Thrifty ways with Next PJs

Vanity is a sin, perhaps pardonable when you are 2 years old. Eddie loves nice clothes, and I often smile at him, when he chooses an oufit to wear.

We have been buying sleepsuits from Next since Eddie's early days, they are very practical and cute. In the last two years we went through several sets of sleepsuits, as Eddie is growing fast.

Eddie went through a stage when he couldn't part with his wellies and tried to wear them everywhere including his bed.

The last set of 3 sleepsuits was bought over a year ago, and it is suitable for 18mos-2yrs. Alas, they were becoming too short. My Mum who stayed with us in July, came to the rescue.
As the sleepsuits themselves were still in a very good condition (and that is after numerous washes), it seemed a waste to get rid of them. I could have taken them to a charity shop, but the feet area on all sleepsuits was quite worn and patched up on many occasions.

Actually this is my only concern about them: I wish the feet area of the sleepsuits was reinforced. Children of this age are very active, and the feet area gets worn much faster than the rest of the sleepsuit. Ideally it should have some sort of the sock patch over the feet area, or a double layer (something to think about, Next?).
My super-thrifty Mum cut off the feet area, turned the bottom edge, and hemmed it. She was stitching by hand, as I don't have a sewing machine. And Eddie was ecstatic to have his fave PJs back.

Now we have a sleepsuit that will last longer. I wish I thought about it, when Eddie's older sleepsuits were getting too short for his legs.

The joys of the British summer

This short video was done in January. Who would have thought that Eddie would still be wearing this coat in July. But today he still had it on, as the weather is very un-summery, the day being wet and damp.

I bought this lovely coat from Next in the after-Christmas sales, when the first waves of the frenzied shoppers have receded and the supplies of the sales items were mostly depleted. It is warm, weather-proof and stylish.

Eddie is a very outdoorsy boy, and whenever it stops raining, he is eager to go out in the garden to jump in the puddles and get messy with the mud. This coat keeps the chill away and is comfy for all sorts of physical activities like running, jumping and climbing up where you are not supposed to climb. A perfect outfit for little boys made of frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails.

This particular coat is not available anymore, but Next has a variety of coats on offer for active boys. I guess we'll have to buy a new coat when the autumn comes, as he is growing fast. In a few weeks Eddie will be two years old. How time flies. My baby is becoming a big boy, though of course, he will always be my baby, whether he is 12 months or 30 years old.

Dressing Up Box: Next Stylist Mummy Blogger Competition

Have you ever fancied creating a mood board? Now is your chance to do just that. Next is running a competition asking you to browse through their range of maternity clothes or clothes for kids and choose your fashion favourites.

Going through the website and picking outfits for my son Eddie reminded me of the favourite childhood games of dressing up dolls, hence the mood board above is named "Dressing Up Eddie".

Eddie loves clothes, he is a vain young man ideed.

For my mood board I was looking for clothes that would be suitable for our holiday in Cornwall as well as for our daily outings in the garden. Eddie is a very outdoorsy boy, he is happy to play outside for hours, it's almost impossible to convince him to go back in the house, he doesn't want to leave the garden with its earthy pleasures: muddy puddles, pebbles and sticks, berries and flowers, bugs and birds.

What did I choose for Eddie? I went for the blue palette.

A blue hooded shirt would be just perfect for the British summer. And Eddie Blue Eyes would look very smart wearing it.

Blue Stripe Tractor t-shirt was Eddie's personal choice. He was sitting on my lap, while I was browsing and pointed to this t-shirt, he loves tractors and all things on the go.

A cute little Flag t-shirt which celebrates the season of Britishness with the Royal Jubilee and the Olympics.

Hoping that this summer we'll have a chance to dip in the sea, and what could be better than a Rescue team Sunsafe 2 piece set?

Turn Up Jeans would match any of the tops above to create a casual but elegant look.

And if the weather is anything like last year we would definitely need something weather-proof like this funky Navy Crocodile Cagoule. When we were in Cornwall last August, I never had a chance to unpack our swimsuits and my guys were wearing coats on the beach. This outfit would keep Eddie snug against the wind and the rain, and we could just enjoy the beach even if the elements are not obliging.

Having two sons, I wouldn't find it difficult to spend £500 of prize money, if I were lucky.

If you enjoy creative competitions, hurry up and enter the Next competition at All Baby Advice blog (link removed as expired).

And just to prove that Eddie is indeed a Next fan, here is another mood board called The Importance of being Eddie, which shows my son wearing different outfits from Next (we are lucky to have Next in town).

Vroom Vroom (Next Transport bedlinen set and Bus storage review)

   

Eddie loves to play with his little cars, trucks and trains. Boys will be boys, they love things on wheels. The Transport bedlinen set from Next is perfect for little boys, obsessed with transport of all kinds. It has a playful design with different colourful vehicles.
Eddie was quite thrilled with his new bedding.
The bedlinen set comes as a duvet cover and a pillowcase (a suggested sheet set comes in a starry design). You could also get matching curtains, car cushions and a rug. And decorate your child's room with the matching stickers.

Find me if you can...

The photo below is not Eddie's bedroom (I wish our child's bedroom was as immaculate, lol), I just wanted to show you the whole set available from Next.

Image credits: Next

When I was offered by Next to pick any item for reviewing, I was torn between a cupcake maker and the storage box. Our house often looks like there was a blast in the toy shop, the toys are scattered everywhere, as soon as they are picked up, they miraculously reappear on the floor and carpets. I needed some fun storage for Eddie, which would encourage him to pick up toys and place inside. The Bus storage seemed like an ideal solution to the problem.
The storage box was also an excellent match for the bedlinen set that I have just bought for Eddie.
It requires self-assembly and comes with a book of instructions, but it is quite easy to assemble. Just don't make a mistake and throw the polysterene foam packaging without removing a small bag that contains nuts and bolts. I did not see that it was attached to the side of the foam packaging, and was looking everywhere for nuts and bolts.
This storage box looks like a red double-decker bus, it is bright and cheerful.

Eddie and boxes is a special love story. He cannot pass a box without trying to climb inside. I just knew he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to get inside.

That's one happy boy.

Just wanted to mention that the instructions do not recommend children getting inside the box. After he sat there for a few minutes, I took Eddie out of the box and asked him to help me to put the toys inside.

Now all I need is to find a perfect storage box for the big boy, aka my husband, who leaves his socks on the floor in the bathroom.

Don't stay vexed, get back in shape with Davina and Next

I've been scoffing this season mince pies and panforte,

My figure right now is far from sporty.

I'm no material for the Olympic arena,

I need to lose weight, come to the rescue, Davina!

It doesn't matter if you're 20 or 40,

Exercise, eat healthy and be fit and sporty!

OK, I exaggerated a bit, I am not that much in need of losing weight, maybe just a tiny bit, but that's winter for you, you gain weight like a bear ready to hibernate and then lose it with the warmer weather and lighter meals. I am no fitness fanatic, and for me nothing could more boring than going the gym. Looking after my family is challenging enough and running after my two guys keeps me quite fit, in fact carrying Eddie around the house makes me think of Bruce Willis's muscles (not a very flattering comparison for a woman, he he).
Also as a breastfeeding Mum, I don't find it a problem to keep weight at bay. One of the advantages of breastfeeding is that you can have your cake and eat it and still keep trim.
Saying all that, I used to exercise at home, and hope to start the routine again, doing simple exercises with Eddie while listening to the music, at least that is a big plan.
I do not believe in the New Year resolutions, my resolution is not to make any. But teaching my kid to enjoy exercising as a fun activity rather than a chore might inspire me to do more for myself.
As I don't drive, and walk every day into town for a bit of grocery shopping if not the fresh air, comfy shoes are very important. Sadly comfy often comes as unflattering or plain ugly. That's why I was reading with interest that Davina has teamed up with Next and is going to launch a line of shoes and fitness clothes.

Through her hugely successful fitness DVD’s, Davina McCall’s infectious enthusiasm has inspired countless women to exercise. Launching in time for Spring 2012, Davina For Next provides the ultimate workout and post work-out clothing along with a range of innovative everyday shoes which feature dual density mid-sole technology to reduce stress on joints. From aerobics to running, power-lifting to pilates – all in great modern shapes, fabulous colours and outstanding fabrics, there’s something for every activity.

Davina says: “My approach was to concentrate on what I would wear, thinking very carefully about the details that matter to me, like a place for an MP3 player, or reflective strips on the bottoms – essential when you’re jogging in the early morning or at dusk. And I’ve ensured the workout tops are extremely solid and secure so your boobs won’t be bobbing around while you’re working out!”  

There’s an important footnote to this fruitful collaboration. Harnessing Next’s F.I.T. technology, Davina has developed a line of stylish everyday shoes that offer aspects of comfort, performance and muscle activation previously restricted to cumbersome sports footwear. Think cute ballerinas in bright patent or animal print – and imagine a reduction in stress on load bearing joints. Elegant citysmart flats are engineered to increase calf and hamstring activation by up to 12% while canvas pumps carry the promise of decreased heel impact. And Davina’s ultra-feminine trainers will exert 25% less pressure on the ball of the foot.

Spot Corsage Ballerinas £32 - White Sports Trainers £45 - Floral Ballerinas £30

Davina For Next promises to shake up what any woman wears before, during and after her workout. Her comfort and style are assured as she gets into great shape!

The flower print shoes look very pretty and feminine, and I applaud the idea of the decreased heel impact, as sometimes my feet are killing me after a long walk. Some of the new range footwear is very much Cath Kidstone, whose range I admire for the flowery prints and designs.

I will certainly be looking for them once the collection arrives to the shops in spring. Anything that would make my life easier is welcome, and if it is also pretty, then a double welcome!

Macaroni for Berlusconi,

Fusilli for Aldo Zilli,

FIT technology and fitness cami -

For this yummy Mummy.

Eat your heart out, Sarah Lund!

It is all Sarah Lund's "fault", of course, that patterned knitted jumpers and cardis are en vogue recently.

This adorable cardi from Next is made of chunky wool, very soft and nice to touch. Unlike some other woollen garments, it is not of the itchy variety. It is also stylish and trendy.

For details and price of the Totem pattern zip through cardi have a look here (link removed as expired).

Sarah Lund made wearing knitted patterned jumpers very fashionable, and though this is not a Scandinavian pattern, it is ethnic and chic enough to appeal to me. I love the colour scheme and the pattern is suitable for both younger and older boys.

We went to Next today looking for winter hats and ended up buying this uber-cute cardi, as I thought Eddie would look utterly irresistible in it.

In fact, I think of buying something similar for Sasha. Not the same, as he would not want to wear an outfit identical to the one his younger brother is wearing.

Two spies who came in from the cold

Brrrr, it is bracing today, a perfect time for a winter hat. Eddie and I visited our local Next today to try nda find a new winter hat for me. I didn't find a faux fur Cossack hat that I have seen online, but tried on several warm fluffy things.  Eddie is modelling a faux fur Trapper hat (above). He wasn't amused.

I tried it on and laughed at myself, as I looked like an old Siberian hunter. I was only missing high felt boots and a gun. Not exactly for me (but it does look gorgeous on a young model on the Next website, sigh). Let's move on the next hat.

The teddy bear hat or a Character Trapper hat (as it is officially named) looked very cute on Eddie. As for me, I thought that Pippi Longstocking would probably look like that once she hit her 40s.

"Mummy, that's for girls", says Eddie.

Another trapper hat was very warm and cosy and I nearly bought, but I set my heart on the Cossack hat, which I will buy online. In the end we left the store with a new jumper for Eddie, which is absolutely gorgeous. All this shopping business is so exhausting for men. Poor little man fell asleep in his pushchair, hugging his teddy.

A Mad Hatter

...or should that be a Hatterette? I love hats and hardly ever go out without one.
This is my latest acquisition, a new hat from Next.

On a recent walk with Sasha and Eddie, a man in his late 50s saw Sasha and me in hats and made a silly comment: "It must be genetic for you to wear hats" I asked him coldly "Do you think I was born wearing a hat?"

Hats for me are what shoes and bags for many other women. In fact I hate shoe-shopping, it is always an ordeal for me, I usually grab the first comfy pair and buy. Wearing hats is a different matter.




Seeing my new hat, my mother-in-law who is visiting this week decided to go out and buy one for herself. This is the hat she bought, a lovely hat, but I decided it is not me. Not my colour.

This is one of my old favourite hats. I still have it. This is a photo of little Sasha and me.