Confessions: My 5 Most Shameful Guilty Pleasures

Men, habits, old ones, new ones: guilty pleasures take so many shapes and forms. And I am oh-so-guilty.

Blogger Comment Problems

Has anybody else been experiencing problems posting comments on Blogger? I have, since this blog's birth. I knew that Google were aware of the problem and tried to ride it out, but to be honest got fed up of waiting.

Here is a list of work-arounds found in Blogger's help forum, copied & pasted for your convenience.

It'll Probably Be Fine... NOT!

Don't you just hate it when you can tell there's something wrong and you get told time after time that everything is probably fine? Sometimes they think you're just being a hypochondriac, and other times you can just tell they are lying to stop you from worrying yourself to death.

Turning Disaster Into Dessert

After a lot of nagging courtesy of Goldilocks (Little Bear was fast asleep and let's face it - he can't nag me yet) I checked again to see if the triple chocolate cookies we were baking were done. It had taken a little longer than expected - They looked as though they'd turn out tiny so I'd made them bigger.

How Narrow Minded!

I find it amazing how people can be so crude and heartless over Amy Winehouse's death. I also find it worrying that so many people are only paying respects to her whilst ignoring almost 100 Norwegians, mainly teenagers at a summer youth camp, who also lost their lives.

Children Learn What They Live

Really lovely poem, I got given it on a laminated piece of card whilst doing a Family Links course. I have no idea who the author is. Found that card whilst clearing out some old junk earlier, thought I'd share it:

Really Annoying Things Non-Pregnant People Do

Having a huge baby bump gives people a special pass to insult you, or so it seems. Not a day goes by where somebody rudely interrupts my day: stopping me to chat when they normally wouldn't look at me, insulting me in any which way they can, touching me without asking (cringe!) are just a few of the things people continue to do even when you've told them not to!

1. "You're not pregnant AGAIN!" No, I'm naturally this fat and hid it well up until 6 months ago.
2. "What have you been eating then?" Babies, apparently.
3. "You're putting on weight all over, aren't you?" Thanks, because I wanted to feel fatter than I already do.
4. "You can't have long left now/You look ready to pop!" Unfortunately not, but how kind of you to notice how huge I am!
5. "Pregnancy is not an illness/an excuse to slow down etc..." So I should over-exert myself and end up doing myself and my baby harm?
6. Touching the bump - especially sneaking up from behind or from the first trimester! Seriously: get a grip! You aren't touching the baby, you're touching my skin and I do not like it.
7. "Another one already? Are you MAD?" Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise you doubted my ability to cope with more than one child.
8. (After the birth) "So did you poo?" ...Why are you that interested?
9. (After the birth) "An 8lb baby? OMG that's huge... there's no coming back from that, you're gonna be saggy down there for life!" Cheers, I worked that hard for that long and that's what I get for it!
10. "You can't do that, you're pregnant!" I feel able to do it and so I shall.
11. "Awwww, bless you!" Thanks for letting me know how awful I look!
12. (When expecting a baby of the opposite sex to LO)"One of each, that's nice - you can stop now." I didn't realise it was considered good form to stop having children once you've had at least one of each gender!

People are unwittingly so rude to pregnant women - there's no need for it! Just because I'm cooking a baby doesn't mean I don't have feelings, in fact, thanks to hormones they are a little bit more sensitive than normal, so would it kill you to be a little bit more considerate?

Not Just For Sex: 21 Reasons Why Petroleum Jelly Is The Household Superhero

An unfortunate experience with sunburn after baking on the school fields all morning yesterday (Goldilocks almost won the running race, but flopped to the floor in a temper because her hat fell off - then won her egg and spoon race because she held the spoon and the wrong end and ran for her life) left me thinking about how often I use petroleum jelly (also known as soft white paraffin). It really is a household staple - expanding far from the medicine box or discreet hiding place. Here is a list of many things you can use it for.

1. Skin conditions/ailments including but not limited to: eczema, dry/chapped skin, nappy rash, sunburn, cuts and sores. Always apply to the skin (obviously) and if using on cuts, remember to clean them thoroughly first.
2. Adding food colouring can be useful if you'd like a quick fix for lip balm or emergency makeup.
3. Use it on your pulse points to help your perfume last longer than your man.
4. Spreading it around your nails will prevent nail varnish from sticking to your skin and rubbing it into your cuticles will soften them up.
5. Use it sparsely to tidy up those stray brow hairs.
6. Rub it on your forehead etc. to prevent hair dye staining.
7. It makes a cheap but effective moisturiser, particularly useful for those with very sensitive skin.
8. Slop some on your feet before putting on a pair of moisturising socks, then go to sleep. When you wake up your feet should be wonderfully soft!
9. Shine your shoes with it.
10. Remove chewing gum with it.
11. Rub it into your candelabra to stop molten wax from sticking.
12. Rub it into the bottom of your pet's food bowl to stop ants from getting at it (or destroy the nest).
13. Rubbing it into threads can: stop light bulbs from sticking, stop super glue tubes from becoming one-time-use and make it easier to open bottles: a good tip for those with bad hands.
14. It can help stop your hands from being covered with paint. It will do likewise for doorknobs etc and other messy substances.
15. It can help to remove the engagement/wedding ring when you're so pregnant your fingers are as fat as your bum!
16. Slapping a lot of it above in/above LO's eyebrows can help protect them from shampoo suds.
17. As it is flammable, putting a candle into a jar of it makes a long-lasting emergency light.
18. It apparently acts as an insulator in cold weather: apply some before going out.
19. Use it to get rid of those pesky watermarks left in your wooden furniture.
20. It makes a good substitute for oil when it comes to getting rid of those pesky squeaks.
21. Putting some on drawer runners will help them open and close smoothly - the same can't be said for legs, sorry to disappoint!

Have fun trying those out for size, and remember it doesn't have to be Vaseline to be petroleum jelly, so if like me you like to save a few pennies if you can, look for generic alternatives as these are really cheap :)

The Dos and Don'ts of The Beach

I went with Goldilocks on her summer trip today, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an almost-new experience, I've never been to Jump in Cardiff before and haven't been near a beach for 4 years. On the way to the beach I thought about all those carefree things you do there, like jumping about in the waves, building sandcastles and burying each other in the sand. Of course, I made sure we did it all. It's not often Goldilocks and I get to spend quality time together anymore (Big Bear kindly took Little Bear for the day as he was off work) so I wanted to cram in as much as possible. What struck me was how unprepared I was!

We built the castle but had nothing to fill the moat with. We had fun splashing in the waves but I couldn't pull my trousers up far enough and got soaked. I wore trainers to the beach and they got filled with sand, as did my socks.

The only thing I did prepare, essentially, was a spare pair of clothes for Goldilocks. Which got used, but not a toilet accident as I'd expected: she tripped over a ball that was floating on the waves as she tried to kick it back to the boy who kicked it. How she manages it, I do not know!

Anyway: my days lessons are learned, now to share:

• Do prepare for all weathers - more necessary if you're on a planned trip rather than a spontaneous one.
• Do make sure there are enough adults to the amount of children.
• Do wear suitable clothing - if they can't pull up (like my trousers) then consider wearing swimwear so you can remove your clothing to go and have a splash.
• Do take extra clothing for everyone!
• Don't forget to bring several towels.
• Don't forget your camera and batteries.
• Do make sure your children are educated on how to stay safe at the beach.
• Do make sure you are recognisable.
• Don't forget your bucket and spade.
• Don't make sand castles in dry sand.
• Do wear flip flops or sandals if you can: any footwear that sand would shake out of easily.
• Don't forget to keep applying that suncream!

And finally...

• Don't forget to have a great time :)

10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

I was reading my daughter (who shall forever be known as Mochyn Gini) a lovely bedtime story this evening called "Eat Your Peas" by Kes Gray. It's about a little girl called Daisy who doesn't want to eat her peas and her mum who promises the earth in her desperation to get Daisy to eat the peas. I won't spoil the story in case somebody might be about to read it, but it made me realise how we expect our children to do things that we normally don't do then complain when they refuse to do it.

10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

1. Not eating all their veg or anything else they don't like. Let's face it - some children do not like sprouts. Some adults don't either!
2. Not taking their plates out when your desk is probably full of coffee mugs etc.
3. Not keeping their rooms tidy when your room is the home's "dumping ground" (I know mine is).
4. Not taking their dirty clothes from the bathroom - they probably lost them underneath yours :)
5. Using foul language - Even if it's just what you say accidentally when you stub your toe.
6. Interrupting - It is so annoying when you're talking to somebody to hear "MUUUUUUUUUM! Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Mummyyyyyy! Mummyyyyyy..." and while you might not do it quite like that, think of the times you've interrupted them talking amongst themselves or before they've finished their sentence.
7. Putting extra bits in the shopping trolley I mean come on! When you're slugging around the supermarket and you see something you like, you pop it in without thought.
8. Not finishing a task because they're distracted My OH (Forever known as Big Bear) is up and has put a film on. I have stopped writing this to watch the film at least 4/5 times. The film has been on 30 mins.
9. Picking noses/biting nails We all have some sort of habit we indulge in, we were always told by our parents not to yet we still do :)
10. Borrowing without asking "It's only for a short while, he won't mind" You may not do it with your kids stuff, but you've probably done it in front of them.

If you haven't/don't do any of the above, then well done you, you are the perfect parent!

If you're unfortunately normal like everyone else, then remember - some things are OK to do, some really aren't. Are you telling them off for an annoying behaviour that you can ignore or is what they are doing genuinely wrong?

I would say that habits such as nose-picking, nail-biting or thumb-sucking are things you can ignore, if you try hard enough. It's not easy to do that straight away (Goldilocks came home sucking her thumb one day when she was 3 and hasn't stopped doing so since!) but it gets easier with time.

With the things that aren't OK, try to remember that a child will be reluctant to follow your instruction if he sees you doing the opposite. I regularly leave cups and plates on my little table, a habit I'm trying to break. Goldilocks takes her plates out eventually, after I nag her several times to do it!

If you want your children to do it, lead by example... or die trying :D

Too Fat For A Massage? Me Too!

Well I'm (insert obscene amount of weeks here) weeks pregnant with baby number 3 and the lower back pain is getting worse by the day! As the post title suggests, I'm currently too fat to lie face down, and waiting until I'm no longer too fat to lie face down defeats the object of beating back/hip pain in late pregnancy.

A short list of things that will not save me:

• The school run. Bumping a ten-tonne pram up and down four flights of stairs twice each day whilst juggling a difficult 5yo? Could do with having less of that: LONG LIVE THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
• The school being a pain. You are already aware of my living situation. If you call me because Goldilocks has had an accident and needs to be changed then fair enough, get her support teacher back in or an alternative one so she can have the one to one support you tell me she needs, or stop complaining that I'm taking her home for the day.
• Painkillers. Unless I'm mistaken (and according to my partner I'm never mistaken... or was that never admits to it?) you can't take ibuprofen in the last 3 months of pregnancy. Technically, people suffering with IBS shouldn't take ibuprofen anyway, because although it's an anti-inflammatory, it inflames the lining of your gut. Paracetamol = thin air in tablet form and co-codamol = evil medicine that makes you itch worse than having thrush - you know, when you get thrush so bad you look like a cat that has worms. Is that TMI? I believe it might be...
• Little Bear wriggling so much during nappy changes. Seriously, we've been doing this same thing several times a day for over 8 months now. Surely you must get the picture, Mummy will not let you roll, it is not ok to roll, Mummy does not like poo on her wrist because you rolled, and please stop peeing whilst crawling away from me. You make my carpet smell.
• Goldilocks refusing to tidy her room. I can think of no way to beat this rather than taking all of her toys away. Which really isn't fair to a 5yo with possible mental health problems, so, bending down and tidying it myself or tripping and clenching my back it is!
• Even if pregnant women could use Deep Heat, I'm allergic and upon use look like somebody has poured acid over the affected area. Lush.

However, on a positive note, I can still do the washing up fine, I can do the clothes washing if I sit on the floor in Ultimate Frogger Mode whilst I load the machine, and the look on Goldilocks's face when I pull out the innards of her stuffed Christmas penguin and throw them in the microwave is rather priceless! The heat is lovely on my back :)

10 Things To Do When It Rains

The summer holidays are almost here and I've dutifully added a few events to my calendar. It took me a while to realise I hadn't planned anything specific for rainy days.

Rainy day activities (or any activity for that matter) just don't come naturally to me. If I'm stuck in for the day, then I will play with the children, but the majority of the day will be spent tidying up after them, cooking and making snacks/drinks for them, changing nappies, wiping faces, watching TV and flitting back and forth Facebook to share my bored-at-home misery with other people, or to try and convince somebody to come and visit us.

Six weeks is a long time to be doing that most of the time - I will not have it this year! So after some careful thought, here is a list of things to do when the skies open, or I'm otherwise prevented from leaving my humble abode.

1. Print off some colouring sheets - The CBeebies Website may be useful for this, or Google if you want a specific character.
2. Make a playpen - You don't need anything fancy for this - just some sheets and cleverly positioned furniture will do.
3. Make some facepaint - Here is a recipe!
4. Let the kids "clean" your bathroom - What harm can they possibly do with a limited supply of water and a few cloths?
5. Let them cook with you - Homemade pizza is a nice, easy one if you buy a base. Check out CBeebies, Netmums or Google some recipes with kids (that's to cook with, NOT containing!) or if all else fails - pop along to your local supermarket and get some box sets for muffins or cookies etc!
6. Read to them - Or have them read to you, age depending. Don't be afraid to get stuck in, giving each character it's own special voice or showing off a few of your moves while you read. Your kids will enjoy it more!
7. Put the music on - Remembering to be respectful to neighbours, of course! My daughter loves to listen to music of all different genres. Have a dancing competition (remembering the kids always win), pretend to be a rock star, play air guitar - or just have a cuddle and listen to some soothing music, ideally just before bedtime.
8. Make something arty - Were you just about to throw that newspaper and those cardboard boxes in the recycling bin? Stop, before it's too late! Why not let the kids loose on them instead?
9. Cwtch up in front of the TV - Stick a film or their favourite TV channel on and actually watch it with them instead of using the box as a babysitter. Believe it or not, TV is not the devil incarnate, you can enjoy it guilt-free!
10. Just go out, regardless of the weather! - Seriously, stop reading this - go get your wellies and mac, put them on and jump in some puddles - we live in Britain after all, where a puddle is (usually) only a stones throw away!

Homemade Face Paint.

Something to try on a rainy day!

• 2 parts cornflour
• 1 part cold cream (I used E45?)
• 1 part water
• Food colouring

1. Mix the cornflour and cream together
2. Add the water and stir well
3. Add food colouring one drop at a time, until desired colour is achieved.

I find making several colours at once works best as the measuring isn't quite as fiddly, just divide before you add the colouring :)