#WIN A PRIVATE TAPAS COOKERY CLASS FOR TWO WITH JOSE PIZARRO!

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Olive it! is a culinary concept that aims to bring a sparkle to traditional olives by incorporating them into your cooking in new and exciting ways! There’s no limit to your imagination and to help you bring this olive ‘explosion’ to life we are offering you the chance to win a once in a lifetime olive cooking course with celebrated Spanish chef, Jose Pizarro.   On Friday 3rd October at 12-3.30pm, you and one guest will experience hands-on tuition in an atmospheric and professional cook school in the heart of Clerkenwell, London, at the Food at 52 Cookery School.   In this exciting cooking course you will be inspired to get creative in the kitchen and learn how to make a selection of delicious tapas with the ‘master of tapas’ himself.   Jose Pizarro will take you on a culinary journey where you can explore the exciting flavours of the Mediterranean and learn how to make a selection of beautiful and mouth-watering dishes that will impress friends and family.   Take a look at the website for recipe inspiration.   Olives are an essential ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. Versatile and full of flavour, olives also have important nutritional properties and the black variety are rich in iron and vitamin E. What’s not to love? This tapas cookery class with Jose Pizarro is a perfect way to experiment with flavours of the Mediterranean and will leave you fully equipped to host your own tapas party! Each session ends with a mouth watering feast of all the food prepared, accompanied by some carefully selected wines.   To keep up to date with the Olive it! campaign visit Olive It or follow on Twitter @Oliveit_UK and like on Facebook OliveitUK.     #WIN A PRIVATE TAPAS COOKERY CLASS FOR TWO WITH JOSE PIZARRO!       TERMS Competition closes Sunday 28th September at 12am winners will be emailed before 12pm on Monday 29th September 2 lucky winners will both receive a pair of tickets for the private tapas cookery class for two with Jose Pizarro.  Due to the event being on 3rd October winners will need to respond as soon as possible to my winning email. I will pass on all details of winners to the company representing this event This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

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Daddy Gets Work Shoes From Jacamo

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When we were asked to review an item of footwear from Jacamo I have to admit that firstly I didn't think they sold shoes and secondly I always had this idea that Jacamo was a shop only for the 'larger' man. I was wrong on both.

Actually I was very impressed when browsing the Jacamo website. There is a whole range of brands to choose from including Lambretta, French Connection and Timberland.  They offer sizes from S to 5XL and footwear right up to size 15. Daddy got the chance to browse and choose a pair of shoes from the Jacamo, Black Label or Label J range. When it comes to shoes for Daddy he usually chooses a similar type every time and he was pleased to find a pair that he likes.

Jacamo lace up shoes Formal lace up shoe featuring panel detailing, smart, sophisticated and stylish. Come in both a standard or extra wide fitting. Available up to a size 15 Choice of colours - black or brown At the bottom of the page their was a review section were customers have wrote about their experiences with this shoe and to be honest there were a lot of negative comments. Most people seem to experience the heel or both heels falling off in just a couple of wears or said they look cheap. This didn't stop Daddy giving them a go as for £25 they seemed great value.

When they arrived we were happy with them. They didn't look cheap. Daddy tried them on and they are a lovely fit and Daddy actually said they feel like wearing slippers.

Daddy has been wearing these to work and after a week of wear there is no signs of the heel wearing away and it does not look like it will fall off either. I guess only time will tell but for now Daddy is very pleased. You can find out more about Jacamo by visiting the website HERE
*we were sent the shoes in return for a honest review*

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My 1st JCB Big Wheeler JOEY

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Disclosure - We were sent the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 
Little J has been trying out My 1st JCB Big Wheeler Joey over the last few weeks and it has become a firm favourite outside toy. I don't think it is specifically designed to be an outside toy but little J loves taking it out with him.

My 1st JCB Big Wheeler Joey is a classic push along toy. He is quite big and chunky so perfect for outside play. He doesn't have any buttons to press or sounds to make which I think is perfect, you can just get stuck in. 

He has a digger at the back to which can be lifted to which adds to the playing.  I love his wheels they are so big and durable and after lots of playing outside they are still in perfect condition.
Joey is the classic yellow and black colour but he has an added dash of blue. He's very bright and appealing to youngsters.
My 1st Joey is 25cm in length and is suitable from 12 months. He has a friend to which you can buy in the My 1st JCB Big Wheeler range. Doug is a dump truck and is as chunky and durable as Joey.  Doug has a rear bucket which can be filled with mud, dirt, grass or whatever your little one wants and then he can be tipped out.
You can view more from My 1st JCB by visiting Golden Bear or you can browse the range on Amazon
Michelle

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Scrumptious September DegustaBox Delivery

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This months Degustabox delivery arrived this week and it is my favourite so far. It contains some brands I am familiar with but different products I hadn't bought before.

This months box contains  

Berry White - Fruit Drink   I personally haven't heard of Berry White fruit drink before. We were sent Peach and Goji Berry. Its one of your five a day and big J took this to school with him to enjoy during lunch. He liked it and said it was very fruity but he would have preferred it to be cold. It had gone warm in his school bag.  

Lindt Hello - Just For You Hearts   These went down very well. Who doesn't like chocolate? Lindt is a favourite of mine but I always think of it as a 'treat' chocolate rather than a eat when you want chocolate.  

The little tin was filled will 10 chocolate hearts and they were pure heaven.  

Caribbean Twist - Strawberry Daiquiri   I have seen this in the shops but I have never tried it. Its a pre prepared cocktail drink that brings the Caribbean to you. It looks yummy and I'm looking forward to trying this at the weekend.  

Fever Tree - Tonic Water and Ginger Beer   Fever Tree is a brand I have never heard of before and Tonic water and Ginger Beer isn't something I would choose to drink although Big J loves tonic water, so he gave this a go. He wasn't overly keen of the after taste but he drank it anyway.  

Mexican Dave's - Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips
We have had these Mexican Dave's Tortilla Chips before in Degustabox and we were sent Nacho Cheese last time. They were lovely but not as nice as these. Daddy loves them and I will let you know he has scoffed the whole bag. Now the big question is where on earth do you find them? We have looked in all the major supermarkets and cannot find them. If someone knows please do tell us.  

Brioche Pasquier - Pain Au Lait and Croissants Au Buerre   I buy a lot of Brioche Pasquier products but I have never bought these two. We usually buy the pain au chocolate or other varieties. These are really tasty and I love how fresh they always are.

These went down well at breakfast time and I will be adding these to my weekly shopping list.  

Cawston Press - Kids Blends
Again I had never heard of this brand until we received a drink a few months ago in Degustabox. Big J loved this and its made with 40% water so its quite light and there is no added sugar.  

Schwartz - Flavour Shots   These aren't for us but I can always find someone who will give them a go. We have had them in Degustabox before and this month was Mexican Fajitas and Spanish Paprika Chicken.   Something new this month was Degustabox Fridge. It was an envelope that contained a voucher to claim a free product from the supermarket   If you are new to my blog and you haven't heard of Degustabox before you can visit the website HERE and you can order your Degustabox for just £9.99 by using my special £3 discount code at checkout RQ59X     *we were sent degustabox in return for a honest opinion*

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Tomy Winnie The Pooh Post and Roll

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Little J loves Winnie the Pooh and he has a taggy that goes everywhere with him. When we received a new Winnie The Pooh toy for little J to try this week, he got stuck in and was so excited.  

Winnie the Pooh Post and Roll Hunny Pot is a very simple toy but great fun. The large Hunny Pot is decorated with images of Winnie the Pooh and has a overflowing honey design at the top. The rest of the pot is see through and it needs to be so you can join in with the fun!  

The pot comes with three small balls that make a rattling noise when shook. Little J loves rattling them and sometimes will just play with the balls. Rolling them around the floor and chasing after them.  

When you are ready to play the idea is you put a ball in the Hunny pot and the Hunny pot will wobble from side to side and you can watch the ball go down the spiral and into the hole at the bottom of the Hunny pot. Once there it will hit the bell and make a ding sound. Then it will come out of one of the holes at the bottom and roll along the floor, but which hole? That's the fun part guessing which one.   

Little J loves putting the balls in and watching them go round and round down the spiral and when they reach the bottom he makes a screech noise when they pop out.   You can view the TOMY Winnie the Pooh range HERE  

The Tomy Winnie the Pooh Post and Roll Hunny Pot is from is suitable from 9 months but at 17 months little J really does enjoy playing with this. He thinks it so funny.      *we received the Winnie The Pooh Post N Roll in return for a full honest review*

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Mummy 2 Monkeys takes the Pampers #BritainsDriestNappy test

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Its been over 12 years since we bought our very first pack of nappies for big J. We honestly had no idea what brand to choose but based on popularity and a brand we recognised we chose Pampers. We continued to use Pampers right the way through until big J was potty trained. For us Pampers was the best brand ever as big J never got a sore bottom or nappy rash.   When little J came along 11 years later it was obvious we would choose Pampers and again we will continue to use them throughout. We have never had any problems with Pampers at all and *touch wood* little J has never had a sore bottom.   There are a few varieties of Pampers available but we have always chose Simply Dry or Baby Dry. They just sound like the best option because you want your baby to be dry and comfortable.  

I recently found out that actually Pampers Active Fit is the UK's driest nappy and I have been asked to take the #BritainsDriestNappy challenge.   Anyone can take part all you will need is the following.  

1 Active Fit nappy 150 ml of tap water inside a baby bottle or cup A piece of tissue paper or kitchen roll 1 stop watch 1 pair of scissors   I also had my scientist assistant, big J to help out.  

Firstly big J opened the nappy as if he was putting it on little J. Almost like a bowl shape. Big J has only changed little J's nappy a few times so I was surprised he knew what to do ;)  

He poured the water onto the nappy. 150ml is a on average 2-3 wee's which is normally the amount a baby wee's before you think about changing a nappy.   Once the water had gone on to the nappy he set the timer for 1 minute and 30 seconds. We watched the nappy as it absorbed all the water although 150mls didn't seem a lot, the nappy did become quite full.  

It seemed like forever until 1 minute and 30 seconds was over. How strange when you are watching time it goes very slow.   

Big J put kitchen roll on to the nappy and applied pressure as if little J was sat on it.  

He lifted it off and we checked the kitchen roll for wet patches but it was dry and we also felt the nappy and it was completely dry.    So the next part was to see how it works. This is were the scissors come in. Now I wouldn't fancy doing this next part with a nappy full of wee so if you are going to do this test make sure you use water.  

Big J cut the nappy open across the middle.  

Inside are absorbent micro pearls that absorbed the water to form a gel which then locks the water away protecting for up to 12 hours. These little pearls can hold up to 30 times their own weight so up to 3 small bottles of milk.   Am I convinced?   Like I said before we have always used Pampers so I know first hand how good the brand is. I love the fact that this test proves that my little J's bottom isn't damp at any time in between changes.    I have never bought Active Fit so that's something for us to consider on our next nappy shop, but as long as little J is in nappies Pampers will always be our brand.     This post is an entry for #BritainsDriestNappy trial sponsored by Pampers. Learn more at facebook.com/PampersUKIre     I was asked to take part in the #BritainsDriestNappy challenge thanks to britmums and provide an honest review*

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Back To School Shoes from Wynsors

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I still can't believe the Summer holidays are over and its back to school already. It only seems like yesterday that they finished. We have to buy Big J's uniform from the school uniform shop but we can buy any school shoes. We usually tend to buy Big J's school shoes from the same shoe shop every year although this year we were sent a pair for big J to try.  

We were sent a pair of Kickers for big J from Wynsors.   Wynsors is a shop that is local to us but we had never really shopped there although I know people who have. At the moment there are huge signs outside promoting that they are the biggest stockist of Kickers in the area.   Big J has quite a wide foot so because he hadn't tried them on before they arrived I was unsure whether they would fit. He has struggled with shoes in the past and that is probably why we shop at the same shoe store each year. Also he varies in size. Some shoes or trainers he is a size 5, others 5 and a half and others a 6.  

When they arrived they were really nice and looked very smart. We had decided on Velcro fastening because big J finds that easier if he wants to make them a little tighter.

Big J's school requires that all school shoes are ones that are able to be shined and I know from when Daddy has had these that they shine really well.  

The soles are lovely and chunky with good grips. I don't like shoes with thin soles because they wear down to easily and you end up having to replace them in no time.

When it came to trying them on big J didn't seem happy. They felt a little too big. We had ordered a 6 but as we already know different brands sizes can vary a lot. The width seemed fine which was good but they were slipping up as he walked.

We took them along to Wynsors to see if they could maybe swap them for a smaller size. I have to say the staff were so pleasant, friendly and very keen to help find the right size for big J.

They brought out a size 5 and also insoles to try with the size 6. They also brought out other Kickers shoes that are not as wide at the front as others. They really did go out of their way to try and help us and I would give them a 10/10 for customer service.

We managed to sort out the right size thanks to the member of staff and big J was very happy with his shoes and the fit.

All ready to start a new school year.

I'm hoping the kickers will wear well especially during the winter months. Will post an update soon

You can view the Kickers range by visiting Wynsors online HERE

  *we received the shoes above in return for a return, all thoughts above are our own*

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Labyrinth Board Game by Ravensburger

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For me there is nothing better than spending a Sunday afternoon playing a board game, especially if it is raining. We have so much rain this past week that we didn't bother to make any plans for today we just stayed in and had a play day.  

Today we played a new game called Labyrinth by Ravensburger. As always I was left to read the rules and then set up the board.  

The game has 34 maze (path) pieces which are placed on the board. 24 treasure cards which you pick up and tells you which piece of treasure you need to collect and 4 playing pieces.   The idea of the game is very simple. You make your way through the maze collecting your treasure and using the shortest route possible. Obviously that does sound easy but there is a twist. The walls of the maze can be moved by other players which will either make their route easier or block other players on their path.   The first player to successfully collect the treasures and make it home wins.  

Setup was easy and took less than 5 minutes. You set out the board and fill it with maze (path) pieces. You use all but one piece. So you place 33 on the board and leave one at the side.   The Treasure cards are dealt out evenly between all players. Each player only looks at their top treasure card and then its time to start.  

On a players turn they take the spare board game piece and slide it onto the board to make a path for themselves so they can move. The piece that falls out the other side now becomes the spare piece and then the player moves and the turns continue clockwise.  

When you have got to the space where your treasure is you then turn over your treasure card to show the other players and then you look at your next card and try and find a way through the maze to collect that.  The best part of the game is the board can change so much so it keeps the excitement going.   

Every time we have played it was like a new game because you have to build the board the treasure was in a different place each time. Daddy won, which was a surprise as he never wins. Haha.  You can view the wide range of games available by visiting Ravensburger HERE   *we were sent Labyrinth to review. all thought are our own*

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#Win a copy of Mr Super Poopy Pants #Competition

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Today on my blog I have a lovely competition to win a copy of Mr Super Poopy Pants by Rebecca Elliott.  

Toby had been looking forward to all the adventures he would have with his new baby brother. Instead, when he arrives, he just.... poops. ALL THE TIME.   How BORING. But then Toby realizes that his little brother's pooping might have some SUPER advantages.   I have a copy of Mr Super Poopy Pants to giveaway.   To enter you MUST Answer The Question - Who is the author? And leave your answer as a blog comment. Once you have done this it will unlock the other entries.   Question: Who is the author of Mr Super Poopy Pants?   Mr Super Poopy Pants     Good Luck     *Terms and Conditions* Competition closes on Wednesday 23rd Sept 2014 at 12AM Entrants must have a valid UK address Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified All entrants and entries are checked and verified. All entrants must follow the mandatory steps and answer the question as a blog comment.  1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. Mummy2Monkeys will contact the lucky winner within 1 day of the competition closing The winner must respond within 7 days. If no response a new winner will be chosen. The prize is a copy of Mr Super Poopy Pants. There is no cash alternative. It will be the responsibility of the representative of the named company above to issue the prize.  The winner must consent to their name and details being passed on to the representative so their prize can be distributed.

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My Lumbar Puncture Experience

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A few months ago I found out I would need a Lumbar a Puncture. My knees turned to jelly and I thought I would pass out. I am such a wimp when it comes to needles. The thought of a needle makes me shake from head to toe and the thought of having one in my back makes me feel sick.   All throughout my pregnancies I always told Daddy, no matter how much pain I am in or even if I am screaming for one I will never have a needle for pain relief or an epidural during labour and thankfully I never needed one.   So the reason for me needing a lumbar puncture is I have become a little unsteady on my feet and I went through a period of falling over. I don't fall so much at the moment although I did have a nasty one in the summer holidays. Also I have started to walk funny. I didn't notice it at first but daddy did and now I am more aware that my left foot rises higher than my right foot when I walk.    I went the doctors and they referred me to a neurologist. He then referred me for some tests. I went for a EMG and a NCT. An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals.   I was worried about the tests but it wasn't to bad in the end although I got very abnormal readings which brings me to why I need a lumbar puncture.    So I've been waiting for my appointment date and two days ago I got a phone call to say there had been a cancellation and I could go in on Friday.    I was so nervous. I felt so sick. I have googled lots of forums and everyone had these horror stories about just how horrific it is and how painful and unpleasant it was. I didn't find one person who had a positive experience. Everyone was just warning others to only get one if absolutely necessary because it's unbearable   Well after reading these I worked myself up so much that I was really thinking about not getting it done. I didn't want to be stabbed in the spine, I didn't want a splitting headache for days after and I didn't want the worst pains ever in my back. So I weighed it up and although I knew it would be unpleasant and unbearable at times I needed to know why I am falling and why I am walking this way. It may be just a trapped nerve after little J was lying back to back through labour but it could be something more serious.

 *photo courtesy of NHS*   So I plucked up the courage to have it done but if I am honest I nearly refused a few times before I even got into the procedure room.   So I arrived at the hospital about 11:30am and I was admitted to the day ward quite quickly. I was given a hospital gown and was seen by a nurse who did my blood pressure and temperature.    I was quite upset at this point and had tears rolling down my face. The nurse was really lovely and gave me a hug and said she would get the doctor to come in and see me. Daddy was sat next to me and he looked as scared as me.    When the doctor came in he explained the procedure to me and was very sensitive to how I was feeling and reassured me that it's a procedure he does quite a lot.    He said that once I was prepared to go ahead with it then I would walk to a side ward which is where it will done.    Once I was ready I walked to the side room with another nurse who made me feel quite calm and we were just chatting about our children. When the doctor came in I lay down on the bed on my left side. I had to took my knees up to my chest as far as I could go. I was trying to stay calm at this point but I could feel myself tense up and my breathing was getting faster.    The doctor talked through the procedure as and when he was doing it which I prefer  because I hate surprises. I like to know what is happening.   Once I was in the right position the doctor started feeling towards the base of my spine from my hip. He moved his fingers round putting lots of pressure trying to find the small pocket at the base of my spine which contains the fluid.   Once he had found the spot were he thought the fluid was he then cleaned the area with sterile wipes and then told me I would feel a sting as he inserted local anaesthetic. He inserted it just under the skin at first and I didn't feel more than a scratch. He had to wait a few minutes before he could insert more. This time he went deeper so it numbed  the inside of my back were the lumbar puncture needle would go. Again I didn't feel nothing more than a slight scratch.   After the local anaesthetic had numbed the area he inserted the needle that was going to withdraw the fluid. This didn't hurt but it felt strange. I could feel pressure and then I got a weird feeling in my leg and stomach but it passed after a few seconds. It was like a tingling sensation and it made me go 'ooh' and jump a little bit it wasn't pain. Once the needle was in the right place he just leaves it there and lets the fluid drip out. I didn't feel anything and we just sat and chatted really. It took about 15 minutes to get the amount he needed. It drips out so slowly.    Once he had the amount, he removed the needle and I stayed on my side for a further 5 minutes. I then sat up and he then took blood. They need to take blood to get an accurate reading of the fluid. Not sure why.   I then put on my shoes and walked back the day ward where Daddy was waiting. They said I could sit in the chair but I lay down because I had read it helps prevent headaches. I lay for a hour while drinking a litre of water and two cans of full fat coca cola. I was also given a sandwich. After one hour I sat up for about 15 minutes and they then let me go home.   I arrived at 11:30am and went for the procedure at 12:15pm. I was back on the ward at 12:55pm and I left the hospital at 2:15pm.   When I came home I lay flat and tried to drink more water. They recommend three litres to help replace fluid loss. Caffeine also helps so that's why I drank the coca cola.   At the moment I feel fine and I can't believe how upset got myself. Googling obviously made me lots worse after reading so many horror stories.    I was lucky that the doctor found the pocket of fluid on his first attempt. He did say that if he couldn't find it after 3 times he would need to get someone else.    The side effects can occur upto 5 days later which include headaches, back pains, infection or bleeding so I will keep an eye on that.    Have you had a lumbar puncture? How did you find it?

 

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Ramada Hotel Birmingham Solihull

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If you have read any of my recent posts you will know we had a lovely trip recently to Lollibop and we stayed at the Ramada London North. We had such a great time and when planning a trip to Warwick Castle I decided to look for a Ramada Hotel close enough for our visit.  

Ramada Birmingham - Solihull is perfectly located for lots of attractions including Warwick Castle, Sealife Centre, Cadburys World, The National Motorcycle Museum and Birmingham Airport.   The Ramada Birmingham - Solihull offers free Wifi throughout the hotel which is a must for me because I can't live without my internet.  

Accommodation is a choice between double, twin or family.  

If you are looking for something special you can stay in a townhouse suite. The two storey rooms have a separate bedroom area accessed via a spiral staircase. The rooms sleep 2 and look lovely.   If you are flying from Birmingham Airport you can take advantage of a Stay, Park and Fly offer from Ramada Hotel - Solihull.   The package includes 1 nights accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children including a complimentary breakfast. Up to 8 days car parking at the hotel and transfers to and from the airport.   You can visit the offer here  

If you are in the area and fancy popping in to the hotel for afternoon tea you will be welcomed in George's restaurant or bar. Serving a traditional afternoon tea including bloomer bread sandwiches, scones, macaroons and amaretto truffles and fresh strawberries with marshmallows and dipping chocolate. All the above served with traditional or speciality teas.   Times and prices can be found here   This is just a snippet of what the hotel has to offer so if you want to know any more information you can visit the website here. Make sure you keep an eye on my blog to read about our stay.. coming soon.   Have you stayed at a Ramada Hotel before?  

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