Kadria Skincare Belly Balm With Rosehip And Neroli

And now for something completely different....

A review of a Kadria Skincare’s Belly Balm. No, that’s not a book, it’s one of a range of natural products for pregnancy, mother and baby, which was sent to me to trial and review.

Let me first explain that, being 28 weeks into my second pregnancy, I come to this with a certain level of experience and dare I say cynicism.

First time around, I was keen to avoid stretch marks if at all possible, and invested in an expensive, lurid-coloured oil from a major beauty brand, touted by celebs as a wondrous elixir.

Have I got news for you......

Normally, it’s the little things I like to babble about. As regular readers of this blog will know, anecdotes about inconsequential episodes are usually the order of the day here at Book Club Mum. And of course book reviews.....although I’ve been woefully slack in that department recently and need to pull my socks up – new term, new start!

Anyway, it is something of a departure to have two rather serious things to tell you.

The first, and I think the accompanying photograph may have given this away somewhat, is that I’m pregnant, expecting my second child on December 4.

We’re absolutely over the moon here at Book Club Mum Towers, but I’ve been a little bit shy about blogging the news as, all things considered, I’m on the superstitious side of paranoid at the best of times. And we were certainly given cause to worry earlier this summer. Which brings me on to the second piece of pretty serious news I want to share with you.....

Weather and holidays? Now you're talking my language....

My blog posts are like buses – there will be another one along in a minute.

This one combines two classic subjects – The Weather and What I Did On My Holidays.

The former is so awful I am more than happy to reminisce about the latter – and that’s exactly what I do in my latest Families Leeds column. Check it out here on page 6 and learn what happens when a very dedicated father resolves to turn a trip to Spain into The Lingo Show Live.....

                                       Families Leeds

BOOK REVIEW: Are We Nearly There Yet? Plus interview with author Ben Hatch

You know how if it’s someone else’s child having a tantrum, it’s not at all stressful? In fact, perversely it’s quite relaxing, reassuring and even amusing?

That, in essence, is what it is like to read this book. Ben Hatch’s account of how he and his wife Dinah travelled 8,000 miles round Britain with their two toddlers in a Vauxhall Astra is a great read for several reasons.

To start with, there’s plenty you can relate to. The purpose of the Hatch’s trip was to write a guide book of family-friendly accommodation and attractions in the UK, and it is like an extreme version of every daytrip you’ve ever been on, complete with spilled drinks, near-miss danger moments and crack-you-up one-liners from the wee ones.

Happy Jubilee!

Hello! I am currently knee deep in washing having returned from a family holiday en Mallorca (fab) with one day to turn things around before the four-day Jubilee weekend extravaganza.

A doctors’ appointment followed by supermarket sweep this morning, I am now offering my darling little boy any bribe going so he’ll leave me to the laptop to reply to 101 emails that should have been sent a week ago.

So it seemed timely to share my column in the lovely Families Magazine (Click to open the PDF, I’m on page 8), in which I pledge solemnly to be really organised and bake great cakes for the momentous Royal occasion. (Cue hollow laugh).

Baking fails aside, I am wishing everyone a brilliant bank holiday weekend and urge you to check out the online Families Magazine too, where there are lots of listings of events and activities in the Leeds area. Happy holidays! xxx

What's on the soap box?

Competitive parenting doesn’t really bother me. If someone wants to tell me how much time they spend doing educational activities with their kids, honestly, I’m fine with that. If they want to outline in great detail the lovingly created, fresh organic meals they serve up to their offspring, quite frankly, I find it interesting.

But if there’s one thing that gets my goat, its parents who hark on about rationing or even banning television.

Can I get on my toy soap box for one wee moment?

A star is born

I never told you about my amazing friend Carolyn, star of One Born Every Minute.

She agreed to take part in the show to raise awareness when she found out her unborn baby had a cleft lip.

And when I say she starred, I mean it. Giving birth to her gorgeous son Jamie she appeared brave, calm, and she and husband John were a fantastic comedy double act – they should have a spin-off series all to themselves.