What I Wore Wednesday

I love my Boyfriend Shirts.  I have adopted two of my hubby's shirts and I have about 3 of my own.  I seem to be wearing them even more recently...Perhaps it is because I am in packing mode, with the house move getting closer (they do feel kind of DIY-esque)

Skinny Jeans - By Therapy (Dark Rinse Skinny)

Boyfriend Shirt - Over a year old by Lee

Plain White Vest/cami - Whistles Essentials range (bought from John Lewis)

Diamond Stud Earrings - Another of my everyday essentials (bought as a gift from hubby years ago, can't remember which jewellers)

Check out the other entries over with Transatlantic Blonde

Garden Games Review: Jumbo Connect 4

In one of our local garden centres there is a giant connect 4 and Belle has always loved playing with it. So, when I was contacted by Garden Games to see if we wanted to be sent one to review I had to say yes.

When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised because it looks like it is made out of wood not plastic! Which is always a bonus.  Belle and I got to work putting it together and it was VERY simple to do! So another brownie point there.

Belle has had hours of fun playing this. We have not actually had it outside yet as we are moving house soon. But when we do I will add some content about how it is outside too.

It is not cheap, priced at £99 but it is one of those games that will be used with adults and children alike, at birthday parties, BBQ's and even weddings.

You can pop along here and see the product in full.

Finally here is a little video of Belle's favourite part of the game...

Silent Sunday

My Girl

It has been a chilly week with frost around (but still no snow which Belle is desperate for!)

Belle has decided she doesn't really need much sleep anymore, in the day or at night! Nevertheless she has gone off to nursery full of beans for her two mornings and we have still found time to have lots of fun!

On a 2 hour walk in the cold!

Just generally being her cheeky self

Have a great weekend all!

The Gallery: Baby Blue Eyes

This week the theme for The Gallery is Eyes

There really was only one option for this one and it has to be our little Belle.

My husband has very dark eyes and mine are green so it was quite a shock when our little blue eyed girl came along...I have been waiting 2.5 years for them to change...

Her eyes just seem to light up and I have seen so many emotions through them..wonder, excitement, happiness, cheekiness and the hardest will always be seeing them with tears in.

BritMums Live 2012 Meet and Greet

Breaking news: BritMums Live 2012 has been announced and tickets are on sale now (click here if you haven't got yours yet)!

For those unsure of who is who and who will be there on the big day I am hosting a 'meet and greet'. It is really helpful to put blog names to faces. So if you want to join in simply write a short bio about yourself and/or put a picture of yourself on your blog and then link to your post below.

So Hi *waves* I'm Carly and here is my meet and greet:

Name: Carly

Blog: www.MummysShoes.com 

Twitter ID: @MummysShoes

Height: 5ft 5 (when without heels)

Hair: Long Blonde

Eyes: Greeny Bluey Grey

Likes: Persian Food, Olives, Cheese, Chai, Chocolate (actually food and eating in general!) Family, Gardening, Vintage things, Shabby Chic, Dance, Cath Kidston, Monsoon, Karen Millen, Bohemian style, Sunny Days

Dislikes:  The Daily Mail and Big Brother Culture


Random Fact: (added thanks to Domestic Goddesque) I had a lead on role in The NutCracker Ballet in America when I was 7/8 Years Old

If you want to grab the "I'm going" badge then pop over here

For great hotel rates see here

The Year that was 2011

In 46 B.C.E. the Roman emperor Julius Caesar first established January 1 as New Year’s day.  Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates, and had two faces, one looking forward and one back.  Caesar felt that the month named after this god (“January”) would be the appropriate “door” to the year. 

I'm not really fussed about New Years Eve but then again I also celebrate Christmas and yet we all know Jesus wasn't born in December! SO thanks Caesar for giving us another excuse for celebration and a day when we can all look back on what we have and feel grateful.  I actually just spent half an hour writing a letter to Belle about all the things she has done this year but have decided to save it for her next birthday which is fast approaching. Ahhh my baby girl will be turning 3 next year!!

In light of all my umming and arrhhing about where to go with this blog I have decided to focus on Mummy's Shoes on this post.  It has been quite a whirlwind year and I have been given so many opportunities, attended some amazing events and met some fantastic people and friends who I shall remain in touch with forever.  I could list all the events and great things I have done but instead I will pick just one, I don't want to bore you.

The highlight has to be...being chosen by P&G to be a judge for the Champion Mums' Foundation. Going through all the hundreds of entries was emotional!  Being one of 5 judges with the likes of Sue James (Editorial Director of Woman&Home), Gilly Sinclair (Editor of Chat), Sophia Warner (Our 100m & 200m Paralympian) and Roisin Donnelley (P&G Marketing Director) was a real honour. I was worried I was going to feel a bit out of place in that room at first but soon felt at ease, as they really were the most lovely bunch of ladies! I even managed to get some tips from Sophia on how to train for the Mum's Race on sports day :-) We picked some amazing entries and some of the wishes have been fulfilled already. So thank you so much P&G for that amazing opportunity.

Little old me. The "Blogger"

And plans for 2012?

To be just as good as 2011 I think. I am so blessed to have my family and friends around me and I just wish for their health and happiness. I would also love our house move to go ahead in the new year as we are a little in limbo at the moment with it being the Christmas hols.  

Finally I just want to thank you, my readers. This blog started off as a place to document Belle's 'first steps' and has grown this year beyond anything I ever imagined. The growth has forced me to question its direction and purpose but I think that is a good thing.  Thanks for sticking with me even when a week or two will go by without me writing a post.  I have set up a new blog over at www.StepfordWifey.com where I will be writing hopefully a lot more in the new year. So please do pop over and follow me there.

Love Us xxx

Christmas Crafting, Chicken Pox, Cabin Fever and all that jazz

Belle got the dreaded Chicken Pox and only right bang slap in the middle of her First Ever Nursery Nativity Play.  I was so upset, not because I wouldn't get to see my angel on stage with her little halo (I am not being a deluded mother, her part in the nativity was an angel) but because she had been practising for a couple of months and she was SO excited. But, alas, these things happen and at least it is over and done with now.

A week in the house was quite testing though, calling in the 'craft' heavies was essential. So if you need ideas for when your little one gets chicken pox and you are house bound have a glance through these pictures for a bit of inspiration.

Baking and decorating!

We bought these wooden shapes from www.craftshapes.co.uk

Belle painted some whilst I did the others so it was fun for mummy and daughter :-)

Paper Chains!

Fresh Air!

When Belle had chicken pox we did a lot in the garden.  She loves helping sweep the leaves...

...with an iron?!?

German Friendship Cake

A friend popped over and dropped off a German Friendship cake, whilst we were housebound. SUCH a lovely idea! I had never heard of it before. It takes 10 days to 'grow', you add sugar and due to the live yeast it rises. You then take 3 cups out and pass it on to 3 more friends to do the same.  You then bake your cake from the remaining mixture! Love it! Belle loved watching it grow.

Pixie Advent Calendar.

The fact chicken pox fell within advent was great really as every morning Belle had a present to look forward to. A lot of people on twitter asked where pixie was from...She is from Chamomile Barn. But you could use this idea for the week your little one has chicken pox no matter what time of year, as a reward for no scratching!

Finally if your little one feels to uncomfortable to nap, I found taking her out for a drive great! 

It gets you out the house too.

Wordless Wednesday: She's writing a list

Purely Belle's List, in her own words. Not sure how I am going to find all those games (well aside from hungry hippo which I am secretly happy about)