Perfectly Captured

A recent photo shoot, which I have a blog post all about very soon, captured my three daughters perfectly. I'm still pinching myself. I feel so blessed. Is it bad that I'm really nervous that my luck is going to change because I feel so incredibly lucky?

I think tiniest sister is going to be just like biggest sister. I have that feeling. We named her Matilda because when I carried her she didn't stop moving. The doctors couldn't believe how active she was when I was monitored in hospital for several hours.She felt so strong. Her name means strength in battle, and already, at just two weeks old, she is holding her own head up, determined not to miss out on anything when she is awake! I love the thought that my third and final daughter will have the strength and determination that her big sisters and mummy have.

Mums! Hoops and Crosses?

"We understand kids can be cheeky monkeys when it comes to eating what parents put in their lunchboxes. Which is why we’ve created new Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses - a great-tasting, low-fat and fun way for kids to boost their wholegrain intake" says Walkers.

The facts;

• Each bag has 85 calories 
• Hoops and Crosses are made from wholegrains, have no artificial colours or preservatives 
• They come in three flavours – all suitable for vegetarians (prawn cocktail, roast beef, salt and vinegar) 

Walkers kindly sent us the Roast Beef flavour to try. My eldest, Nevie-Rose is 4 and she is a huge crisp lover, especially when it comes to lunch time as crisp sandwiches is a big hit in the Collins household. However it's not easy finding yummy crisps that she will enjoy AND I will not feel guilty about her having. 

I packed these in my change bag as part of her lunch as we were out and about. Nevie-Rose really enjoyed these crisps. She said that they tasted just like her big cousins crisps (he is a HUGE fan of Roast Beef Monster Munch) and she loved that they were shaped as hoops and crosses, although too impatient to sit and play a game with these (like most kids!). She also made a comment after she had eaten them that they filled her up! HOORAY!!

I confess to sticking my hand in her packet of crisps when I first opened them as they smelt so good. Daughter was not impressed and I was left feeling a  little upset that I couldn't eat more. They tasted goooooooooood.

I'm heading out today to do a food shop and these are on my list - thank goodness there is no longer a demand for Space Raiders! When shopping for crisps, I do admit to watching the price as I am now shopping on a budget being on maternity leave but I think I will put budget aside due to the healthier facts above and the request from my crisp loving daughter.

I also want to point out that my daughter starts school this September and this review has had me thinking about what I would pack in her lunch box that is healthy, filling and won't make me look like a bad mummy and I would certainly pack these in her lunch box.

My cheeky monkey gave Walkers Baked Hoops And Crosses a big thumbs up and a cheeky grin! Oh and the free monkey that came with the bag of crisps to review? She has given it to her tiny newborn sister Matilda - Awwwwwwwwww

** Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post with a very honest review! **

Three Daughters And One Proud Mummy and Daddy

My third beautiful daughter Matilda Maye (due to being born in May) Collins arrived Friday 3rd May at 9.10am weighing 8lbs 1oz.

She is simply perfect.

It may sound odd but the entire time I was pregnant, I was still in denial that a baby would be born at the end of it. I was busy carrying on as normal. Working and juggling my two toddlers. I was supposed to be slowing down, but this only made me do more. We picked the name early in the pregnancy and I hoped that it would make me bond better with my bump but I became so anxious about my third C Section that I found it easier to block the third arrival out of my mind and remain busy until the week before her arrival.

When 7am arrived on Friday 3rd May I felt fear. My sister picked me up to drop me off at the maternity hospital and my husband met me there at 8am once he had taken our two toddlers to nursery. All the prep by the midwife that morning just made me more and more anxious. I kept crying. My midwife was very understanding and so kind. Waiting in a very sunny, bright, white clinical ward made me feel like I had just booked into a mental hospital. It was all very strange and very, very calm!

At 8.45 I was taken into theatre for my spinal block and other needles, at 9.05am they started and at 9.10am Matilda was born, screaming her lungs out. My goodness this sound was simply amazing to hear. I just wanted to know that she was okay. I just wanted to hear that first cry so badly. I actually got to hold this baby straight away and not have to wait four hours like my last two. Simply amazing!

I had people before the delivery texting and tweeting and sending me messages on Facebook telling me to just enjoy the experience. It was an impossible task. I was petrified. This was my third one. I had lost lots of blood in the previous C Sections and I was scared that this third one I would be pushing my luck. How lucky and blessed am I? A third daughter.

All I do now is look at her, smell her, soak up every minute, every wimper, every cry, every sleeping moment. I am much more calmer this time. I realise now how quick they grow up and seeing as this is my last baby, I don't want to miss anything.

All the pain I am in, the state of my body... who cares! All worth it.

Capturing the 37 Week Bump

Amongst all the stress of dealing with my 2 year old daughter being poorly this week, when passing this mirror at home, I caught a glimpse of my bump and quickly wanted to capture the memory of my 37 week self image. I am praying so hard that I don't go into labour until my daughter is better because I just can't bare to be away from her. Especially as today I have booked for her to see a doctor due to the shallow breathing! I know everything works out, but this week I just seem to feel so worn out with stress and worry, worry, worry.

Mum In Action - Teresa Turner Offers Remote Help

This is a guest post from a mum running her own business...

*Hi* My name is Teresa Turner. 

I have 2 sons aged 14 and 9 and a step daughter aged 16 who lives with us.  I also have 3 other step daughters aged 21, 22 and 25 and a granddaughter who is 2.

DaisyChain PA is a team of dedicated Virtual Assistants with more than 25 years of administration and marketing experience, whose goal in life is to help make your job easier, giving you more time, more money and less stress. Our mission is to enable you to focus on your business and do what you do best.

What is a Virtual Assistant or Virtual PA?  It’s someone who offers remote help to you and your business – when and how you need it. Working from our own offices, DaisyChain PA can save you time and money and offer valuable, flexible business support with a range of services created with the busy professional in mind.

What does a Virtual Assistant do?

By working with DaisyChain PA you will have access to your own personal, virtual assistant whenever you need someone to.

•           Manage diaries and emails.

•           Give marketing and social media support.

•           Take phone calls

•           Create a PowerPoint presentation.

•           Organise meetings and events.

•           Manage your database.

•           Organise your bookkeeping.

•           Produce newsletters and reports.

•           Carry out audio typing

In fact, DaisyChain PA can help with everything that a typical administration or marketing support department might do for a large company, taking care of your extra workload, reporting back when you want us to and giving you peace of mind for a professional job well done.

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•           Available as and when you need us at a straightforward hourly rate

•           Saves you the need to hire a full time PA or provide facilities and equipment.

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Why employ DaisyChain PA?

•           25 years of administration and marketing experience.

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•           Awesome ability to reach people on a level playing field regardless of background.

•           Honest and trustworthy, professional and well organised.

•           With a can do attitude, and a proactive approach to solving your problems we always go above and beyond to make sure we meet our clients’ expectations.

You can have it all! Stress free and watching your business grow to achieve what you desire.

"Talk... Just Talk..."

My biggest challenge to date has been to believe in myself again.  I had run a very successful European business over 5 years ago and we were doing very well working with some very prestigious clients in France.  However my marriage fell apart and I was in partnership with my sister-in-law.  It became more and more apparent that one of us had to go and I chose to leave and completely break away from everything and concentrate on my two sons.  

I juggle work and motherhood by working from home.  The joy of the work I do means I can work at night too.  I set aside time when the children come home from school to sit and chat with them and when we sit down for meals we always sit at the table so we can all chat about our day and anything that is bothering them.  They all know they can come to me at any time and I will take a break and chat if they need me.  Equally they know that when I am busy to leave me to it and entertain themselves.  My youngest was off of school recently with a bad sickness bug.  I sat on the sofa with my laptop and worked while he slept with his head in my lap wrapped up in a duvet.  When you are a Mum you have to make it work.  My children always have and always will be my priority in my life.  I have a very gracious partner too who helps a lot even though they work too.  We have all become a team and we all take part in the household chores and even cooking.  My 14 year old son cooks a mean stir fry!

The most rewarding part of being self-employed for me is that you can work when you want to and you get to meet lots of interesting people.  I also like look at what I achieve and thinking I did that!

The advice I would pass on is this…..DO IT!  There will never be a more perfect  time to do it than when you are at your most passionate about it.  Keep going even when you feel that you have no strength left in you to do it.  Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you.  Talk things through with your family because ultimately they are the ones who will it will affect the most.  Find another self-employed Mum and use her as your mentor and guide.  You may be working in different areas but you can learn a lot from other Mums’ who have been where you are now.

If I could turn back time I would buy my ex business partner out and still be running a very successful European company.  I will however settle for the decision I made back then as a lesson learnt and I will never go into business again with family. I am happy with all of the changes I have made in my life.  I have grown so much as a woman and I see the world in such a different light compared to back then.

I keep calm by having a network of friends and family who support me.  I might walk away from the desk and watch TV for 5 minutes or clean or go for a walk.  Sometimes my partner will walk into the room take me by the hand walk me down to the kitchen where a cup of tea and a biscuit are waiting for me and says, “talk…..just talk”…..So I do.   I meet a lovely group of Mums once a week for breakfast too and we sit and chat about our businesses and how things are going, we talk about our children and life and make each other laugh.  I am blessed to have a great group of people around me who support me and if all else fails I pick up the phone and I call my brother and he talks me through it all and I feel ready to carry on once more.

Mummy Mission: Meal Planning

This weeks meal planning is focused on feeding my family vegetables EVERY DAY.

We usually have vegetables a few times a week but I am determined this week to get some kind of vegetable in them EVERY DAY this week to get over the Easter chocolate indulgence.

Oh my goodness, my family are going to hate me but hopefully demand that I stop cooking for them ;-) Mwahahahaha.

On this weeks meal planner we have fishcakes - Tesco finest may I add! We have Spaghetti Bolognese, Cottage Pie, A roast - I have yet to buy the meat but I'm thinking beef could be a nice option this week, fish fingers and pasta! This weeks shopping bill came to £65 - my best yet!

...I have stocked up on toilet roll too don't worry!

Mum In Action Spotlight - My Market Stalls

1. Your Name, age
Ana Remigio, 38 years old

2. How many children do you have?
One 16 year old boy and one 6 year old girl.

3. About Your Business
I organise and co-ordinate community events, farmers markets and general food markets. www.mymarketstalls.co.uk

4. What makes your business different?
My business focuses on supporting home businesses and also on bringing communities together.

5. The biggest challenge to date
Finding enough time.

6. How do you juggle work and motherhood
I have to organise and prioritise quite carefully as my youngest is home schooled.

7. What is the most rewarding thing about being self employed?
I manage my own time and have the privilege of spending more time with my family.

8. What advice would you pass on to another mum thinking about setting up her own business?
Go for it if it is something you are really passionate about because if you are you will find the time to do everything.

9. If you could turn back time would you follow the same path?
I would never go back to working fixed times. I love not having this pressure and not wasting time commuting.

10. How do you remain calm? Coffee and cake?
I don't always remain calm