Baby Sleepytime Bath Review and Giveaway!

I am always on the lookout for good quality, natural bath products that are easy to find. The Brauers Naturals Baby range of products is fantastic and it’s all available at my local supermarket, so I’m one happy mummy!

We've been test driving the Baby Sleepytime Bath for the last month and I’m really happy with it. The kids are noticeably calmer when we’ve used it, going to bed is a lot smoother and the solid sleep has definitely improved. Mister 10 months loves his baths and when I use the Baby Sleepytime Bath product he has a great night sleep … so I’ve started using it every night, who wouldn’t!

What I personally love the most about this product is that it cleanses and moisturisers and is gently on Miss 2’s skin. She suffers from Eczema and before I would have to bath her in just plain water, now she is happy for me to use the Baby Sleepytime Bath and it doesn't affect her skin.  

What Miss2 loves most about this product – the bonus rubber duckie that comes with it of course.

About this product:

• No nasties: free of petrochemicals
• Soap free
• Only pure, natural ingredients
• Gentle on sensitive skin
• Eczma-friendly
• Softly scented

You can view the whole Brauer Naturals Baby Bath and Skin Care Range here. They list the entire range, directions, pricing and ingredients.

This product is a dream come true to for us. We love it, we'd love you to give it a try. It would also make a great gift for someone having a baby (as all mothers know how sleep depriving that first year+ can be).

Brauer is giving 3 of our lucky readers the chance to win a full sized Sleepytime Bath product worth $11.49! It includes the bonus rubber duckie.

All you have to do is enter via the box below. 

"Like" Brauer facebook page and the Mums Take Five facebook page.

Bonus entries for answering our easy question 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

REVIEW - My Lil Pouches

I have found these pouches to be really quite useful in my house. I originally heard about them through word-of-mouth and didn't know a product like this existed on the market, “What a great idea” I thought. So when we were asked to review them I jumped at the opportunity!

What I have loved about these pouches is being able to take Mister 7 months lunch or dinner out and about with us. I pop 2/3 cubes of frozen food in a pouch and by the time it’s his meal time the food has defrosted enough for him to enjoy. Easy As! Then when I get home I rinse it out and pop the pouch in the dishwasher with the days load.

Mister 7 months is now eating 3 solid (mushy) meals a day so I have to be prepared and these pouches are very handy for that. My usual meals consist of some sort of steamed veggie mix with meat and carbs. So I always slightly over steam some veggies, mash them and freeze it for Mister 7months for lunch the next day.

When Miss 2 doesn't eat all her Weetabix in the morning I simply pop the left overs in a pouch with a little honey or Milo and extra milk and she thinks it’s a special milk drink and finishes it off in minutes! If I can, I will make her a banana smoothie to have after breakfast or lunch. She loves it and is a big fan of the pouches.

So my review is as follows:

I like this product because;

• They take up hardly any space in our overcrowded cupboard.
• The press lock seal makes it easy to fill and close.
• It can be used for babies (all foods), toddlers & children (yogurts, jellies, smoothies, juices)
• They are really tough and feel like they will last forever.
• The bright colour packaging make it fascinating for babies and toddlers & it’s easy to find them when digging through the Tupperware cupboard.
• They’re recyclable!
• It’s simple to purchase them online and you can by more lids if you lose them (this is a big plus for me, if something it too hard, I don’t bother with it)
• They are lightweight so easy to carry around on out and about days
•  I can pop them in the dishwasher and that is always a big positive for me!

     The negatives;

• They can be a bit of a struggle to wash and dry if you’re doing it by hand. When you have a young baby you need anything to be super clean and hygienic so you really have to get into the corners of the inside of the pouch. They take a while to drip dry completely. I had to shake the water out of them to help speed it along.
• They aren't for everyone. If your kids like to suck or drink from those types of squeezy yogurts/pre-made fruit mixes/jelly mixes then they will like these but if not they might not be a fan.
• They don’t fit a whole heap in there (200ml). Bigger kids might not be as satisfied with the one pouch.

Overall, I LOVE this design and product and I will recommend them to others. 

Favourite recipe for Miss 2: banana, honey and Greek yogurt OR Weetabix, honey and milk.

Favourite recipe for Mister 7 months: Plain old steamed pumpkin or carrot (he seems to likes the orange stuff!)

We've found lots of other great other uses for them: 

Storing dry baby formula and protein powder for outings.

Storing leftover cake icing for later use. Can be squeezed out like a piping bag onto cupcakes.

Carrying Milk when going on a picnic for coffees.

Storing and Freezing Pestos and Curd's.

Making and mixing salad dressing.

You can visit and contact My Lil Pouch below

We'd love for you to pop over to their Facebook page and "like". Tell them we sent you.

http://www.mylilpouch.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/MyLilPouch

Email: iwant@mylilpouch.com.au

We did receive some "My Lil Pouches" to review these products.  

All opinions and words are our own (or our kids) 

Time Management - A work in progress

By Nic.

Time Management - A work in progress!

I never knew how truly valuable minutes of the day were until I felt they were running away from me. Things weren't getting done or going to plan.

Well this is what I have learnt so far:

Firstly, time management is something that is learned and unfortunately does take time to master and for this you will need patience and to be gentle on yourself.

When things started getting on top of me the first thing I did was jump on the computer (when the kids were in bed) and type up what happens in our day and what I would like to happen.

This is my guide for Monday to Friday routines for the day, for me and the kids. I typed it out and printed it up so I can refer to it whenever I need. I can also amend it easily as needed and we all know how quickly babies change their routines!

Now that I know my day, what is involved and where my windows of opportunities are I can plan my appointments better (so they don’t clash with nap times – sleep is my priority at the moment!) and add in the extra’s like: Get Licence renewed.

If you haven’t already got one, then get a planner/diary to write anything new down and have it with you always to refer to.

I love this planner at Kikki-k (it’s currently on sale! Click here to view!)

Each day I write a To Do List in my diary for the next day. This helps me a lot and even if something doesn’t get done I can just write it in the following day and on and on until it finally gets done.

Writing down everything that you know needs to get done. Everything from washing the dog, to checking the mail box. If your day is as busy and interrupted as mine then this will help. When I have a chance I cross the items that get done off, or sit down at the end of the day and mark off what’s been done. This gives me a sense of achievement and I can get organised for the next day.

To make up a routine like this you have to go with what usually happens and then tweak it to what you think should happen. In my case Mister 5 months was having lots of little short naps and this was becoming a problem. Also being so overwhelmed by the lack of time I kept forgetting things on outings. I needed a drastic change! 

Since typing up this routine a few weeks ago things have defiantly improved. 

Most days I don’t follow the routine exactly but having it as a guide helps me know what’s coming up next and where I have time to fit in jobs that have to be done.

Are you good with managing your time?

What works for you?

Nic x

Are you prepared for a breakdown?

By Nic:

Prepare for the unexpected – Don’t get caught without

After taking Miss 2 to the doctor’s I thought I’d duck into the shops on the way home quickly. I bought some milk, bread and something for dinner.  Packed the car, kids buckled in, went  to start the car to go home…… and nothing. Flat battery!

Now when I left the house for the doctors I knew it was going to be an all-round 30 minute trip, but I always prepare for extra time as it’s often needed when you have a baby. Before we left I change the kids nappies, gave them their lunch and off we went.

So I have a flat battery. First thing that goes through my mind is that it’s Miss 2 and Mister 5 mnths nap time now! I had timed it all perfectly so they would sleep at the same time when we got home (having them nap at the same time is my everyday goal). Second thought is that Mister 5 mnths is due for a feed. Third is that they will both need a nappy change very soon.

Usually in this situation I would call my Hubby at work and he would be able to come and jump start the car for me, but not this day, of course this would only happen while he is away. With no family here, no friends within a 40 minute drive away, I quickly got on the phone to the road side assistance company and tearfully asked them to prioritise my required service due to having the kids. Even with that they still told me there could be up to a 90 minute wait. 90 minutes with an over tired sick toddler and a tired and hungry baby. I started to panic,  thinking I didn’t have a bottle for Mister 5 mnths or a nappy for Miss 2!

I calmed down I started to think clearly, I remembered I have a backup for everything in the glove box of my car, I will survive this!

What I have in my ‘just in case of emergency’ kit:

$5 in coins - $10 would be even better, this means if you get stuck without fuel, a phone or anything  you know you could buy, then your covered

4 x nappies (2 of each)

Small pack of baby wipes

*1 packet of pre-made formula

1 clean feeding bottle

1 clean dummy with cover

*Mini snacks for Miss 2 (sultanas, fruit bar & a pack of tiny teddies)

*Small bottle of water

1 thin blanket/wrap

Sunscreen

Also it’s always a good idea to have a first aid kit in your car at all times. Even if it’s just a mini one, in case of a real emergency. I also add to mine antiseptic liquid, Panadol and extra Band-Aids as these are more commonly used by me/us.

Remember to update your kit as the kids requirements change and if you have room a spare pair of clothes and socks for each child never hurt.

*Now you would need to be aware that heat can damage and spoil some of these items so check them or change them if you think this could have happened.

Are you prepared?  Do you take extras of everything when heading out?

Review- ABC Music "The Ultimate Kids Collection"

Are you going away these school holidays ? 

Going for a long drive with the kids ?  

Looking for wide range of kids music? 

How about a kids stocking stuffer?

How about a kids music CD that doesn't make the adults start twitching? 

ABC music have released  "The Ultimate Kids Collection"

I loved this.  Three CD's in this collection with music that ranges in generations and styles so there is something to keep everyone entertained.  We do alot of driving and there is a CD that each of my kids are right into so put the three on random and there is hours and hours of fun for everyone without making mummy go crazy listening to the same band over and over.

CD 1: "Favourite Nursery Rhymes"  Fifty of your classic nursery rhymes. Take a walk down memory lane and see if you remember all the words to the rhymes.  I liked this one for my baby no doubt we'll be singing these ones over and over for years to come.

CD 2: "Favourite Activity Songs"  Thirty songs to move to from "Chicken Dance" to "Where is Thumbkin"  Master 4yrs likes this CD the most and I'm sure we provide lots of entertainment for cars next to us at traffic lights when "Macarena" comes on.  This CD would be great to have for a kids party it has "Pass the parcel" and "Simon Says" amongst others.

CD 3: "Favourite Kids Songs"  This is a good one for the whole family. We all liked this one and this was Master 9yrs favourite.  Think the top songs from Disney's movies like "Life is a Highway", "Hakuna Matata" and "Under the Sea" recorded differently (Obviously by ABC people not the Disney productions)  and yet its still entertaining and just like the movie.  Every morning on the way to school my four year old asks for "Tatuna Matarter" and we all seem to bop along.   

I love this one because it has songs from all generations on it. "Over the Rainbow" which has been done well (so often it is not), "Agadoo"  yep that's the one, try not to push pineapples and shake a tree at the kids. "Mah na Mah na" - classic!, "Yellow Submarine", "Limbo Rock", "Hot, Hot Hot"  They're all there!

Heck theres even "Boot Scootin Boogie" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"

Its really good value for how many songs you get (over 100). Its suitable for a wide range of ages and there is bound to be more songs they all know than not.  It would be great for long car rides and birthday parties or just something to jump around to on a rainy day indoors.  

ABC Shop have it currently available :

http://shop.abc.net.au/products/the-ultimate-kids-collecti-4cd

I'm sure it would be available through other retailers.

Looking for something new to listen to its worth a go

and pretty reasonable for Santa to pick up too.

This review has been done in my own words. I was not paid for this review.

I did receive a copy of the CD collection to complete my review. thanks.

Do you suffer from the serious " I just gotta" ?

I have it.   Its serious and I'm not sure how or when i got it.

"I just gotta"  seems to be something i say and do on a more regular basis than i thought.

It became aware to me when the kids started repeating it back to me.
me :  Come and get in the bath please
child: I am I just got to play with this car
me: No come and get in the bath now before you get cold
child: I am i just got to play with this car and then put my washing away and my shoes and THEN i just got to come to the bath.

I do it in alot of circumstances:

I go to make a cup of coffee and i never get to it because as i walk into the kitchen "I just gotta" put the dishes away or the toaster or decide to clean the benches or take out the rubbish.

I load my arms to take downstairs to the car in the morning. "I just gotta" take the rubbish with me, the parcels to be posted, the washing, rubbish, baby bag, bottle bag, handbag, car keys, somebody's book bag or hat.  One day I'll have so much "I just gotta" take this that i will forget the baby.

When there is a show i want to watch and it starts at 8.30 I always record it anyhow because i know I'm not going to be sitting waiting by 8.29.  I always "I just gotta"  tidy up, find some washing to fold when watching, make a cup of coffee, put some washing on, check the school bags, wipe over the bathroom - something!

Master R is loving games (bingo, snap, connect 4, etc) at the moment so we play one before bed and i find myself saying "yep you set up I just gotta" and do what ever it is plus three other things and he sits there waiting waiting waiting.  I must be so frustrating when you've waited all afternoon to play.

The worst is when i need to do actual work on the computer and i sit down and "I just gotta" and never get to what i was supposed to be doing and hours have gone by. 

Do you suffer from "I just gotta?" 

Is it curable?

Top 5 - How NOT to lose those maternity kilos

So i have been 'atempting' to lose the couple of extra maternity kilos that are preventing me from fitting into my normal clothes. If i don't lose them very soon i will be wearing nothing at all this Summer because i refuse to buy any larger size clothing.  

However upon reflection of my week i may have hindered this goal, yes i did all these things. 

Here is my top five of how not to lose weight.

1. Even though all the top Chefs say to "taste your food" whilst cooking this does not apply when nibbling continuously on the same batch of raw cookie dough. 

2. Celery and carrot sticks make fantastic snacks for busy mums on the run.  Cut them up in advance and store in containers in the fridge.  Great idea, however probably shouldn't eat a Freddo whilst chopping up your veg.

3. At 10am on the way home from the school drop and morning walk around the sports ground, stopping at the Servo and picking up a Coke defeats the purpose of walking for half an hour with two kids in five degrees - dummy.   (I'd been up since 4am - i was desperate)

4. Sneaking a cookie in the kitchen as your making a coffee to take back into a room full of kids going crazy does not give you any more sanity.

5. When at the Shopping Centre - walk.   Do not go back down to the car park and drive from the  BigW entrance down about 800m to Woolies.  Even if you have a trolley load of groceries and its 10pm and your tired.

I have failed this week I am sure but i can't tell because the scales in our bathroom were broken whilst i was in hospital having my daughter and i keep ummm forgetting (?)  to get new ones.


By Bel

Do You Offer??

There are some that do and some that don't.

When you are going to someones house do you offer to bring something?
When at someones house on a visit or meal do you offer to do something?
When going to someone else's home for meal or party do you take a gift?
When staying in someones home do you take something or assist?
When staying in someones home do you make or strip the bed etc?

Is it something we were taught as Children or something we have decided on our own?  
Then again...   Perhaps its something no longer thought of at all.

Is it true its not really an obligation or expectation anymore to take something when visiting someones home? 
I have kinda assumed this from my own life experiences - i could be wrong.
I am sometimes amazed in the difference in those who offer and those who don't seem to have a clue.

My sister-in-law whenever she visits always manages to end up doing the dishes, i have a perfectly good dishwasher but she does them anyways. If we're having dinner all together and I'm feeding the baby she puts a plate together for me and gets a drink for me - shes just thoughtful like that.  She'll often pick up coffee on her way to our house because i usually end up providing a meal or something.
She'll always make sure the kids tidy up the toys and even cater to my OCD ways of doing so.

Then there are those who just create more work for me. 

The ones who stay a night or two and don't bring anything, offer to help, make the bed or even pick up a bath towel.
The kids that come over to play (and it looks like a tornado has been through) and they don't even offer to pack away.  
The people that come to dinner. Generally a well thought out meal comprising of more than two courses. I have shopped, prepared and presented a culinary delight as well as run children around, scrubbed my house and well quite frankly put in alot of time, money and effort without completely losing my sanity.  Yet they can't bring a bottle of wine, a block of chocolate or even thank me for such efforts. 
What is wrong with these people!  

All of the above actually happened to me last weekend and I'm still in disbelief of these people. I've spent most of the week in recovery of their visit - washing sheets and towels and packing away toys.  I went to alot of effort to have my house sparkling, beds made perfectly as well as providing four meals to which no one offered to help and nothing was brought in gratitude. 

I am the one who has a newborn surely a little gratitude was warranted?

By Bel x

Has technology stolen another simple custom?!

So i have received an invitation to a child's Birthday Party and i have to say i am rather horrified.

Is it an invitation when the invite comes via SMS?!  

I'm serious, its an invitation to a 5th Birthday party from a class mate not someone we know well or family etc.  Those invited got a random invite on their mobile phone.

Has this simple thing also gone into history?

I'd spent the morning sorting photos and writing Thank You cards and notes to family and friends who have welcomed and supported us in the arrival of our new "Lamb Chop". Its been nearly four weeks now and i know my Grandmother will be waiting for her photo and personalised handwritten note of gratitude. 
The Thank You note i guess was one of the first to fall into the history pages. I do get them occasionally from Birthday parties, Weddings and Baby welcomes.  My Children send them to Grandparents and Great Grandparents when they receive anything from them and i usually make them give thank you's after a Birthday party. I think its a bit of a tragedy that Thank you notes are no longer customary (a statement I'm sure that will come back and bite me in the butt).

I'm not a fan of Christmas and Birthday e-cards. Its free i understand but why bother? The five minutes it takes to choose and fill in all the details etc on an e-card you could send a little personal email (if you must) and actually wish someone your best wishes. 
Facebook invites I really don't like.  I don't want everyone knowing who's invited me where etc and i wonder have i really been invited or has someone just clicked on all their "friends".  I don't respond to peoples request to add my Birthday to their Facebook Birthday lists and I don't advertise my Birthday on my Facebook account, i figure if you don't know my Birthday then you weren't really interested in saying Happy Birthday anyhow.   I don't mind people saying Happy Birthday via SMS or something i know my friends and family are busy and i appreciate the acknowledgment i just don't advertise the date. I often SMS friends and send them best wishes although I usually follow up when i see them next with a gift or card (or cake).

But back to my whinge ....

Are we really at a point of sending Children's Party invites via SMS?
If you're too busy to write the invite are you too busy to host a party? 
Was this poor Mum just out of time and three weeks before the party thought she'd better just let everyone know?  

I hope it's just a one off thing and not a trend. 
Has anyone else received an invite like this or worse?

By Bel

Saving sanity or carefully filing it away for a while?

Where I been?  Well Pregnancy is not my forte there is no glow, no radiance, no enjoyment of it at all. For me its been throwing up, headaches, back and hip aches not to mention dizziness, lack of sleep and I could keep going with the whinging but I know its temporary and in a few short months I will hopefully have another small little being to look after.

Hard to believe its March already, my lists of things to do gets longer and longer with everything I cross off I add another two.

Lists! I love lists, oh so many lists. Shopping, Cleaning, Baby, Business things to do, House things to do, Blog list of things to do and I even have a List of lists I need to do for renovations.
Do you use lists?

Folders. I'm into folders too. Maybe its some kind of not going back to work for a few more years need to feel important and busily contributing thing but I have adorned the kitchen table in folders. Bills folder, Renovations, Ready for school folder (which I'll bore you with in due course), Recipes and stuff to sort folder and Mums medical folder.
makes me sound busy and organised doesn't it? Well don't be fooled, I'm not. I'm too busy making lists and folders to actually get anything done!

come July I know my time and sanity will go out the window again so the idea is I get these things into place before then so I can be some sort of super mum who does it all .....
I can hear you scoffing well what's your secrets then?
What little things do you do to keep your sanity?

By Bel

Stocking Filler Ideas

Knick Knacks, Lollies or Chocolate, Useful stuff or Junk?  



I hate to waste money, the frugal in me is always tsk tsking me come time for Christmas shopping.  Stocking Fillers is one of those things that i put a lot of thought into.  I like to buy lots of small things but don't want crap and of course the loot has to be even between the kids.

Here's some ideas i have or things I have used in the past :

• Pens, textas, crayons, chalk. They're all good and the little packs of "special ones" fit in perfect

• Rulers, erasers, pencil cases. Most school kids need new ones for the following year so stock them up! Smiggle has been huge in our house for a while now.

• Little Lego packs.  You know the little cars or boats.
  
• PJ's.  
• Kids Magazine.  My eldest loves the KidZone Mag so he usually gets one of these.

• Goggles and Sunglasses.  We seem to need these every year.
  
• Key-rings and Bag tags. This was cool for my sons school last year everyone has the same bag so keyrings was the thing to collect.
  
• Cookie Cutters. I can (ahem)  The kids can never have enough.
  
• Yo-yo or Bouncy ball. Pending on the age
  
• Bubbles.  Can never go wrong with bubbles.  For older kids National Geo. Has "Magic Balloons".
  
• Toy Cars. Hotwheels, matchbox etc.
  
• Girls stuff.  Clips, bands, nail polish, lip gloss.
  
• Bath Crayons or Roll on Soap. The roll on soap comes like a roll on deodorant. I get this from AVON.
  
• Jewellery or for boys those rubber band bracelet thingies.
  
• Stickers or even better glow in the dark stickers.
• Balls - bouncy, handballs, baseball, cricket - whatever they are into 

• Ribbon wands. 

• Watch.

• Cards.  Master 3 is loving the memory game but we will need new cards by Christmas :)

• Travel games.  So handy to take to Nannas. Kmart has little connect four and chess and things.

• Book or Music on CD.  My kids love listening to books on CD. I get these from Book Depository.

• A big lolly pop. You know those big ones from actual lolly shops. I'd never let my kids have these so Santa gets them.

• Wind up toys. They rarely live past Christmas day but they do provide entertainment for a while.

• Crafty Stuff. Some googly eyes, pipe cleaners, glitter and sparkle thingies, foam bits.

• Books.  Bookshops have those little books or even Woolies has those small kids books.

What does your Santa Fill with ??

Sometimes i need a little reminder

Sometimes the day or the week rushes past so fast.

Sometimes its not till everyones in bed that i finally sit down and stop whatever it is that's been keeping me so busy.

Sometimes i forget or just don't get to take the time in a day to sit and play or read or cook or do whatever it is that i've been asked to do.

Sometimes he has such an innocent and cute way of reminding me hes here.

Yep thats my kid.

Does anyone else have those moments when all you can do is say "yeah he's mine" ?
Whether it be the kid testing the echo levels in the shopping centre, the six year old mooning the teachers on excursion (not the proudest parent moment) or the one who the night before his first preschool photos which also happen to be his first professional photos does this.

No it did not come off.  No soaking, hand sanitiser, baby wipe, baby oil or soap could get it off.  Anything i could think of i tried. I didn't think to use the Eucalyptus oil that probably would have done it, nail polish remover did but i didn't want to bathe him in that.

So Preschool photos have him wearing a lovely shirt and smile and black marker up and down his arms and legs.  The photographer offered to photoshop him but i said its ok i don't mind its just him.