo lens that I made about Organic T-Shirts
At the moment I am not sure if I have time for Squidoo, I don't really think I do because I have so many other things on backlog, but it is fun!
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
HAPPY MAY DAY!
I hope you have had a very happy Bank Holiday weekend and the traffic flowed nicely and the weather was wonderful for you.
Personally, I never travel on the Bank Holiday weekend. So, after a piling of ironing was completed I took the kids to the park across the road from our home and I, yes me, had a turn on the swings. I know, I know, the sign says for children aged up to 10 yrs! Well, I am 49 yrs old on Wednesday so I guess it is time to start lying about my age, hehe.
Oh boy, it really has been a long time since I went on a swing. Legs, arms and stomach muscles ache. Well, I was swinging for about 10 mins, or was it only 5!
Still, it was a nice break from all this...
http://www.squidoo.com/Me-Working-at-Home-Mom
Take care and remember...have fun!
Pauline
How we Started
We started screenprinting in 2003, just before our daughter was born. Our son was 5 yrs old and had been the centre of our life all that time and knowing that he would lose the limelight we screenprinted I'm The Big Brother t-shirt for him to make him feel special.
Having just purchased a Green Earth Screenprinter for our existing bannerette business it was easy to do and we knew he would just love it.
He did love it and he looked so proud wearing his Big Brother t-shirt and holding his new baby sister. The great thing about him wearing it, as well, was that it reminded people to give him attention and not just the new baby. We took a photograph of him wearing his t-shirt and standing alongside his sleeping new baby sister and it is a photograph that I will cherish forever.
Of course once our friends saw the t-shirt they all wanted one for their children and word spread to the point that we were making large quantities. It was from there that our t-shirt printing business started. As time has gone
by our range has built up quite a bit due to the requests from our wonderful customers.
AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER
Last week was the first time I had read anything about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) and the reason I thought I should blog about it is because of the lack of awareness of this disorder and how it affects children. The following Squidoo lens written by a Mum in the UK who's daughter has been diagnosed with the disorder explains all here... http://www.squidoo.com/apd
EXCITING NEWS!
I have not had chance to get back here to blog as I have been extremely busy with my original and Big Sister site TeesOnLine.co.uk as well as working on my BT Tradespace site! Yes, I sell everywhere so that I do not have to pay for advertising which is how I keep my prices low!
The exciting news is that I have been Featured on BT Tradespace blog and the Featured blog explains even more exciting news which you can read about http://explore.bttradespace.com/featured-blog-tees-online/
I will be back as soon as possible to continue the story about Kiddietees!
Take care and have fun.
Pauline
I shall start my new blog telling you about Kiddietees.co.uk I'm the Big Brother T-Shirts because that is how we started out printing t-shirts. In fact, on 1st April 2010 it will be our 7th birthday!
Given that we printed our first ever t-shirt for our son, prior to our daughter being born our range has certainly grown as much as our beautiful daughter.
We do have a photograph of him proudly wearing his t-shirt for the first time ever, about 30 minutes after his sister was born. She looks like a doll in this photograph and so tiny!!! But she was actually heavier than him at birth and he was 6lb 9oz.
It was important to us that he felt special because we thought he was going to be an only child and he was 6 yrs old when she was born so we were definitely concerned about him feeling left out and not receiving attention. Oh, and he also wanted a little brother, hehe.