Not a big girl yet!

Hello all, I'm sorry I haven't been round much - I have been so busy here in our new, nosy (did I mention their still drilling) offices!

Anyway  we are in the midst of a heatwave here in the UK (at the end of September). So not only am I very busy and ever so tired when I finish work, I'm also a sweaty heap because its the policy (ahem or so I was told by the Space Manager!) not to have air conditioning.

So for the last couple of nights we've been popping into the pub on the way home from work (yes that is all of us, see the Bad Mummy come through again!).  While I'm sat there drinking necking my pint, the girls have been playing in the huge beer garden our local possesses.

Which is were this gem of a conversation came:

Neb: How was school today Bel?

Bel: Fine (yes we don't get much info - bane of every parent!)

Neb: I was in the Maths class today and J's step- mum said that J had asked if you could come and play? Is he your boyfriend? (We are oh so tactful in our house)

Bel: No Daddy, but I think my cheeks are going red!

Me (getting my oar in) So who do you fancy then?

Bel: I'm not going to fancy anyone until I get to secondary school and even if you do ask its not Justin Beiber because he's gay

me and Neb .. sat there shocked and then I had to ask Do you know what that means?

Bel: Yes its when 2 men love each other... anyway Justin Beiber is Gay and he has a girlfriend.....

So, there we are proof that Bel knows more than I thought she would .. and that she is not swayed by boys just yet! But then again, she does lurve Matt Smith!!

BNM


Remember if you are also a busy shattered working mum like me, and can't be arsed in making your own lunch that Innocent Veg Pots are currently running a Tweet and Eat discount scheme.. go on have a look, lets aim for a free pot!
 

5 days until Dummy D Day

Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Yes  5 days, and we will be trying our best to get rid of it.

After a visit to the dentist the other day, where they told Car that her teeth weren't touching, we HAVE to do it!

Luckily, when they both went to Neb's parents over the summer, they managed to get it down to bedtime only. And now its up to us, now we need to get over the final hurdle. I have said that we will get a star chart and will be doing it. She is unsure about it all, but will tell anyone she knows that her teeth aren't right and she is a big girl.

I'll report back with news on how it goes, and how long it takes for us to get her to go to sleep on the 1st October!!

Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

BNM

How many days?

Can you believe there is 35 days left until Halloween and 89 days left until Christmas!

So what are my kids raving about?

Here's a clue:

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Yes, thats it Christmas lists are on their minds. AAGH!

Me, I have so many things to do before I even think of that, there's Neb's family coming up for half term, his birthday in November (as in his 40th and I'm organising it!), and what with work being mad (including my move - did I tell you they made me move offices again!!) I have no time to think!

All would have been fine if this hadn't arrived through the door this week and Car then found it!

AAAH.. someone pass me the wine!!!


BNM

Listography: 5 Celebrities I'd love to have a drink with

Yes, another fantastic Listography from Kate Takes 5.

So, who would I love to have a drink with, well :

 Richard Herring - because he makes me laugh, and has a very dirty mind. I've recently been listening to his podcasts and OMG if that's him sober, imagine him after one or two drinks!

Michael Sheen (apparently he was in Twilight -but I've never seen it). I watched the Passion play (based in Port Talbot) recently and he directed and starred in it. He was also on the radio on Friday and as we're both Welsh we should have loads in common, like a love of rugby and drink!

Liam Neeson, the Irish rascal, I love his films and would love to sit and have a good craich with him.

(Have just realised that I have the start of a good joke here, an Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman went to a pub.....)

David Tennant, because he is simply gorgeous!

And finally Miranda Hart because I love her sense of humour and I think she may actually be taller than me!!


There we are, my 5 ... why don't you have a go!

BNM

Owl you glad I'm here.....

Yes, I know I said I wouldn't be here, but as Car has made me sit next to her because she's feeling sick (she drank her milkshake too fast), I thought I'd pop on!!!

Image: africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So, the reason behind the weird (or normal) title.

Well I took the girls into town today to pay for our new sofa. Well not new, but recycled new from a fab shop in town - 3 seater sofa £150- will just have to wait for it to be delivered now!

Anyway, while there I did some shopping (with a big thanks to Mr tax man for our rebate!), and it seems that Owls are in this year. Look what I bought Bel:

from M & Co (£20... its lovely!)

I couldn't find an owl for Car but she did get this:

 

from M & Co (£18, because Car gets hot so cardigans for her!)

And me , well fussy old me even managed to get some clothes! Which I know is a miracle!!

Anyway, that is what we've done today. Off to finish the curry soon (Bel's choice of supper from one of our Annabel Karmel books, keep your fingers crossed that the girls eat it! 

I may even pop over tomorrow but I have Sunday lunch with my dad planned before he goes jetting all over the world - so not jealous!!

BNM

this is not a review, I thought I'd share with you that I have fun shopping with my girls!!

 

Fresh....er not really

See my pun up there, well it has a clue about where I've been, why I've not been around much and why you won't see that much of me for the next few weeks!

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Its all his fault (well possibly not him per se, I think mine may look less fresh faced than that).

As you may or may not know I work at an University (in Wales, that's it no more clues!), and tomorrow they land.. the freshers, the new students. Having just moved offices, I have been photocopying and planning like crazy and next week registration hits us!! AAAGH!! PANIC!!!

So, this is why I am not Fresh or here  (though you know I may find 5 mins on weekend!). Next week, will be hectic and non stopping and .... oh god I need more cider....

BNM

PS If you know anyone who is going away to university, don't worry I and all the staff at my place of work will be nice and kind and will not shout!!!

 

Countdown

image source

There is one more day until Glee restarts here in the UK ( yes I know, I'm sad and a Gleek and never mind)

I am very excited about this especially after watching the Glee Project and knowing who will also be on.

And as I am such a Gleek and working on my own in the office I've found that my favourite Internet radio site has a Glee channel !! YEAH!!

And if you can't get it here's the original Glee song - which the kids now demand instead of the original (much to Neb's disappointment!)



Yes, anyway, best be off now - work to do and everything......

BNM

Save the children

Its not hard to sign your name

Its not hard to help them out

Do it.

There are 750,000 children dying because of a drought.

Because there are no #healthworkers like Maureen the district midwife. Straight talking Maureen.  Seeing me after I had Car, she was disgusted as I should've still been in hospital as I'd had  a C section and lost blood. She saw me sat there with a clingy puky baby and said " Choices, you could sit here feed her yourself and knacker yourself even more or you could give her bottle and sleep".

Save the children

( This post is part of the 100 word blog-hop to help Save the Children,Two representatives from Save the Children are on their way to UN General Assembly in New York and will be pressuring David Cameron to use his governmental power to help solve the global health worker crisis.  Can you be part of the final push to reach the 60,000 signature target before Tuesday 20th September?)
 

BNM

Pick a fight

Yeah, you want to have a go, come on I'm in that mood today.

PMT and a cold, just great and because today is that day, I'm in a foul mood.

Neb didn't know what was wrong , and asked me while shopping what the hell was wrong, so I replied what's the day, and he went Sunday and I went the date and he went I didn't know I was meant to remember every bloody anniversary!

Which to be fair, he shouldn't and I should live through these days. I should remember the good things, not this one bad thing.

But I can't and every year on this date I will pick a fight with anyone, and I'm the one who is meant to be getting over this. Except I don't think I am, I miss her more today than I did yesterday. There are things I wish she knew (and yes even this anonymous thing I would share with her because I know she would get it!).
We all know that if she was here things would be different but things will never be that different again.

I best go off and be maudlin somewhere else folks. Plus I'm in charge of a pork fillet with apple sauce for supper! Best not burn it!!

BNM

Dear So & So

Dear Glee Project people 

Thank you, thank you and thank you for making a grown women very happy. I am so looking forward to seeing Damian in Glee (which starts back here again next week) but note its not always a good idea to make me scream while kids are in bed!

(just in case you have no idea who I mean!)

Thank you
 Biggest Glee fan in Wales, BNM

Dear husband

Its nice that you are not working on Sunday. I am looking forward to Sunday snuggles with you.
Other things too.

Love you 
BNM

Dear Bel and Car
Please don't disturb mummy and daddy on Sunday morning. In fact, you could have a lie in (in your own beds). 
Love you
BNM

Dear Sunday
I am going to surround myself with my family and not think about what happened. If I am happy then the sadness and tears can't leak through. I will be strong like she was to that day. 
BNM

Dear Readers
Hello all - how are you?
Thank you for listening to my rants!
BNM


Remember you can join in over there at Kat's

Earlier

Time, its a huge concept to grasp and unfortunately Car has not got there yet. Here are a few examples from the week so far that have made us laugh:

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Earlier, when you were little did you sit in my seat in the car daddy?
2. Earlier, when you were little mummy, where was I?
3. Yesterday, when your mummy was alive (to me) did she like me?
4. Earlier, When I was little mummy and drank milk did I drink it when I was in your tummy?
5. Yesterday, with grandma and grandpa we saw clowns and they were very funny!!

The things they say hey!

BNM

And the winner is ..HUMF COMPETITION WINNER

Well thank you for all taking the time out to enter the Humf Competition (remember you still have until Thursday to enter the Tom and Jerry one, here).

The winner is using the random number generator:

is Rachel 

I have tweeted Rachel and hope to hear from her soon

BNM

Another day, another dollar

Well I am here in my new office. The move has been done and there are boxes everywhere.

The worse thing is after all the stress of last week is that the office is tiny compared from the luxury sea front viewing office of before. Currently there is only me in here - and no filing cabinets but when we are all in there will be 3 of us, filing cabinets and all.

Ah well, I guess there goes my stress free working enviroment. Sardines all together we will be!

BNM

Disorganised Mummy

So its the start of the working week and here I am again sat waiting for the pasta to cook. Yes at 7.15 in the morning. This is the pasta for Bel's pack lunch. This is not the Cheese and Bacon puffs she was expecting!

Hello my name is BNM and I'm disorganised. I think the only place I am organised is the work desk (which hopefully has arrived at new office!).

 And my excuse, becuase you know as all Disorganised mummies I will have one - well last night was roast dinner night but not only that we made biscuits:

A herd of dinosaurs to be precise!!

BNM

Nearly losing my integrity

I had just started to write a sponsored post - I know something some of us do (especially with Christmas 105 days away) and some of us don't.
Last week I was contacted by what seemed like a genuine person who asked me to write a sponsored post on behalf of their company. I agreed without checking them out.

Sitting here today, writing the post, I checked them out and stopped in my tracks. The feedback given for products on the site (I am not naming them!) were awful! Absolutely awful. So, I sat here and thought no, I am not writing this. I refuse to let my blog be a part of this site - my integrity as a blogger nearly fell out of the window.

So readers, you have been saved. The company may not be happy with me -I have emailed them, but I will not become a blogger who writes a sponsored post just for anyone. I need to be more awake when making these decision. I nearly lost my way just thinking about the money, just thinking about things I could get for Chirstmas.

BNM

Winter nights

I know its not meant to be Winter just yet, but the days and nights seem to be getting colder and I have been so sleepy and tired all week that I just want to hibernate!

So it got me thinking, what can I do with my winter nights. I know I will always have the blog (don't worry I'm not upping and leaving it!) but I need something else to do. I want to do something with my hands.

Any ideas would be appreciated

BNM

Tom and Jerry DVD - Review and COMPETITION

Tom and Jerry, the cat and mouse friendly rivalry cartoon which has been around for over 60 years are now back in a new adventure. Luckily, we were sent a copy to review and with our popcorn we sat down to watch it:

Tom  and Jerry and  the Wizard of Oz is a retelling of the famous film in a way that brings capers to the screen, and laughs to us.
Out on DVD  from 19th September 2011 from Warner Home Video priced £4.99 RRP, this film brings all your favourite characters together, Tom,Jerry, Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Wizard, the Munchkins and more.

The girls have never seen the Wizard of Oz film (Neb has a hate for it) but sitting on the sofa with me they loved it. Car did think that the Wicked Witch of the West was quite scary but Bel loved every second of it. Being a die hard Tom and Jerry fan it is odd seeing them more as friends but I think this crossover animation is fantastic. It also features some of the original film's songs, we all loved singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"

A giant thumbs up from the BNM household (bar Neb) for this film. If you too would love to see it, then guess what I have a copy of the DVD to giveaway!

If you want a chance to own a copy of this  yourself then leave a comment below telling me what kind of animal is Tom? If you've popped over from my Facebook page then leave it here not there.

The winner will be drawn by random from the correct answers. The prize winner will be contacted by myself and the prize will be sent out directly from the company. No cash alternative will be offered.  The prize will be sent within 28 days. If the prize winner cannot be contacted within 3 days then a redraw will take place. This competition will end at midday on Thursday 15th September .This competition is open to UK residents 18 years and over only.

Good Luck! 

BNM 
 
ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Games I used to play - Listography

I'm joining in again today with Kate's Listography (due to the fact that any other kind of inspiration is dearly flagging as is my body!)

Anyway this week's listography is all about the games we used to play as kids when the only computer we had in the house was a spectrum zx + and the Internet was something that was a pipe dream! When we could be found up a tree, in the river and just messing about without a care in the world!


So here goes:

1) Off ground touch
This is a game we used to play inside the school when rain cancelled the outside play time. Basically you had to stay off the ground and you could only be tagged when you had to move from one item to the other!

2) What's the time Mr Wolf?
This was a fun chasing game which I've seen my kids play but called Granny Granny! Anyway someone was a wolf and then the others stood back (normally the wolf was at one end of the playground, and the others at the other end). The group would call what's the time Mr wolf (who had their back to them). He would call out times and the group would walk that amount of steps towards him e.g10'o'clock, 10 steps, etc. The idea was to reach the wolf before he called out dinner time where he would be able to chase you and catch you!

3) Poison
Basically tag but with an elaborate story built in to it. Somebody would be the person who was tagging and would hold out their hand for everyone to hold a finger of. They then would start a story and when the word Poison was said in the story then everyone would scatter. The tagger would then have to tag and when someone would tag they would join the tagger in getting everyone.

4) Corners
Again we used to play this in our playground which had many corners. Again a variation on tag, the gang would go in corners and run to different corner when Tagger shouted Corner. A corner was a safe place and you couldn't be tagged there but everywhere else was unsafe!

5) Pacman (it was the 80s) - our school playground had a netball pitch painted on (we never had nets though) so at playtime we had to play pacman on the lines. One person was pacman and the others were ghosts and we had to catch pacman on the lines!

So, that was my blast from the past - I hope you enjoyed it.
Why don't you go over and join in with the Listography - relive your childhood!
BNM

Dear So and So,the office move version

Dear Office Manager

So I said I'd come in today out of the goodness of my heart - only for half a day mind.
This didn't mean you could make me your office junior and do all the photocopying. It is not funny!
I have though done it all!

Yours tired and peed off

working BNM


Dear Office Colleagues

I will miss you all terribly and may do less work because you are not there. We must have lunch soon!

Will promise not to cry and look forward to seeing you at end of October!

working BNM


Dear Old College

I will miss you, I will even miss this:

I hope they find a good use for you!  

Image Copyright Jeff Thomas. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

working BNM

Dear Neb

You are a randy old goat. Please leave me alone tonight though as I am tired. Unless of course I drink lots of wine!

Tired BNM

Dear Kids

I will do lots with you this weekend but remember that I have shattered myself out. Maybe something simple, like watching a DVD!

I love you both

BNM

One week down

Well that's it - the first week of school over with.

And Bel, well she loves being in Y3 - and I'm very happy with some of the incentives that her class teacher has given them. She operates a card system for good/bad behaviour which is the traffic light system

If you get green cards all week - you get 30 minutes of time at the end of the school week to pick a fun activity. If you get a red card, you lose 5 minutes of this time. And if you get two red cards then you have to write a letter to your parents to explain why. Luckily, Bel has had no red or yellow cards and is on green all the way - unlike some of her friends who have already had red cards.

I think she will enjoy this year, being given more work to do and being with a very dynamic class teacher.
Has anything changed in your child's school year?

BNM

Also a big Thanks to Clothing @Tesco who gave us another free box of uniform (like the one from last year - sorry I haven't a photo, the clothes have been sorted and the box whisked away by Car to be a castle, car, baby bed!)- the quality like last year is fantastic.

Also a big shout out to Emma And 3 who won the £15 uniform voucher from Tesco - which I tweeted to win last week

Humf - DVD review and competition

So what's purple and fluffy and loved my toddlers everywhere?

Yes its Humf.

And he has a new DVD out to entertain your kids this September. Luckily though we were sent a copy to review (which we've done seeing as September is actually more like November here!)

Humf and the Fluffy Thing - out 12th September on DVD, rrp £9.99

Humf and his friends, Loon and Wallace are furry things of multiple colours. They have adventures daily and Car is a big fan. She sat there and watched the 10 episodes on the disc back to back. And still wanted more. It makes her laugh, makes her smile and Humf is the thing in our house. We also realised the other morning that Humf has been translated into Welsh so we can watch our favourite character in both languages!

Humf is narrated by Caroline Quentin, a leading British actress and has been gracing our screens since 2009, long may it continue to do so!

If you want a chance to own a copy of Humf yourself then leave a comment below telling me what kind of furry thing you think Humf is! If you've popped over from my Facebook page then leave it here not there.

The winner will be drawn by random from the correct answers. The prize winner will be contacted by myself and the prize will be sent out directly from the company. No cash alternative will be offered.  The prize will be sent within 28 days. If the prize winner cannot be contacted within 3 days then a redraw will take place. This competition will end at midday on Tuesday 13th September .This competition is open to UK residents 18 years and over only.

Good Luck!


BNM 
 
ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Starlight

I love the night sky but not as much as Neb who loves it.

Unfortunately, I have a very unhappy Neb at the moment. You see yesterday I heard about the Supernova on the news. The one that you can see in the night sky over the next couple of nights. But we have a problem, it has been raining and cloudy and useless for any kind of spotting round here.

Neb thinks that he is jinxed - as he has never been able to see anything interesting in the night sky. He has never seen a shooting star, or meteors, missed Hayley's Comet last time around and also missed the eclipse as it clouded over. Luckily for him I have seen plenty of shooting stars being a country girl and living with no light pollution. This he doesn't like.

Image: suphakit73 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So if you have any hints on how he can see one or will help me pray to the great god of cloudless nights then please do - I will then have one very happy bunny.

BNM

And on a very randomtenuous link - here's a star song .. well it has star in it somewhere, and it may help me from wanting to scream when I keep on getting Sky adverts for Glee coming soon.....





PS Having just listened to that song, I've realised that actually the only stars are the one singing it and what I thougt was star rockets in flight, is actually sky rockets in flight. Oh Well!!

Missing me

Just a short post to ask if anyone had realised I'd been missing!

Its been a very busy and hectic week, and I now have 2 days left in my old office. I have managed to pack everything (yes everything!) into boxes and still continue to struggle with daily life! Not all the photocopying I wanted done is done but I've managed to get new photocopier delivery date from our financial administrator. YEAH.

Due to this, I have been coming home for the past week absolutely knackered, have still managed to feed the kids (even ish stuck to meal time Monday plan!), have put them to bed and every night have had some alcohol while watching the TV. But its OK - because according to new research we are all allowed to have a nightcap now (I may not be as old as actually required but hey ho!)

Anyway, watch out for posts on the weekend with competitions in (for UK residences only)

BNM

Meal Planning Monday

Today I thought I'd join in with At home with Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday as I think I need to organise myself this month, especially since school has restarted and with the start of the new students academic year fastly approaching! I also think if I start writing it down and using this lovely planner, we will stick to it.

Monday: Pizza Potatoes with spaghetti hoops for the kids, left over Chinese for me and Neb
Tuesday : Gnocchi and Tomato Bake with garlic bread
Wednesday: undecided as yet but it may be an unhealthy McD's as I need to finish packing this damned office
Thursday: Fish bites, chips and broccoli
Friday: Chicken wrapped up with Bacon, Mashed Potato, Gravy and peas

And for those of you that don't know what Pizza Potatoes are, here's the recipe:

Bake potatoes as normal
Once cooked, half and take potato out of skin. Mix potato with tin tuna, cheese and sweetcorn. Place mix back in skins, scatter with more cheese and cook through for 10 mins more or until cheese has melted.

They are very yummy and a good and easy first day back at school dinner!

(the recipe came from my recipe book, which has recipes from Good Food magazines, Bella Magazines and other sources so this may not be my own)


If you want to join in, then pop over to At home with Mrs M and you can see what everyone else is eating

Bye for now


BNM

Lunchtime goodies

So, today the school term restarts. And as a way of trying to save some money, I decided to make some yummy goodies for Bel's lunchbox (which will also be eaten by everyone else!)

And as they turned out so well, here they are:
Oaty Shortbread

And if you want the recipe:

10oz oats
4oz plain flour
5oz caster sugar
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 level tsp salt
8oz butter

Whizz oats in food processor until quite fine, add remaining ingredients and whizz until the dough comes together. Roll out dough to 5mm thickness. Cut into shapes and place on baking trays (no need to grease or line). Bake for 15-20 mins at Gas mark 5, until pale golden and slightly firm. Remove from oven and transfer to wire rack to cool.

(recipe taken from my book which has recipes from a random supply of sources)

And the result - a success.

Silent Sunday - the anniversary edition

Listography - 5 things I did this summer

So, September is upon us and summer is coming to an end (unless we have an Indian heatwave which would be nice!!) . And as the summer is now over, yeah I am resigned to this fact I thought I'd join in with Kate Takes 5: Listography which is all about things you did this summer so here goes:

1) We spotted lots of animals while out and about:

2) We enjoyed the sun (when it appeared)

3) We grew things (yes alright only the sunflowers really grew but they were so nice!)

4) We had family fun on holiday in North Yorkshire

 and finally

5) We caught up with friends!
(yes I know I've shown the curry one before but it was so nice, and the second  one is the cooking of it!)

I hope you all had a great summer too - why not join in with the Listography over at Kate Takes 5

BNM

Hair Miracle

Back in June, I told you all about the bane in my life - the girls' hair!

But yeahhah I have found a solution and being kind! person, blogger, got nothing else to talk, I thought I'd share it with you:

This picture doesn't give the brush justice and the colour is a shocking neon pink which at least means we can't lose it.
What is it, well its a Tangle Teezer brush and it is the best thing I have spent money on this month.

The girls love it and there are no more aws in the house in the morning ! It even goes through my hair with ease. There is a bit on the website which has all the science bit, if you want to read it but I'm just glad it works especially as term start on Monday!

Anyway I'm off now! Tom & Jerry beckons and if you keep reading you'll be able to win the dvd soon!

BNM

This is not a review, this is just me sharing with you all as I'm kind!
 

Dear So & So, the covered in paper edition

I'm joining in late because I've just read a very funny one where apparently I attract deviants, you know the weirdos who search for "bad parenting naked" and get me!

Anyway, digressing again

Dear Work

Yes, I know I am moving next Thursday and I know that I have to pack but to be honest I have so much crap to do that I will struggle. I have not seen the room I'm moving to yet- and yet you think I can just carry on and pack while sorting out the start of the academic year. If I go home tonight and drink lots of wine it is all your fault. Actually, you could even buy me some wine that would be nice!
Yours
The Working mum side of BNM

Dear Bel and Car

Thank you for actually behaving. Thank you for playing nicely together. But remember that come Sunday you will be going to sleep at a reasonable time and you will get up nicely for me on Monday. If you don't I may explode

your loving but slightly stressed BNM (see above for why)

Dear NITS

JUST BOG OFF.  SCHOOL HASN'T EVEN STARTED AND YOU ARE BACK. I'M NOT HAPPY AS EVERYTHING SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED WORKING. BRING BACK INSECTICIDES

Yours one peed off BNM

Dear Husband

Happy Anniversary for Sunday. I love you. Thank you for getting me drunk on Wednesday. I may need to get drunk again tonight and until we move!

Love  me