Happy New Year 2012!

Top Baby Names for 2011

Babatude Baby Clothing - available at www.myfunnybunny.com

BABY GIRL NAMES 2011

1    OLIVIA
2    LILY
3    SOPHIE
4    AMELIA
5    EMILY
6    JESSICA
7    GRACE
8    AVA
9    RUBY
10    MIA
11    CHLOE
12    EVIE
13    ISABELLA
14    SOPHIA
15    POPPY
16    ISLA
17    ELLA
18    LUCY
19    FREYA
20    DAISY
21    MAISIE
22    LILLY
23    ISABELLE
24    CHARLOTTE
25    ELLIE
26    SUMMER
27    MEGAN
28    HOLLY
29    LAYLA
30    EVA
31    ERIN
32    MILLIE
33    LOLA
34    PHOEBE
35    LEXI
36    LACEY
37    IMOGEN
38    SCARLETT
39    SIENNA
40    EMMA
41    MOLLY
42    HANNAH
43    ALICE
44    AMY
45    BROOKE
46    KATIE
47    ABIGAIL
48    LEAH
49    JASMINE
50    GRACIE
51    AMBER
52    ROSIE
53    SOFIA
54    MATILDA
55    FLORENCE
56    ELIZABETH
57    FAITH
58    AMELIE
59    GEORGIA
60    ANNA
61    MAYA
62    MADISON
63    JULIA
64    REBECCA
65    BETHANY
66    PAIGE
67    MADDISON
68    NIAMH
69    KAYLA
70    ISABEL
71    BELLA
72    ESME
73    ISOBEL
74    LEXIE
75    LAUREN
76    CAITLIN
77    WILLOW
78    ZOE
79    SKYE
80    ROSE
81    ZARA
82    KEIRA
83    ELEANOR
84    ELIZA
85    EMILIA
86    MARTHA
87    HOLLIE
88    EVELYN
89    HEIDI
90    TILLY
91    DARCY
92    EVE
93    NICOLE
94    ELSIE
95    SARAH
96    LIBBY
97    HARRIET
98    ABBIE
99    MAISY
100    MYA


BABY BOY NAMES 2011

1    HARRY
2    JACK
3    OLIVER
4    CHARLIE
5    ALFIE
6    JACOB
7    THOMAS
8    JAMES
9    RILEY
10    ETHAN
11    JOSHUA
12    WILLIAM
13    GEORGE
14    MAX
15    DANIEL
16    NOAH
17    OSCAR
18    LOGAN
19    ARCHIE
20    DYLAN
21    LUCAS
22    JAKE
23    SAMUEL
24    JOSEPH
25    TYLER
26    JAYDEN
27    LEO
28    LEWIS
29    RYAN
30    MASON
31    FINLEY
32    HENRY
33    ALEXANDER
34    ADAM
35    HARRISON
36    FREDDIE
37    BENJAMIN
38    CALLUM
39    LIAM
40    LUKE
41    ISAAC
42    MATTHEW
43    JAMIE
44    CONNOR
45    ALEX
46    THEO
47    NATHAN
48    KAI
49    EDWARD
50    TOBY
51    HARVEY
52    HARLEY
53    AIDEN
54    BEN
55    FINLAY
56    MICHAEL
57    AARON
58    OLLIE
59    CAMERON
60    SAM
61    DAVID
62    ZACHARY
63    LEON
64    OWEN
65    SEBASTIAN
66    TOMMY
67    RHYS
68    BOBBY
69    JENSON
70    KYLE
71    LOUIS
72    KAYDEN
73    LUCA
74    EVAN
75    JACKSON
76    BLAKE
77    KIAN
78    CALEB
79    DEXTER
80    LOUIE
81    JUDE
82    ZAC
83    TAYLOR
84    REECE
85    RORY
86    ASHTON
87    HAYDEN
88    FRANKIE
89    ARTHUR
90    BAILEY
91    GABRIEL
92    STANLEY
93    CODY
94    ELLIOT
95    JAY
96    BILLY
97    JOHN
98    AIDAN
99    COREY
100    JOEL

Kindly provided by www.Bounty.com, home of the Bounty Parenting Club :)

New Year's Resolution 2012

Be yourself, just better, never change what is already awesome!

Help 5yr old Chiane fight a rare Brain Cancer

Today I saw this video (below) on my friend's profile on facebook, she's a friend of Chiane's family, the video shows part 3 of Chiane's journey so far. A 5 year old little girl going through radiotherapy for her rare brain cancer, it moved me a great deal.

My family is also going through a cancer ordeal with an older member of the family, I usually keep it to myself but it's been very tough, I can't image what this family is going through with such a young child.

I have a five year old boy so this really hit home, as it probably will if you have a young child too.

Chiane is a little trooper, I hope she continues to be strong throughout all of her ordeal and well done to her family and friends for the support they give.

Please do help Chiane raise £100k for her special operation in the USA, anything would help, even just £1 will help them get closer to their target.

HELP CHIANE HERE: http://helpmefightcancer.co.uk/donations/

Find out more about Chiane and her journey on her website www.helpmefightcancer.co.uk

Visit http://helpmefightcancer.co.uk/ for more info on Chiane's journey fighting cancer.

Monica x

Extra £22k needed for FSID & GOSH!

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, FSID funds research into sudden infant death syndrome and recently took part in The Big Give, a charitable event in which nominated charities were able to have all funds raised in a one week period, matched by The Big Give donors.

This year, FSID are requesting donations towards a ground-breaking research project to be carried out by a specialist team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, studying the causes of cot deaths.

During The Big Give week, a staggering £40,000 was generously donated and this has been doubled to £80,000. Despite this, another £44,000 is still needed to fund this piece of vital research.

To ensure the research can go ahead, The Gro Company has stepped forward and pledged to match up to £22,000 worth of donations made to FSID via their website, www.fsid.org.uk. If this extra £44,000 is raised, the vital research into investigating the causes of sudden infant death can go ahead.

Each year in the UK, 300 families are left without a reason for the sudden and unexpected death of their baby. Professor Sebire and his team at Great Ormond Street Hospital will use a new lab technique known as proteomics to see if infection may actually be a cause of some deaths. It has already been established that bacteria play a part in cot death but they are also found in babies who died of other causes.

The team will look at changes in the pattern of proteins found in tissue samples, which could identify those babies who did die as the result of infection. If they are successful, then it would be possible to develop a cheap and fast post-mortem test so that more families can have the answer to why their baby died. It would also suggest a genetic susceptibility in those babies that die as a result of infection.

To donate, please go to www.fsid.org.uk and help FSID fund research in to cot death.

Thank you for reading, hope you can help and have a fantastic Christmas!

M xx

Colchester Zoo lowest admission price ever this winter!

In winter it's hard to get out of the house, so to encourage you we are bringing you this fantastic offer by Colchester Zoo, they are offering reduced admission prices this winter, the special rates are the lowest the zoo has charged since 2005!

You can now save a whopping 40% on the peak rate prices when you visit between the 14th November and 31st December. If you visit on any day during this period you will be charged just £9.99 per adult, just £6.50 per child (3-14) and only £7.99 for senior citizens (over 60).

The offers for Colchester Zoo don’t stop there! They are also offering you a fabulous breakfast offer which is available from 09.30am until 11.30am, enjoy an English breakfast at Cafe UmPhafa with 2 English breakfasts and 2 hot drinks for just £9.99.

These great offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotional voucher. Please note that admission prices on the following dates will be different to the winter rate due to the Magic of Christmas events, 26th, 27th November, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 17th until 24th December 2011.

For more information on visit www.colchester-zoo.com

If you do visit let us know how the kids enjoyed it :)

Monica x

A Song... and 2 kids later!

My darling husband was going through some old mini discs we found while sorting out the shed (Yes, I know minidiscs we all thought they were going 2 b so great didn't we?!?) and found OUR SONG, the song he asked me out to... I had no idea it was from Zorro the movie and I had no idea that I was gonna marry him at the time but the hopeless romantic that he is he already had that in his plans.

My husband didn't actually ask me if I would go out with him, he asked me if I would spend the rest of his lifetime with him...

After 11 years I'm still here, we have two beautiful children and I'm very much looking forward to the next 50 yrs or so.

As long as he keeps working out of course...Do they do gym memberships for 70 yr olds? ;)

M xx

B Organic Soothing Balm wins Best Nappy Cream GOLD Award

As always we choose the best products for you and now an Award Winning Soothing Body Balm!

B Organics most successful, popular and multifunctional Soothing Body Balm recently won Loved by Parents Gold award in Best Nappy Cream beating well known high street brands Weleda and Sudocrem. “The products were tested by parents and the top 5 put to public vote making this award all the more poignant. I feel so touched that a product I developed to reduce the discomfort my daughter's eczema put her in is now loved by parents all over the country.” Aycin said.

If this win wasn't exciting enough the Body Balm is also short-listed in Mumpreneur UK Awards for Best Mumpreneur Product Award. One of the judges is none other than Duncan Bannatyne from Dragon’s Den and we know he knows a good thing when he sees it.

All the B Organics Skincare range including the Soothing Body Balm is Paraben-free, Ethoxylate-free, Propylene Glycol-free, Silicone-free, DEA-free and artificial colour free, no nasties here!

Made in UK - 60ml Jars - Organic ingredients - Free from nasty chemicals

Suitable for use on the most sensitive skin - Suitable for Vegans - Animal Cruelty Free

This multifunctional Soothing Body Balm soothes Eczema, Dermatitis, Skin irritations, Sensitive skin and Nappy rash due to being 100% Organic & Natural and Totally Chemical Free.
 These properties not only make it popular with mums, dads and children but also within the industry having already won numerous awards including TIPS award and Highly Commended in the Natural Beauty Awards.

I do use this on my own daughter and this was the only thing that soothes her skin and takes away the Eczema so this award was no surprise to me but I wanted to share it with you!

Monica x

Baby & Children's Markets Taking Over the UK!

Leanne and Steve Taylor set up Baby & Children's in the UK after starting a family in Australia, they found pre-loved markets helped them save a fortune and snap up all the baby equipment, clothes and toys their family needed for less.

"We've got about 16 mums on the books at the moment, organising and running successful markets in their home towns." says Steve.

The concept is simple: each market features stalls of cut-price baby essentials. Mums can sell on pre-loved, pre-owned items their children have grown out of; small businesses and mumpreneurs can book a stall to sell their wares; and, best of all, mums can mix and mingle while they pick up a bargain.

"The customer base is endless as there are always new mums or new families moving into an area," says Steve "Our existing mums tell us the markets are really sociable events, where people can meet like-minded mums and get support and advice, while shopping for a bargain or clearing the clutter."

We all have to be more savvy with our savings nowadays and this new network of markets offers more than just a day out. You can simply come to shop; hire a stall to clear outgrown and preloved baby and children's equipment to raise cash.

Their latest addition is Essex, this area is being run by Monica Strydom, a very enthusiastic mumpreneur who already has other businesses on her belt, one of them a children's online retail store.

"I am very excited about bringing the Baby & Children's Market to Essex, specially in the current economic climate, our local parents need this! We plan to have these events very regularly." says Monica "Our first event is planned to be before Christmas to help parents get some extra cash for shopping in this pocket aching season, it will also help local small businesses."

If you are in Essex you can join Monica on the Baby and Children's Market - Essex page here.

Why spend a fortune on the high street when you can buy a bargain and make friends at a Baby And Children's Market?

For a full list of Baby and Children's Markets, check out their website www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/BabyandChildrensMarketUK.

Say 'Thank You' to your midwife

Some of us had midwives that were a pain in the bottom, some of us were hacked like we were a cow in the butchers and weren't so lucky (I personally know at least one lady, that was treated like that!) and don't really give a rat's ** about the midwife that took part in our birth and would slap her if we ever saw her again.



Hopefully majority of us had a nice midwife, I hope, that treated us with respect and care.

Image Courtesy of NHS

The midwife that assisted in my daughters birth, just over 2 years ago was one of those.

She respected my wishes and almost didn't touch me and my daughter on my hospital water birth, with very little intervention, many kind words and encouragement, I gave birth to my daughter myself with the midwife only assisting the baby after she was born and I had a chance to hold her for a few minutes... I took my daughter out of the water and held her close to my body and it was the best feeling in the world.



It was thanks to my midwife that day that the room was quiet with only ambient music, and my birth was a pleasant (it did hurt like hell but I prefer not to concentrate on that!) experience.



Nothing like my boys birth (my first) which was a right nightmare. I actually feel rubbish that I didn't do more for my midwife, other than say thank you on that day. I sadly can't even remember her name, to do something now.



But if you gave birth recently and remember your midwife's name or simply don't have a mushy brain like me... you could still do something nice for your midwife!!



Send her a nice gift or perhaps nominate her for an award? Or both?



The Royal College of Midwives are holding their Annual Midwifery Awards 2012 and you can nominate your midwife over at https://m.johnsonsbaby.co.uk/midwife-of-the-year.php, closing date is 26 September 2011.



Was your midwife lovely or a terror? Would you hug her or bash* her?



Monica xx



*Bashing not actually endorsed, please don't bash anyone as this generally lands people in prison!

Naturalmat Coco Mat Review

The Naturalmat Coco Mat Baby Mattress is recommended for newborns and babies up to

18 months. It provides children with gentle support and excellent breathability. It consists of

an organic coir (coconut fibre) core which gives the mattress spring whilst the organic lambswool tufting adds extra comfort.



The Coco Mat Mattress comes with a machine washable cotton cover and more importantly it is completely chemical free.

The Naturalmat Coco Mat Mattress can be ordered online and be delivered to your door within five days.

Naturalmat customers have provided the company with an overwhelming amount of positive

reviews. You can purchase Naturalmat products from www.naturalmat.co.uk.



Our opinion:



We got one of these mattresses for my daughter, she had a soft mattress which I wasn't very happy with in the first place and needed a new one right about now.



This arrived pretty quickly, when I opened the box and had a look at how luxe it was, I had an epiphany! I had to get her room sorted before we put on her cot bed... make her room look as lovely as the new mattress.



Silly I know as no one would actually see the mattress but it mattered to me! Maybe it's mummy syndrome, not sure, but we did end up painting her room, getting rid of loads of stuff and now her room looks pretty. Her mattress was put in and she went to bed that evening as normal.



I must say, as her old mattress was softer, I was expecting her to wake up but nothing, she slept until the next morning as normal... lovely. The cover on the mattress is a very nice cream and extremely soft cotton, the outer cover can be removed for washing which is nice and practical.



Even when I sit on the cot bed the mattress feels comfy to me, when I bought her first mattress I spent about £80 and if I had realised that I could have gotten a natural one that is super comfortable and totally chemical free for a bit more I would of happily bought one (Specially considering its hand made right in England, Devon to be precise)!



The mattress comes with a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee, and after a quick peek... they do adult mattresses now as well, although I would have to save up for a good while as my bed is king size!



The fact that the mattresses are Chemical Free is one of the most important factors to me and my family as well as comfort, there are already so much pollutants around us and we spend an awful lot of time sleeping and inhaling whatever is in our mattress, so this fact is reassuring.



It also might not matter to everyone but I was quite impressed how the mattress was packaged, it came wrapped in 100% biodegradable cornstarch "plastic" (instead of real plastic that stays around for years and years) and then in a cardboard box. Excellent, impressively eco friendly.



So a week later...



Rating: 10/10



Monica x

MOO - Awesome Printing & a Voucher Code!

Yes you heard it right... MOO...probably the coolest printing company on the planet!!!



If you haven't heard yet MOO was born out of a love of beautiful, high-quality print.



MOO brings different to the table with the patent-pending ‘Printfinity’ technology, it helps its customers to showcase their business or brand, their products or personality, by printing a different image on every card in a pack!



Printing millions of cards a month, MOO has hundreds of thousands of customers in over 180 countries.



Well I guess you would like your promo code? Yes? Ok, there is one catch... you have to be my friend!



You are?! Great then go here!



See because you are my friend and I am ever so popular, my friends at MOO will give you 10% off your order! Neat isn't it? Go on pop over to the MOO website.

Business Cards
Business cards should be a conversation starter – don’t let
your cards let you! MOO allows you to upload your photos
or designs, logo and details to fully personalise your cards,
with a different image on every card in a pack!



Available in short print runs of 50 cards, MOO’s doublesided,
Business Cards are printed in full colour on a smooth,
premium 350gsm/16pt stock. Ideal for making a great first
impression.
Premium Business Cards from:
$21.99 / £10.99 (excl. VAT) / €12.79 (excl. VAT)

Greeting Cards
A personalised greeting makes a card come to life. Create
cards for your clients, your friends or your family by
uploading your own images or designs.

Haven’t got your own? Why not chose from a selection of MOO designs!
You can easily customise the cards with your logo or a
personal message. Available in short print runs of 25 cards,
with a different image on each card in a pack.
Custom Greeting Cards with envelopes from:
$39.99 / £17.79 (excl. VAT) / €21.45 (excl. VAT)



There's loads more on their website!! MiniCards, Eco Friendly Business Cards, Postcards, Sticker Books and loads of accessories... You have to see it to believe it.



We are regular customers, so we certainly recommend them!



Monica x

Radiopaq Duo's DJ Style Headphones Review

Radiopaq extended their popular range of unique designer audio headsets by adding the Duos a classic over-head DJ style headphones available in five colours: High Gloss Copper, Candy Green, Candy Purple, Metallic Silver,  and Soft Touch Black.



The Duo headphones are adjustable and easy to store thanks to Fold Flat Tilt and Swivel headphone cups, with soft 15mm cushions. Gold plated 3.5mm connector also added for optimal sound transfer.

Powerful 40mm sound driver were added to the Duos to ensure first class specification.



Radiopaq Duos are available for RRP of £19.99 in stores now at Carphone Warehouse, ASDA, Argos, WHSmith and www.radiopaqproducts.com.

Gadget Dad Verdict:



There are a lot of DJ style headphones out there and these new Radiopaq Duos really freshens things up for a change. The colours are really fresh and will be a great hit for both young and old during this summer. The headphones come in a great looking solid box and is packed very well without wasting packing materials.



The problem with the usual DJ style headphones are that they are very bulky and not so easy to transport but Radiopaq made it easy with the special Fold Flat Tilt and Swivel design. They fold so flat that there is no problem to fit them in a briefcase or student bag.



They are also comfortable to wear around the neck when not in use. The soft 15mm cushions are very soft on the ears but I think the cushions could have been a bit bigger as they did feel a bit uncomfortable around the ears if worn for a while, as if they were pushing your ears at the bottom and the top. I understand that they wanted to keep the headphones as small as possible and also still keep them comfortable but maybe if they made them oval shape they could have been a bit better. A microphone would have been a welcomed addition to these as a lot of people these days use their smartphones to listen to their music while on the go.



The build quality and the way they fold flat are excellent and the fact that they are available in 5 funky and stylish colours are a thumbs up!



The sound quality of the Duos are remarkably crisp and the base just hits the right mellow defined note and outside noises from the busy world are kept outside, feels like you are in your own little world without feeling like your damaging your ears to keep other noises out so you enjoying your favourite music.



Pros:

• Easy Fold Flat, Tilt and Swivel design for storing away in a bag or briefcase.


• Adjustable soft padded headband for secure fit.


• Ultra soft 15mm deep ear cushions reduce pressure on ears.


• Unbeatable crisp and superior audio for the price.


• Gold plated 3.5mm connector for optimal sound transfer on: Apple iPad, iPhone and other MP3 Players.


• Available in 5 cool colours: High Gloss Copper, Candy Green, Candy Purple, Metallic Silver and Soft Touch Black.

Cons: 

• The only thing I found could be improved with the Radiopaq headphones was that the cushions going around the ears could have been a tiny bit bigger or maybe oval shaped to make them a bit more comfortable around the ears and they could have added a microphone so you can use it with smartphones like the iPhone.

Gadget Dad Rating: 8/10



Till next time

Gadget Dad

Boots Active Stretch Nappies Review

We were sent a pack of these nappies to try out, with my daughter a 2 year old girl.

In my opinion these performed just as well as the leading brand we normally use, there were no leaks, they seemed comfortable and absorbed everything well.



They had fun bear designs on them which my daughter was delighted with and were easy to fasten & kept fastened while in use. The stretchy parts on the sides of the nappy had just the right amount of stretch.



I am not sure how these perform on boys as my little girl has had very few problems with nappies while my son had all sorts when he was a baby.



Based on my experience with a whole pack of 24, I definitely give the thumbs up, they performed as well as the brand we normally use.



They are on special offer at the moment in Boots, at £8.00 for 2 packs of these, so pretty good value.



My Funny Bunny Rating: 10/10

Mini Lalaloopsy!! Sooooo cute...

Seriously... how cute is this?! When I was offered this to review, I thought I have to have it!!!

Never mind the kids, such a terrible mother aren't I? Well I couldn't let anyone see me playing with it by myself so of course I had to give it to the kids and play with them, otherwise my husband would think I'm bonkers, naturally!



Since then I looked at www.lalaloopsy.com and the website is just as cute as the dolls AND I found a whole new range including a tree house which I sooooo want, for the kids of course.



Yes, ahem, diverting from the real purpose here, a review of course.



First, I mean after me showing my obsession already, I should tell you a bit more about them.

These
cute 3” Mini Lalaloopsy™ dolls have moveable arms, legs and head. They
each come with their own cute pet and accessories. The Dolls are priced
around £5.99 and suitable for ages 4 plus.

Also available in the
range are the fun Mini Lalaloopsy™ playsets, which include the Crumbs’
Tea Party™ set we got and others, priced at around £9.99.



There are many
other accessories in the set like a ferris wheel, a tree house and so
on, you can create your own little magical world, where houses are askew, animals are unusual sizes and colours, and everything is made from fabrics, buttons and thread, ahem, that came out wrong, I meant create it for your kids of course.



I really wanted my kids to love this, I love sewing and I love baking, so Crumbs really appealed to me and lets say brought out my inner child.



Luckily my kids loved it, I was relieved otherwise my excuse to collect and play with these would have soooo disappeared!



My daughter instantly started squealing when she saw it, and didn't stop bugging me until I opened it. They both loved playing with it, the only negative thing I found about it was that the chair legs come off, I think its good that you can separate the chairs and the table apart so you can store it away in a box while you are not playing with it but the chair legs are so teeny weeny they easily get lost.



Apart from that minor detail we are totally in love with these and we really want to collect these!

My Funny Bunny Rating: 9/10



If you want to get your hands on your own Mini Lalaloopsy (love the name by the way!) you can now find them in most toy stores or on Amazon.




Monica x

Join the celebrities and protect baby in style!

Pregnancy Tips: Reduce Morning Sickness

Jackie Fletcher speaks to many mums-to-be who are overwhelmed by information around pregnancy and childbirth. As co-author of ‘Secrets of Confident Childbirth’, she loves helping them feel less daunted about what’s to come.

You were so excited: You found out you are expecting a baby, but now you feel ill. Just the wafts of food or the smell of coffee send you running. Maybe it isn't too bad and you just have a lingering nausea. You are not the only one, it is estimated that 66% of women experience 'Morning Sickness' during the first few months of pregnancy. It still doesn't make you feel any better. 
 

Morning sickness does not only occur in the morning, you can feel its effects any time, day or night. You may vomit or just feel nauseous. It is also commonly regarded as a symptom of the first trimester, yet for some it continues until 18 weeks and for a few, will continue throughout the whole pregnancy.

In this article

• So why do women suffer with “Morning Sickness”?
• What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
• How do I know if I am dehydrated?
• Should I call the midwife or doctor?
• Can I reduce morning sickness? 

So why do women suffer with “Morning Sickness”?

There is no definite answer and nothing has been proven, it is different for everyone. It could be a combination of different aspects. Here are some of them:

• Hormonal changes
• Emotions and emotional changes
• The body needs to slow down
• Protection from food borne illnesses
• Change in the body's requirements
• Low blood sugar 

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

Put simply it is when a women experiences morning sickness so severely that she either vomits excessively and dehydrates or feels so ill that she cannot eat or drink enough to avoid dehydration. Dehydration then becomes a concern. So if you are suffering with severe morning sickness you must contact your GP.

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

I am going to sidetrack a moment. Now here's a very important point that applies to everyone, morning sickness or not, pregnant or not, female or not; If you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated!.

So thirst is a sign of dehydration, as is dizziness and if you are urinating less and your urine is dark in colour. When you have enough fluids in your body, your urine will be very pale, almost clear.

Signs that you need to get medical attention due to morning sickness?

If you:

• Vomit more than 3-4 times per day
• Notice that the vomiting is not getting any better
• Feel weak and faint
• Are losing weight
• Feel thirsty and are unable to keep any liquids down
• Haven't been able to eat or drink in 24 hours
• Have eaten but haven't been able to keep anything down for 24 hours
• Are urinating less and your urine is a darker colour than usual

Should I call the midwife or doctor?

If you feel you may be dehydrating then get in touch with your medical caregiver. You can contact your midwife and if she is not available, then contact your doctor. If you do not have easy access to a Midwife, browse through Greatvine where you'll find a fantastic list of Midwife's who are waiting to help you. 

There are many things you can do to ease morning sickness whether severe or slight. I have 22 tips to lessen morning sickness; combining them with some understanding about morning sickness hugely increases the response. One tip is to listen to the relaxation CD ‘Simply Reducing Morning Sickness’. 

For more details you can contact Jackie Fletcher via Greatvine. 

(Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

My Cybermummy 2011 Experience

Last Saturday was the first time I attended the Cybermummy conference, an event that attracted over 400 bloggers and unlike the name suggests, male writers were also welcome. It was a pleasure to meet the likes of Nick Coffer of www.mydaddycooks.com and Tim Atkinson of www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk amongst all the other female bloggers.

It was a really valuable experience, I learnt some interesting stuff and met lots of people that I had spoken to on social networks and lurked around their blogs, yes I do lurk! *hangs head in shame*

It was really weird though,  lots of people that I had spoken to but didn't actually know what most of them looked like.

I was of course incognito as everyone thought I was a terribly cute bunny as my avatar suggests. No sadly not a cute bunny... I actually looked like this on the day although not with that funny face because I had a sweet in my mouth in this picture. (Oooh and I was slightly embarrassed as I asked someone whom I had just met to take this photo!)

It was quite hard to see who everyone was because their badges kept on turning around, next time I think they should have clip on badges so we can see who everyone is easier. At least the badge I was wearing about sponsors Create, was well visible and sparked a few conversations!

The day went by really fast with all the seminars, I missed some I wanted to go to because they would often clash, I am a bit of a sponge so I want to learn everything in one day, as one does!

There was some great speakers including Sarah Brown but my favourite seminars were ones presented by successful bloggers themselves like Tara Cain, Sticky Fingers, Rachael Lucas, Tales from the Village, Claire and Lucy McDonald, Crumbs and many others.

Unfortunately in between breaks there wasn't much time to mingle as you made your way around to meet all the brands and PRs attending, and getting a peek at some fabulous new products including the cool new LeapPad from LeapFrog, that I so want one for my son for Christmas and some cool new HP e-printers... my home office could use one of those too!

Ubisoft also promised to send us some games for us to try out and tell you about, so lets hope they keep their promise, because I can't wait to tell you what Dance Juniors and the sequel to Your Shape Fitness Evolved are like!! Eeeeeek!

I did look like a Christmas tree when I came home though with all the goodies I got, one of my favourites was the LeapFrog Fridge Farm which seriously entertains my 2 year old and my 5 year old too! He's actually learning about farms this half term in school so that was handy. Gosh I sound like a LeapFrog advocate!

I did forget to mention cupcakes, everyone loves cupcakes, our waistlines don't but we do so no wonder they were very popular at Cybermummy with HP, Johnsons Baby and Lego all indulging us with fabulous and yummy cupcakes.... Oooh the HP ones were the most delicious but the Lego ones, although tiny were the most fun to look at...

If we didn't meet this year at Cybermummy this year make sure to watch out for me next year. If we did meet make sure to comment so I can do a post on all the people I met and introduce you to everyone else too!

A big thanks to www.Create.net who were my sponsors this year, it was a pleasure to be sponsored by a company who's products I believe in. I cannot recommend them enough as I have had my website with them for over a year, do pay them a visit if you are in need of a website!
Maybe they will sponsor me again next year too ;)
 
Monica x

Cybermummy 2011 Meet and Greet

Its Cybermummy time tomorrow and I'm really excited but really scared at the same time... is that even really possible?! 

I am a Cybermummy virgin, so have no idea what to expect and really scared I wont recognize everyone without their avatars and what not, I am really terrible with names AND I am a bunny avatar on twitter and most places so I think people won't recognize me!

I will probably be the girl (saying woman just sounds so grown up ;) ) sitting in the corner all by herself trying to look pretty and inconspicuous but secretly wants to meet EVERYONE!

So here if you see me do come and say hello and be the braver of us, I am only shy to start with once you get me going I'm actually quite outgoing! (Yes I'm weird like that)

Name: Monica ( I am also known by Mummy to 2 lovely little beauties)

Blog: You are on it! www.myfunnybunnyblog.com

Twitter ID: @myfunnybunny

Height: Approx 5ft 5 and I don't wear heels (I can't) so I will probably be the shortest in the room!

Hair: Auburn and short

Eyes: Dark brown

Likes: People, My Family, Summer, Olives, Chourico, Potatoes, colour White and bright colours, South Africa, Portugal... I like lots of things!!

Dislikes:  Trashy or Rude people, cold weather (Yes I know, I do live in England no need to point that out... cold is most of the weather) apart from that I'm not too fussy.

This is what I look like when I look all pretty, lets face it, I probably wont look like this tomorrow but pretty close anyway... you'll recognize me!

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

I have to also thank my sponsors Create for allowing me to be there.

Monica xx

Brain Boosters (Omega 3) Review

Brain Boosters are little capsules of orange fruit bursts, packed full of Omega 3 providing concentrated levels of essential fatty acids DHA and EPA for improved concentration and brain function.

The DHA in Omega 3 fish oil is an important component of the brain. DHA plays an essential role in brain development, and also assists in maintaining healthy brain function and levels of concentration.

We got sent a pack of Brain Boosters by Healthspan and as I must say I was very interested to try them on the kids because we had previously bought some in the supermarket to give to the kids but they were really expensive and they didn't taste very pleasantly, so once the packet finished we kind of forgot about them.

The Brain Boosters were delivered in the box the actual vitamins come in, which I found really cool as its a eco friendly way of packaging and it fits through the letter box,  kids loved these and we call them "sweetie medicine" so they know they are only allowed one a day but they taste great too.

As the kids like them so much I researched further and I found out some of the many ways DHA helps children's health:

• Supports strong cognitive function by supporting optimal neuron function
• Promotes ability to concentrate and focus
• Affects the motor control part of the brain, playing a major role in muscle function and coordination
• Supports normal social development
• Promotes appropriate behaviour
• Provides increased visual acuity

The packaging also came with a voucher to get discount off Healthspan's Children's Multivitamin Bear which I'm going to have a look at trying, I'm definitely going to order the Brain Boosters again, one months supply for a child at £9.95 is quite good considering that it includes postage.

I will be looking out to see if it does in fact improve his concentration and what not but because I still have "Baby Brain" I might order some adult ones too and see if it works for me too.

Do you already take or give your children Omega 3? Did you see a noticeable difference since taking it?

Monica x

Notes from you!

Thanks to all input from customers and friends about our advert, this is what it looked like before here and now it looks like this...

Much improved I think :)

Do let me know what you think!

Monica x

Your 2 cents on new ad

 We have designed a new advert and would love your opinion on it!

I think its simple and cute but what do you think?
This particular one is designed for girls obviously but I hope to have one for boys too.

If you are a design buff feel free to give us some tips or if you are a friend feel free to use it on your blog/ website to link to us ;) www.myfunnybunny.com

Can't wait to hear what you think!

Monica xx

Captivating Toothbrushes for Kids - Firefly Review

We got sent a pair of Firefly toothbrushes for the kids, a cool Spiderman one for Funny Bunny who is 5 and a Hello Kitty one for BooBoo who is 2 in a few days.

They were both over the moon when these arrived, they didn't just have a picture of the character like other toothbrushes, they were actually character shaped!!
When they realised that they lit up when you pressed the button, they were seriously jumping up and down ( Funny Bunny started it and Boo Boo being the copy cat that she is shortly followed!).



So here we are in the middle of the afternoon in the toilet brushing their teeth, because they are so excited about these tooth brushes that light up!!

The fun continues though, a few weeks down the line and my kids still have a great time brushing their teeth and actually brush their teeth for the recommended time, while the toothbrush lights up... I actually have to keep the toilet door closed otherwise Boo Boo goes and gets the toothbrush to brush her teeth a ton of times a day!

I was worried about if the light would break if the toothbrush got rinsed under water, but it has been used for ages and still working great!

Keep an eye out because we are going to be giving some of these fantastic toothbrushes away!

Product information:

Firefly has used distinctive light up technology to create a fantastic mechanism for getting children to brush their teeth for the recommended time.  All a child needs to do is press the bottom of the brush and as it lights up, start brushing.  The flashing light lasts for one minute, giving the child the right amount of time to brush either their upper or lower teeth.  Then, they simply move the brush and press the light again, to complete their brushing routine.
Firefly toothbrushes come in a range of assorted colours as well as characters such as Spiderman & Hello Kitty – the PERFECT way to get children enthusiastic about dental hygiene!

RRP £1.49 - £2.49, available from Argos and Lloyds pharmacies

Firefly toothbrushes encourage good habits for life!

My Funny Bunny Rating:  10/10

Monica x

End of the Road

That’s me finished my stint as a My Funny Bunny author, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my posts. If you do want to read more from me (shameless plug) you can find me over at Curly&Candid.

Now while I have your attention I want to ask you if you’ve ever really explored the MFB blog?
Here you have a fantastic opportunity to not only read more about Monica (the brains and beauty behind it all) but also find fantastic, interesting and useful info for you and your family. There is a wealth of reviews, useful discount codes (let’s face it, we all like to save a few pounds where we can!), and great pieces from Monica and her talent team of guest authors. The MFB Blog is a great standalone site but also links to the truly fantastic My Funny Bunny online shop, a collection of must have items for pregnancy, birth, baby and beyond! I know Monica pretty well and am positive that nothing hits MFB’s shelves that she wouldn’t use with her own brood. MFB has a fantastic range of clothing, skincare items, accessories, toys, nursery items, gifts and more. So, stop reading now and go and explore! Have a proper look around the blog and visit the shop for a chance to see some gorgeous items at very reasonable prices. Monica – thanks for having me! It’s been a blast :)

Nicki
________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to thank Nicki for being part of our family on MFB, she is a great writer and a pleasure to have!

If you are a talented writer and wish to show off your skills by becoming part of our Blog family, please do get in touch :)

Monica xx

Create.net - Meet our sponsor to Cybermummy 2011

Create.net are our sponsors for this years Cybermummy, I am glad they approached us because theirs is a product I believe in as I have been using their services for over a year and a half!

Create have been around since 1999, that is a lot of years and experience! Their aim is give you the tools to create the website you want. Whoever you are and however terrible you are at using computers, Create makes it easy for you and your business to create a great looking website.

 www.myfunnybunny.com

Packages start at just £2.99 a month or £29.99 a year and that includes hosting (Starter Package), and they go all the way to Pro Seller. Not only do you get great support from Create but there is also the most amazing supportive community forum where members support each other.

Create is not just for novices in web design, it is also for those that have a little more knowledge or even the professional web designers, for these levels of expertise there is the Web Designers Kit (WDK), examples shown below.

www.uksilverjewellery.com

You can do any sort of website not just e-commerce, here is an example www.security-jobs.biz , its your website, customize it as you need it!

When we asked some of the members to comment on the service we were overwhelmed by the response! Here are just a few:

"I love the simplicity of Create.net, it's an amazing platform for mums in business.  It has very affordable monthly plans and the layout and design is suitable for all techie needs. When I first started Charlie Moo's nearly 3 years ago I could barely turn on a computer but now I am able to write html codes and the beauty of Create.net is that it allows you to grow with it.  I also love the personal aspect of the customer services.  You can tweet or Facebook any queries and you'll get a response straight away.  They are always happy to help. I recommend Create.net to everyone ;) " Joanne Dewberry, owner of www.charliemoos.co.uk

www.diddybears.com

"I've had ecommerce sites before but Create are by far the best. The level of support alone stands them out ahead of everyone else, and the features and constant improvements make it incredible value for money. I'm so glad I found them." www.babydreamcatcher.com

"Like many others I had no idea whatsoever about web design, but Create seems very user-friendly with plenty of templates and helpful articles. Would definitley recommend! Have had a few sales already too, so am well chuffed!" Sally, owner of www.halerholder.co.uk

"Since using Create, we have managed to gain national word association with our site, and as we are growing so are the features that can be used via Create. The community is great and the customer service is second to none." www.ethical-emi.com

"Making a website using Create is extremely easy to do, a total novice can have a website within a few hours." Elaine, owner of www.starsandroses.co.uk

So you see... it isn't just me saying so! If you need a website go to  www.create.net now and get your 30 DAY FREE TRIAL!

Monica x

Graco Fusio Review

The Graco Fusio arrived with us back in March, you can read all about its arrival with detailed pictures here. My kids got very excited when they woke up in the morning and saw it standing there ready for the school run, you would have thought it was Christmas!

It is a nice looking pushchair and very strong and sturdy, it has various reclining positions, you can have the seat facing you or facing forward, and a massive basket too.

An amazing feature is (specially considering that the seat can face either way) it folds up in a similar way to an umbrella folding pushchair, it ends up being quite big when folded but it STANDS ON ITS OWN!

This is a fantastic feature because I am able to keep it on my corridor when not in use and it doesn't bother anyone. One of my previous pushchairs was so big that it had to be kept in the car in the weekend but during the week when I do the school run (which I walk) it had to be kept in the corridor, problem was even when put down you couldn't really go past which was a nightmare.

Another great feature was the fact that the handles can also be swivelled any way you want for comfort, me and my husband had a bit of fun with this as when you swivelled them outwards it felt super comfy but it also felt like you were riding a Harley Davidson! 

It is also very easy to turn the seat around, and recline, some pushchairs can be a bit of a nightmare when it comes to reclining, with little bits to pull but this one is easy and I never woke up my daughter when reclining it.

The only things I found a bit hard with the Graco Fusio were the front wheels move 360 degrees and they often get stuck when the wheels are completely forward, its hard to explain what I mean without showing you but I have to lift up the front of the pram quite a few times in one journey for the wheels to swivel back to its original position so I can continue going again.

The other thing was the weight when you push, I am not sure if its due the weight of the actual pushchair ( 6.5kg ) or something to do with the wheels, my husband complained about this but I actually used it to my advantage, I actually lost weight and got fitter, so turned into a plus!

For rrp £299.99 (but we found it for £230 here) this pushchair is suitable from birth as it lays down flat, comes with a comfy newborn liner and an apron. It also comes with its own rain cover and harness protectors.

You can also use the Graco Fusio as travel system by adding Graco's Logico S Deluxe Car Seat and can get accessories to match it or you can add your own too like these fabulous ones here.

Verdict:
The Graco Fusio is a very sturdy and versatile pushchair suitable from birth upwards. There are tons of fabulous features. A bit tough to push but can be used as a fitness aid. The only thing that really let it down were that the wheels can be a bit of a problem as they swivel 360 degrees and can get stuck the other way around.


MFB Rating: 8.5 /10

For full product information and a video on how the Graco Fusio works visit Graco.co.uk

A great accessory for the Graco Fusio is one of these pushchair curtains for sun protection as I found it very difficult to attach our parasol due to the shape of the frame, and when I eventually got it attached it would fall off after a short while!

New Release Titled "How to make a woman Happy"

Apparently us women are difficult to make happy so much so that a book was written on how to make us happy!

Apparently it looks something like this...

 

Seriously?!? I think it looks more like this!!...

 

Les Petits Bonbons Massage Oil Candle & Cookies for the evening! ;)

B Organic Lavender & Chamomile Soothing Body Balm for any time!

See! Easy peasy isn't it?

Now if your other half needs a hint, be cheeky and send him the link to this page ;)

Monica x

First Time Mum... Again!!

When Taylor arrived I was convinced I knew what i was doing. After all, it had all been done before hadn’t it? Kieran is nearly five so we’d done all the firsts, weaning, toilet training, the lot. Second time should be a piece of cake right? 

Luckily for me it has been so far. Taylor is a very laid back and contented baby. This is fortunate, because while he is laid back, when it comes to his wellbeing, I am not! I’d forgotten, or subconsciously tucked away the apprehension that comes with introducing a new life into the world. Am I doing it right? It worked with Kieran, maybe it won’t with Taylor? Did Kieran do that? I’m sure he was rolling over by now..... Yes, guilty as charged, I’ve been being a comparer. It’s lethal, and there is absolutely no point to it either as no two children are ever the same.

So now I’ve stopped, I don’t compare progress between the two, I just worry about Taylor in his own right. I’m a fairly laid back parent in most ways, but I don’t think it matters whether you have one child or six, you are always going to worry, always be on the lookout for small signs that all is not well, and never more than you will when they are very little & unable to tell you if things are as they should be!

I’m more confident in all the stages I’ve encountered before, I do things automatically, it’s a practiced art, but to be honest – the only significant difference between myself now and myself as a mum to a new baby nearly five years ago..? I read less books about parenting now, I just get on with it!

Are we all the same? Or am I just getting soft? Have you found that you worry less with child 2+ or like me, are you still in constant watch mode?

Nicki

Do you love the circus?

I love the circus, I have since I was a child... it was my favourite place to go.

I was mesmerized by the beautiful sparkly costumes, the amazing acrobats and the funny clowns.

I also loved the animals, I believed that the animals were so smart and wonderful doing their shows but that changed when I grew up and realized that the animals didn't want to be chained up and displayed for our pleasure. I am sure that there are nice handlers that teach the animals tricks by reward but I bet most are cruel on the animal if they don't get their way.

One thing is for sure, I had no idea that people could be so cruel, just out of nothing turn around and beat an animal, how disgusting of a person can you  be to beat an innocent animal? Without being provoked or it being self defence? That person clearly needs the same treatment themselves!

Here is a video of the treatment of one of the UKs famous circus animals... appalling.

PLEASE DO NOT WATCH WITH YOUNG CHILDREN - may be disturbing for older children.



Annie the elephant has now been moved to Longleat Safari Park.

Now please visit PETA.org.uk and urgently sign a petition to PUT AN END TO WILD ANIMAL ABUSE IN THE CIRCUS

Its better to watch wild animals in the zoo or the wild, I hope you agree.

Monica x

My 4 year old has to earn his treats

Kieran putting the eggs away

What a mean Mummy! Kieran has a star chart and he knows that he has certain things that are his responsibilities throughout the day and that if he achieves these, and is well behaved, he will get a sticker. It used to be that when he got all the stickers, he could get a treat ie a 90p car from Tesco but now he gets cash. He asked if he could have some pennies instead of a car or small toy so he could save his pennies and buy something BIG! I was overjoyed when he approached me with this, clearly we’ve done something right!

The sorts of jobs he does are simple mostly, he makes his own bed and opens his curtains, helps make his own packed lunch, puts his uniform in the washing machine after school, does some tidying etc and any little jobs that I want him to do. Nothing too strenuous, but he is taking on responsibility for looking after his own things / room and is encouraged to help others.

I’m all for letting kids be kids but I don’t see anything wrong in this. Kieran is growing into a helpful & well-mannered boy who is keen to save up for the things he would like and hasn’t got that “I want/I need / I MUST have” attitude that I see so often nowadays (in both children AND adults to be honest!). I really don’t think wanting to “work” for what you get is a bad thing at any age.

What do you think? Am I pushing him to grow / mature too quickly?

*Incidentally – he is currently playing with his Lego vehicles which he made with the big box of Lego wheels we ordered from Amazon after he gave me £8 that he had saved up to pay for them.

Nicki x