and the winner is.........................

Firstly, thank you so much to Chic Unique for providing such a beautiful bracelet in my giveaway......

The lucky winner is CAROLE HEIDI!!!!  Well done, please can you contact me with your address.

Win tickets to the Excel Baby Show February 18-20th 2011

The lovely Louise at Safe Dreams has given me four pairs of tickets to giveaway to the UK's number one baby show at the Excel in London between the 18th - 20th February 2011.

This is a great day out for any parents or parents to be, as you'll find lots of inspiration and advice as well as making huge savings on anything child related.  I saved nearly £200 on my top of the range buggy a few years ago which pleased HAW immensely.

With fantastic savings, expert advice, and hundreds of essential products to choose from , The Baby Show is the ideal place for visitors to give their babies the very best start to life, all under one roof.

The Show will offer visitors handy hints and tips on the best products to buy for babies and birth, as well as 1000’s of fantastic savings on all those must have pregnancy and baby products from top brands.   There are lots of live demonstrations offering you the opportunity to try before you buy. 

This is also an event where people showcase their latest products, so you can pick up unique items that are not being sold on the high street yet.  You'll be the trendsetter!

Naturally, being a family friendly show, there is plenty of nappy changing, feeding zones and play areas making this one of the most pleasurable shopping experiences for parents and babies alike.  There is even a "shop to drop" area where you can quite literally drop your bags, ready for collection by car, making shopping that much easier. 

Don't forget to drop by stand G42 and have a look at the Breathable Cot Wrap a safe alternative to the cot bumper.

Here's what you need to do win one pair of tickets:

1 Follow this blog and tell me below that you are doing so
2 Follow @superamazingmum and @lou_safedreams on twitter and RT "I am entering to win a pair of Excel Baby Show Tickets with @superamazingmum and @lou_safedreams RT and follow to enter"

Please let me know below what you have done!

Good luck and Happy Shopping!

 

BlanX - Intensive Whitening Treatment - a review Part 1

I am very excited to have been asked to review the BlanX tooth whitening range.  I have to say, I am very proud of my teeth which although rather on the large side are relatively straight and cavity free.  However, I have recently noticed that they are not quite as pearly white as they once were, something I blame on my daily consumption of tea, coffee and red wine.   

I have used tooth whitening toothpaste in the past and not noticed a difference so I am keen to see if this is the product I have been searching for.

I hadn't heard of BlanX before but I love the story behind the brand.   The key ingredient in BlanX  is Arctic Lichen which was discovered by a team of American scientists during an expedition to the Arctic.  The team noticed that the native population had extraordinarily white and healthy teeth, and  further research showed that all they did was rub their teeth with lichen that grew nearby.

Italian researchers then investigated this lichen and isolated the active ingredients responsible for the whitening effect. From this, BlanX created a range that is unique in its effectiveness and protection, based on the natural ingredients derived from the Arctic Lichen.   

So far, so good,  it's natural, it doesn't damage enamel and it has a minty taste.

I have been sent the whole range to try, so first up is the intensive whitening treatment which you use 2x  day for 2 weeks.   I am already on Day 6 and can see a difference.  There is a handy BlanXometer included in each pack which indicates the level of staining currently on your teeth.  It's a bit like a paint colour chart with varying degrees of tooth colour from hollywood white (I wish) to builders tea brown (yuck). 

I'll let you know how I get on, but so far, so good, it's natural, it doesn't damage enamel and it has a fresh and minty taste. 

I am definately on the way to whiter teeth, now where did I put that toothbrush??

Toilet Tuesday - Oh ground please swallow me up....

The gorgeous Wendy at Inside the Wendy House has come up with an ingenious meme.  It's childish, it's funny, it's vulgar, it's embarrassing and it's right up my street.   She has christened it Toilet Tuesday and it is just that, anything that is vulgar or shameful that you really, well shouldn't be broadcasting but just can't help yourself

Here is my contribution (and I can't believe I am doing this Wendy, a tweet is fine but a blog - eek!)

Four years ago my lovely Beansy and I were in Waitrose doing the weekly shop, he loves to help and was happily putting items onto the check out, giving me a running commentary as we go along, you know the sort of thing:

"Yummy, grapes mummy"

"I like these biscuits"

I was busying myself with the packaging away, when all of a sudden I heard his loud (very loud) but sweet little voice say "Oh look Mummy, it's those things that you put up your Noonie"

I'll leave you to guess what he was holding up for all to see but it starts with a T and ends with an X.

Remind me never to take part in this again, or else I will have to share the story of the pigeon ejaculating on my head!!!

That was the week that was - TWTWTW, week 3, 2011

I can't believe another week has flown by, I have had a very mixed week where I have really struggled with the whole WAHM (work at home mum) status.  My work days are Thursday and Friday (that's when I have childcare) but the reality is that I work every single day.  It's not helped by the fact that I have an iphone so if a client emails me then of course I will respond.

I need to sort this situation out!!

The highlight of the week was definitely finding a painting in a skip in Hampstead I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams and I am going to get it re-framed this week.   

This week I also had a bit of a spend up in debenhams, I have been wanting to try the Lancome genifique range for a while and so with some Christmas money, I got the eye cream, and youth activating (hah, I live in hope!) moisturiser.  It's got a wonderful fresh smell and is very easily absorbed without leaving a greasy feel.   All the things I want in a moisturiser, only time will tell if it works, but it has great reviews so I live in hope. 

Have a great week everyone.

"I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams"

well, erm I could be.  Maybe, hopefully. Let's see what you think.......

Yesterday, I was in London seeing a client who was lucky enough to live right by Hampstead Heath.  This was a serious case of house envy on my behalf, it was truly amazing and not much change out of £10m I imagine.  It was one of those white stucco fronted houses, spread over six floors and with a reception hall that was bigger than my whole downstairs.  It had a games room, cinema room and bar.  It was truly lush.

Anyway, they were a wonderful family who loved their photographs and I left a happy bunny.  The sun was shining, and as I was going back to the car, something caught my eye resting against a skip.  I am a bit of a magpie and couldn't resist a look.  This is what I found:

I saw straight away it was a woodblock on possibly silk (see I did listen in art class) and I also saw that is was an original.   I looked around and saw that a massive mansion was being renovated, there was even a belfast sink in the skip, which sadly for me, I couldn't even lift.  After bumbling around for a few minutes, I decided to take the painting.  (Gosh, that makes me sounds as if I was stealing it, but someones trash was definitely my treasure!).

When I got home, I called my parents as my Dad knows a bit about "art" and my mum used to work in a gallery in St James.  After a bit of pondering, they identified it as an original by the artist Alice Goodwin who studied at Camden Art School in the 60s (which probably explains why it ended up in a big old mansion in Hampstead).

So, what's it worth??  A bit of googling says anything from a couple of hundred, to a couple of thousand!  Do I care? No, I just really like it or rather I like the idea that in 50 years time my grandchildren could be on the Antiques Road Show saying "My granny found it in a skip in Hampstead and it's been in the family ever since" only for them to be told it's worth millions!

I'm a daft old romantic at heart, but it's captivated my imagination!

7 things you don't know about me.......

I’ve been tagged by Missie Lizzie over at Me and My Shadow and Michelle at Mummy from the heart to share 7 things you didn’t know about me.  Pop over there and read theirs.

I ignored this for a while as it all seemed a bit too chain lettery but Gemma from Hello, it's Gemma has been on at me to participate and seeing as she is my blog twin, I can't say No.

What you are meant to do is choose 15 people to tag.  It's going to be hard to see who has and hasn't been tagged so for today, I am going to choose the following people who are all lovely and make me laugh.  Some of them are new to blogging, so let's share the blog love and support them! 

http://kailexness.wordpress.com/
http://lotusflowerlily.wordpress.com/
http://chocorangecitymum.blogspot.com/
http://cherrymumof6.wordpress.com/
http://bod-for-tea.blogspot.com/
http://manic-mums.blogspot.com/
http://ghostwritermummy.wordpress.com/
http://emsyjo.blogspot.com/
http://missbehaving.wordpress.com/
http://mummysquared.blogspot.com/
http://insidethewendyhouse.blogspot.com/
http://ladouceviesuisse.blogspot.com/
http://i-heart-motherhood.blogspot.com/

Here are 7 things you don't know about me:

1) I have snogged a member of a very famous boy band. I didn't know who they were and it was when they were touring round schools and youth clubs performing.  He is now a global superstar and I shared an illicit snog and fag with him outside the youth club.  I was drunk on 20/20 and he probably was as well!  He was a fabulous kisser but I will never kiss and tell (erm, well maybe give me a £5 and I might).  I now have a ridiculous school girl crush on him that HAW thinks is insane.

2) My grandmother was a survivor of the Titanic.  We don't know anymore as she was orphaned and bought up in a nunnery in Oxford.  She always alluded to this but confirmed it on her death bed.

3) I was a teenage wild child.  I used to sneak up to London on the train and go to all the cool clubs.  My parents still to this day think I was at a friends studying. (sorry mum!)  Her parents were very liberal and would cover for me, mine were super strict.  I find it incredible now that one parent would lie to another parent. 

4) I am a make up junkie.  I have enough products to open my own department.  Space NK fills me with joy.  I blame this addiction on my first job.  Can you guess what it was?

5) I failed my maths GCSE 3x. For a grammar school girl this was unheard of.  Despite this, I went on to successfully run blue chip companies advertising teams dealing in trades of approx £20m.    I have never needed to use trigonometry since.  My grammar and spelling is also atrocious.  I am very grateful for spell check.

6) My daughter is named after Jodie Foster's character in Bugsy Malone.  I am still amazed I managed to get that one past HAW as he vetoed it for 10 years.  I think he was so fed up with the pregnant me, he did it for an easy life!  Despite this, she is called Pixie more often than not!

7) I have been in a commercial with I heart Muthahood's husband!!  I went to stage school when I was younger and had to recruit lots of friends for a  crowd scene in a Young Person's Railcard TV/Cinema ad.  He was a great friend of mine and along with the rest of our gang we had a brilliant day out.  We didn't realise that we "knew" each other until we started reading each other's blogs!

Your challenge now is to complete this and link up with me (I think)

Good Luck! xx

Spread some Love.....Blue Monday 2011

Today has been named the most miserable day of the year, triggered by bad weather, money worries and failed resolutions.  I concur that I was feeling pretty hacked off today, the school run was wet, my kids were fractious and the house is a tip.  Oh deep joy, a day spent doing housework, ironing, washing and cleaning, just what the doctor ordered to make me feel special. Not.

Then the postman knocked, he gave me a package from Canada and went back out into the grey, rainy, miserable morning.  I have only just opened it but the sentiment behind the package has cheered me up no end. 

It was a book called RUT from Concord Free Press that I read and applied for just before Christmas.  The philosophy is simple, they will send you a free bestseller and all they ask you do is to give some money to a group you support or someone in need.  Where and how much you give - that's completely up to you.  You then track your donation on their website and pass the book along to another reader.   It's all about inspiring generosity.

It's a simple but powerful concept and an ongoing experiment in publishing.

www.concordfreepress.com

Why not help share the love?

That Was The Week That Was - Week 2, 2011

So here we are again, another week has rolled around, I managed two other blog posts  Bracelet Giveaway and Kate takes 5, Listography which, considering the week I had, wasn't bad!

So, without further ado, here is my TWTWTW Week 2, 2011

This has been a very busy week in the Superamazing household as I struggled with the whole WAHM scenario.  You know, where you have one child stropping as you are on the phone to an important client.  Yes, that was me this week.  

Usually January is a time to consolidate the business, but we are so busy at the moment that I am working everyday whenever I can grab an hour or so during nap time.  This is great but very stressful at times when trying to juggle that with after school clubs, housework, homework, toddler groups etc.  I think something is going to have to change soon, and hopefully I can get me some help in the form of a cleaner/mothers help.  Long term though, I think an au pair may be the solution, but we shall see!

By the time Friday came around I was exhausted, had a "disagreement" with HAW who was in bed whilst chaos reigned as I tried to get the three kids and myself ready for school and work.  He later apologised but sometimes that man, grrrr.

We had a party to go to Friday night which to be honest, was the last thing I felt like doing, I had been in London all day at the SWPP conference and was exhausted.   I soon perked up though as despite being the nominated driver, it was a good crowd and good laugh.  We have decided along with four other couples to do a "Celebrity Come Dine with Me" competition, this should prove interesting as we have nominated all husbands to do the cooking, it was funny to watch them puffing up their chests as they discussed menus.  They all think they are the next Gordon Ramsey so should be interesting!  We are going to film it and everything, I am looking forward to it already!

Another highlight for me was winning a day for two at the Spa at the Park Lane Hilton.   I am going to treat my mum who is my inspiration and my rock.  I couldn't do half the things I do without her support (childcare for one!)  and she really deserves to be pampered.

As a few of you commented that a weekly update was a good idea (thank you!) I have decided to create a linky for this.   So, if like me you struggle with time or inspiration, why not do a weekly update and link here?

Link up here

 Have a great week everyone!

Listography - Take 5 places.....

This is the first time I have taken part in Kate Takes 5 listography, but I have a spare 20 minutes and I really enjoy this as a concept.

I have always loved travelling, new experiences, new people and places and I harbour the dream that one day in the not to distant future, we will take the kids out of school for a year and show them volcanoes, hot springs, shanty towns and the amazon in real time rather than out of a textbook.

Here are my 5 favourite places:

1) Angel Falls, Venezuela

Not only is this the largest waterfall in the World, it is also where HAW proposed to me.  We flew over in a twin engine plane from a beautiful lodge of the Isle of Margarita.   It holds lovely memories for me and of a very happy time in my life.

2) London

I am a Londoner born and bred and had become quite blase about the fact the City was so accessible and so close.  However, having a Kiwi business partner has re-ignited my passion for our Great City.  I am so grateful that it is on our door step as I am loving showing the kids our wonderful Capital.

3. New York

I have been to New York at least 10 times (spoilt brat I know) my parents first took us about 20 years ago and we all got totally hooked on the fast paced city Life.  I was fortunate enough to visit on lots of work related "jollies" and had plenty of SATC moments in the City that never sleeps.  

4. Camber Sands

We have only recently discovered Camber Sands since having the kids but it is only 90mins away from where we are.   We rent a beach house that has direct access to the beach and the kids can go wild as you can see!!!  I would love to move down to this part of the World.

5. Maldives

After having a cancer scare in early 2008, I booked a once in a lifetime, no expenses spared holiday for the four of us to the Maldives.  I decided that life was worth living and off we went.  This is really worthy of it's own blog but we had the most amazing holiday ever, it really was paradise and the icing on the cake is that I returned pregnant with our little Pixie (having been told that I wouldn't have more kids!).  I dream of going back one day.....

If you have enjoyed reading this, then please do the same and link up here

http://katetakes5.blogspot.com/

Stand out from the Crowd - Win a totally unique bracelet.

If you follow me on twitter, you know I love a good old natter!  Having tweeted over 3,000 tweets in 3 months, I have met some lovely people along the way.  One of these is @chicuniqueuk who makes the most exquisite, quirky jewellery, you really won't see anything like this on the high street and as everything is handmade, you can be guaranteed that your piece really is a one off!

Taking inspiration from the silver screen and adding a funky,vintage inspired twist, Liz also offers a full custom design service so if you have always wanted to create your own piece then give her a shout!

She has very kindly given me this "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" inspired charm bracelet for one of you lovely people to win! 

If you would like to win this gorgeously scrumptious bracelet, then please do the following:

1) Follow my blog and  Chic Unique's and let me know below that you are doing so below

2) Please make sure you follow @superamazingmum and @chicuniqueuk on twitter

For one extra entry you can tweet: #Win a vintage inspired bracelet with @superamazingmum and @chicuniqueuk  RT and follow to enter

Please leave me a comment below to tell me what you have done and how best to contact you if you win!

If you win, you must respond within 24 hours otherwise we will have to choose another winner

UK Only

Ends 30th January 2011

TWTWTW - Week 1, 2011

That Was The Week That Was......Week 1 2011

I have only been blogging for a very short while, but I absolutely love the process I am struggling to  blog!

I love meeting new people and was fortunate enough to attend the British Mummy Bloggers Christmas Lunch back in December.  This re-enforced the fact that the people I tweet with, and whose blogs I read, are all intelligent, professional, eloquent and above all, lovely people!  I really don't want to stop blogging, I just wish I had more time to do so.

I am not a writer (as you can probably tell!) but I do love the written word, I love to read other people's blogs and I like the idea that people are reading mine (is it an ego thing?) but sadly, due to having just set up my own business and raising my young family and all that entails, plus school, church/rugby committees, and a twitter addiction I am just not getting the opportunity to blog as much as I would like. 

Therefore, following on from my summary of 2010 That was the Year that was 2010 I have decided that every Sunday, I am going to blog a summary of my week.  Even if I don't get a chance to blog in between (and I will do my best to do so) I am going to guarantee that every Sunday you will see a summary of my week.   At least that way, when I get to the end of 2011, I'll be able to remember what 2011 gave me!! 

Week 1 2011

After 3 weeks of being at home, everyone went back to work/school.  As much as I love my family, I was so pleased as it meant normality ensued and I could get back into my routine.  I spent the whole day Tuesday taking down decorations and cleaning the house top to bottom.  I even washed and ironed the curtains! 

The highlight of the week was taking delivery of my new VW Sharan that I won in October of last year.  It was a long time coming due to the weather and I will do a separate post on this, but the difference it has made to us already has been phenomenal. 

Rugby was back on today after a long break due to the weather and the Christmas holidays and the weather was superb.  The kids had a fab time running around and we rounded of the weekend with a huge roast and a game of monopoly.   A great finish to a great week!

How was your week?  Anyone else fancy doing a summary?