Mamma Musings

If your staff run for the hills as soon as they hear the phrase ‘team building’, then you know its time to change tack. But rather than ditching the idea, maybe its time for some fresh, new team building activities. It is important to remember that one of the key things that drives a successful business is its staff/ workforce therefore keeping staff on side is a critical skill success business owners have cognisance of.  I know I say this time and time again but research in critical for success in this area, for example see Rusty Tweed

1 Team building cookery courses

Pic Credit: Pixabay

In many ways, the idea behind a team building activity is to push boundaries, both personal and as a group, gently ‘forcing’ people to communicate, listen and work out the best way of achieving a goal as a collective group.  When this happens and new skills have been learnt, as well as information about each other, then you can put a big tick in the box that says, ‘successful team building activity’.  Thus, you may think that team building cookery courses are the soft option, where everyone turns up, bakes a scone and leaves.

But consider;

1. Not everyone can cook and/or bake – so the head of accountants who seems so in control of the books needs guidance on how to boil an egg by the intern in marketing.
2. Not all cooker courses are the same – from a competitive restaurant challenge to creating making a dish that no one has ever made before, you will be amazed at just challenging some cookery team building activities can be.

Unlike whitewater rafting and other outdoor activities where you end the day wet, cold and aching, with a cookery course you eat what you cook, together.

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Buying anything online can carry an element of risk. Will it arrive on time? What is the quality like in real-life? Does the image match what you will see in the box when it arrives?

If you are looking for a quality online retailer, you can find some of the most wonderful baby gifts on sale from Baby Gift Box. You’ll discover a huge range of nappy cakes, baby hampers, baskets and other precious gifts for a little one’s arrival into the world.

When it comes to buying baby gifts online though, are there certain things you can look out for to make things easier? This article will uncover some top things to consider before you make that purchase and make things official.

What To Think About Before Buying A Baby Gift…

• If you are buying tableware… consider the materials.

Baby tableware has become extremely popular and there are many options when you want to make an online purchase. You must pay attention to the size of the tableware that you want to purchase, but most importantly pay attention to the materials by which they are made. Avoid toxic materials, chemicals that can harm your child especially when hot food is added. You can opt for tableware made with organic materials such as wood, eco-friendly plastics, etc. A bamboo dinner set for kids can be an option, as it is made from organic materials. After choosing the materials you can then go for appearance and come up with a very cute set.

• If you are buying clothes… be extra careful

It’s easy to get swept away by the cute images. However, it’s equally as important if not more so to consider vital aspects such as the level of comfort. Therefore, it’s essential to look at the description to read what materials the clothing is made with and if they are suitable for sensitive skin.  You’ll also want to take extra care when choosing the size.   Babies grow super-fast so if you are buying for a new-born it’s good to buy 2 years ahead in general.

• Always read the detail

Images can only do so much talking. 

When it comes to the necessary gear for a baby like car seats or strollers it really is crucial to read the finer print to discover what makes the product so special and how it is made for babies, including critically that it meets all the relevant safety standards.  By doing your own in-depth research it should answer most of your questions but just in case it doesn’t, this leads us to the next point. 

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Last year I wrote this post which proved really popular. We had a look back 2 months on from Christmas at which toys were the hits and which were the miss! Its funny how sometimes the unexpected toys/ gifts become the most popular.

Starting with the ones still in pretty much daily use one  month on:

Hot Wheels Roto Revolution Track Set

Hot Wheels Roto Revolution Track Set

Hot wheels are a really big thing amongst my 5 years old’s school pals so I had an inkling this was always going to be popular and I was right. Its probably the first toys himself and his pals gravitate to when they come in the door.  The set comes with 2 hot wheels cars but no batteries included as we found out on Christmas day (it takes the size D ones so not that likely to have them lying around!).  Its almost like a battle where you have to launch cars at the same time strategically into the rotating set.  Queue meg excitement here when they get the timing right as it loops around the set and crashing into your opponent’s cars in no time. The last car on the track wins. The track is compatible with the “track stars” individual cars you can purchase in Tesco, Smyth’s etc. The boys love this, its fast, action packed and generates a lot of noise and excitement.

Only downside I can see (aside for bad mammy forgetting batteries) is it does take up quite a bit of space.  The track set is available in most toys shops and a good purchase in my view. Currently selling for €39.99 in my local Smyth’s.

Fisher Price Teach N Tag Movi

Teach N’Tag Movi

This little guy is utterly adorable and enjoyed equally as much by the 5 and the 3 year old.   He is billed as being super mobile with 360 mobility and that he has.  He is really fun, he encourages kids to get active and follow his directions, not an uncommon sight to see the kids dancing around the kitchen following Movi’s lead! There are 6 different  games to choose from​ where Movi asks the question and encourages the child to think of the answer and interact with the push buttons on  his head.  Movi has great facial expressions!

What the kids love about this is how interactive it is, they like to follow his tasks and love to practice dance moves with him. If only they would listen to me as intently as they listen to him and follow his lead.  He takes size C batteries which I did actually have so Movi has been part of the Mamma Fairy house for a month now and I don’t see him being resigned to the toy press anytime soon. Its priced at €49.99 in my local Smyth’s. It is really durable he has withstood my Mr Destruction which is the ultimate test of a toys durability I think!!!

Original Rubix Cube

It’s a real testament to think a toy first developed in 1974 is still going strong today and that’s despite the fact we live in such a technological age.  We had the junior puzzle so for Christmas we upgraded to the 3×3 version.

He hasn’t solved it yet but its not for the want of trying!! I throw it in my handbag when we are going out as I know it will keep him occupied. Funny thing is we have had lots of comments on it when out and about. I think all us 80s kids feel a sense of nostalgia for this product. At around €10 this money well spent!

Laurence King Make Your Own Spaceships

Build your own Spaceship

This is quite possibly be the most perfect invention for the non crafty among us. The set includes 14 spaceships that you press out and slot together, zero need for glue or scissors .

The set includes 2 blank aliens to colour in yourself which were great fun. Definitely a great choice for any fellow non crafty mums for those rainy days.

Books, books, books

Our love of books is well documented and some of those which arrived over Christmas which we are still dipping into are:

• Adventures of Johnny Magory – there are 3 books so far in the series and my oldest man begs me to get more. He really loves them. I think its because he finds them relatable. Like Johnny he is mostly good with a hint of mischief! Johnny plays sports, works in the bog (as my pair do each year), goes on adventures along the canal so they can immerse themselves totally in the story for them its real life.  These books are beautifully illustrated and written, illustrated and printed in Ireland. I love that.  Check them out on their website here for signed copies and additional activities.  And if the author Emma-Jane is reading this my oldest cannot wait for you write more in the series!

And to finish off this years “miss” is…….Gross Science. He wanted this badly, I mean I reckoned if Santa didn’t bring it he would have been devastated.  Unfortunately I think it was just too hyped up in his own head.  While the set comes with a good bit of stuff you needed a lot of extras to complete the experiments. We were away from home for Christmas so we didn’t have a lot of the kind of things needed in the house handy. So as I write Gross Science had joined last years Miss – Soggy Door in the bottom press!!

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Our  garden forms a pivotal part of out family life and as such your garden is one of the main ways you can create a secure fence around your home. Once the boundaries of your property are safe, it can give homeowners peace of mind. Having the right measures in place will successfully put off any potential intruders and actively safeguard your belongings. Having had the misfortune of this happening to us in 2015 it really does leave a lasting impact.

If you have a log cabin, this can be another reason you’ll want to ensure your garden is secure. There are several secure log cabins for sale in the UK that can be a great storage option for the garden.

Some of the best ways you can secure your garden so you can assess the current level of safety and what you may need to do are set out below and this is with the befit of experience and hindsight.

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR GARDEN MORE SECURE

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Being a parent can long and difficult journey with a lot of milestones along the way. Those big events that come in every child’s life come as a big challenge for the parents but if you’re prepared for them, it doesn’t have to be that hard. These are some of the biggest milestones that all parents are going to face and how to deal with them.

The First Day Of School

Sending your child off to school for the first time is one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. The idea of leaving them all day in the care of some complete strangers is incredibly scary and when you get home, it’s difficult to know what to do with yourself. It’s important that you hold it together because it’s a very stressful time for your child as well and if they pick up on the fact that you’re worried, it’ll make things worse for them. The second thing to remember is to always keep yourself busy. If you just sit around waiting for them to come home the hours will turn into days and it’ll feel like forever before they get back. Just get on with whatever you have to do for the day and they’ll be back before you know it.

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Pic Credit: Pixabay

My oldest started school this year.   It was a momentous occasion for both me and him. Now that the first term is done and dust what have I learned?  I’ll be honest I was quite apprehensive about how we would all adapt to this new routine but its funny how we worry so unnecessarily. School life has become part of everyday life. As a total newbie into the school system the first couple of months have been a learning experience for this mama too.  And for those at the far end of this school system don’t forget for those a use the resources at your disposal such as UCAS phone number if you do have any queries on college or university admissions.

Parents Perspective

Perhaps the biggest  learning point for me was  to become super organised.  That’s having the clothes out the night before, lunches made and bags packed. Jennie from Rice Cakes and Raisins had the same advice, keep the shoes all lined up at the front door to avoid the inevitable morning panic searching the house for them or for the match! I reached out to my fellow first time school parents to see what they thought after completing the first term their top tips are:

• Jemma from Have Kids will Travel UK found of the great learning to be dealing with the new ups and downs of school friendships and not being there for them every minute. It can be so hard when your child comes home and says they were on their own or had nobody to play  with it, it just breaks my heart.
• In a similar vein Michelle from What Mummy Thinks notes not to believe everything your child says. Very true in our case! They don’t mean any harm but they can be a little generous with the truth. My advice would be if in doubt speak to the teacher. They are well used to hearing stories of what kids said at home and can straighten out the record very quickly.
• Never mind the kid and playground politics, it can be seen with the adults too.  Ill admit I was totally oblivious that such politics do exist however I have had first hand experience of it myself.  Natalie from Crummy Mummy also has had similar experience. However in the interest of balance Helena from Babyfoote assures us that this doesn’t exist in every school and that real friendships can be made at the school gate.

Teachers perspective

We have heard some view points for new parents. Now lets here from the other side. My sister is a teacher and kindly offered some insights:

• Keep communication with the teacher/ school open don’t be afraid to seek clarification if your child says something or if you have a concern. Teachers are more than happy to ally any fears you might have.
• Always check the school bag/ lunch box for notes. Kids have a habit of forgetting!
• We are human too if the uniform isn’t perfectly pressed stained etc it doesn’t matter these things happen, none of us are perfect.
• Use the resources that are available. If extra assistance is needed there are lots of resources available to assist and don’t be afraid to ask or utilise additional resources such as for example dyslexia support for teachers and parents.
• Encourage your child all the way, praise the good, listen to the stories and show interest in their homework. Regardless of what you may have thought of school or homework yourself do try not to project that view on to your child.

If you have any other words of wisdom please do share them with us.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control

I recently wrote this post which discussed what “me time” means and with the help of some lovely fellow bloggers, it become clear “me time” can mean a vast array of things to different people.  Which in itself celebrate the diversity the is among us.  In this instalment I look it it from the point of view of activities as in what kind of activities make up “me time”.  Again im thrilled to have input here from lots of fellow bloggers.  First up – for myself, its an easy one – me time is getting out and going for a long run or a pilates class.  I love the sense of escapism both of these activities provide.

Running/ Exercise

I’m not alone in pounding the payment for some “me time”  Natalie from Plutonium Sox Leyla from Motherhood Diaries and Lucy from Momma Mack also love it as their “me time”.

Gaming/ Online/ TV

I’m guilty myself of getting lost in social media while supposed to be taking time out! However for Sarah Mummy Cat Notes  and Pete from Household Money Saving its gaming such as on the playstation that works for them for others its online gaming such as bingo. In addition taking time to watch that rom com of soap can often give me that much needed switch off time. I do try not to look at social media in bed however im not always dedicated enough to put that phone or tablet away! 

Simple pleasures

Sometimes we can take the simply things in life for granted and it can often be five minutes spent doing an every day task in peace that makes the ideal “me time” for example reading a book, watching TV interrupted or even cooking! For some of my fellow blogger – the blog itself can be a form of espcapeism doing what they enjoy.

Across both posts is abundantly clear that me time can mean so many different things but I think the most important thing is to know what your own “me time” is.

Note: This is a collaborative post

In a hectic world of kids, full time job and blogging, sometimes it can be hard to come off that conveyor belt and take some time for me.  I suffered with blood pressure on both of the boys and while I should have known how important that breather, that five minutes to yourself was, I didn’t and for want of a better explanation I let myself go. The weight piled on, my skin looked awful same goes for my hair, so began a vicious circle where I didn’t want to leave the house. Some gentle intervention from my family and I can happily say im in much better place.

What I realised was that self care was important  and that’s even on bad days and self care can mean many different things to different people. I reached out to some of my fellow bloggers for their thoughts on this also.  Such was the reaction to this post that I have split it into two and in this one I focus on beauty.  Ill go first! For me it started with caring for my skin and taking those 10  minutes a day to do just that. I suffered from bad skin in my teens which rectified itself as I hit my twenties, now in the tail end  of my thirties I was back to square on. Some top tips:

• A good base is crucial, products like  Facial Enhancer are great for deep cleansing and improving texture.
• Find the moisturiser that works for you, that’s not saying it has to be mega expensive. These days I am loving Ziaja skincare products they are reasonably priced and readily available.
• As above find an everyday make up brand. I used to begrudge wearing my beloved high end foundation for the school run! Instead I found a good alternative which has turned out to be Elf Cosmetics   incredibly reasonable in price and last the distance too.

So what does “Me Time” mean to others – The Beauty Ed

• Helen from Natural Beauty with Baby loves chilling with a gorgeous face scrub
• Jemma from Have Kids will Travel UK loves a Spa day to herself. (love this myself!)
• The long hot bath featured heavily too with Stevie from This Mumma Needs Tea Becky from Mommy and Rory and Nina from Ready for Cuppa all loving it as some “me time” to chill out. I can empathise, im a fan of this myself.

Note : This is a collaborative post