SiGG & Cuipo Helping To Save The Rainforest One Meter At A Time

We as a family love SIGG Switzerland bottles and are very lucky to get to review their products from time to time. When our latest assignment was delivered, we were really excited about what SIGG had provided.

You see, the latest addition of SIGG bottle designs are so much more than a cute image on your bottle. Yes, the SIGG Cuipo range are just as bold and brilliantly designed as always but when you purchase a bottle from this range you actually save one square meter of a Tropical Rainforest.

The first set to be released are available in two sizes. These are 0.6 and 0.3 litre bottles.

What’s more with every bottle comes a unique code that once activated online costumers can actually view the square meter of Rainforest they have just saved via google maps… Seeing really is believing! Just visit http://www.cuipo.org/ to activate

The CUIPO PRESERVE PANAMA

The Cuipo Rainforest Preserve is located near the Darien National Preserve in Chepo, Panama. Historically, dense forests and rocky terrain shielded the Chepo Rainforest from the outside world. Improved transportation made this land accessible and development has threatened this ecosystem. As agriculture, logging, development, mining, and tourism expand into these pristine areas, rainforest is gradually disappearing. Cuipo has acquired 13,354,600 square meters (3,300 acres) of rainforest to set aside for preservation.

Funds from the Cuipo bottles are donated to “One Meter at a Time” a Cuipo non-profit foundation dedicated to preservation of the tropical rainforest. The foundations aim is to safeguard and preserve each square meter of rainforest in perpetuity.
By teaching skills required for gainful employment in preservation, One Meter at a Time also employs locals and indigenous groups as park rangers and stewards of the preserved rainforest.

John Oswald, Co-founder of Cuipo said “We are thrilled to be expanding the Cuipo brand to include reusable bottles. SIGG not only produces top-quality bottles, but the company also produces a highly environmentally responsible product.”

Scott Shea, UK Commercial Director for SIGG said “Cuipo is a great social enterprise which genuinely makes a differencein the safeguarding of our planet and shares SIGG’s core values. We hope our collaboration will raise the profile of Cuipo in the UK”

And finally what we had to say (we meaning myself and three little monsters)

The SIGG Cuipo bottles are beautifully designed and as always, made to a high standard. To know that your purchase has helped to save something as important as the Cuipo rainforest makes buying one of these bottles all the more rewarding! Its not often you’re given the opportunity to see just where your money is going and how it will make a difference. SIGG have given us that and have done so in a brilliant fashion.

With our busy life’s, I admit that the Rainforest is often far from my mind. But looking into what Cuipo are doing, my eyes have now been opened to the importance of our Rainforest and how it plays an important part on earth!

Did you know that plants from the Rainforest have actually been discovered as cures for certain types of cancer? Well… I shamefully didn’t and my sister has overcome a cancer battle! This left me wondering… Did the Rainforest play an important part in keeping my little sister alive?

As for the SIGG Cuipo bottles and their designs, I must admit, these are just the cutest ever. What’s more, its thanks to SIGG and its 0.3 Cuipo Tiko, that the toddler has waved good bye to his baby bottle for good. He just loves the smaller Cuipo bottle and feels so grown up while using it.

The SIGG Cuipo Tiko used by the toddler cost £16.49

The other designs we received were the 0.6 Fight Deforestation bottle and the 0.6 B.Y.O.B bottle. We actually took all three bottles away on holiday with us during the last half term. We chose the SIGG bottles particularly because We like to use Them in the car while embarking on long journeys. Not only does the water/juice contained within the bottles taste fresh and chilled for longer, but the lockable caps prevent any back seat spills which is a god sent for any parent.

The Fight Deforestation bottle £17.99 and my favourite

And below is the B.Y.O.B. bottle that my daughter has claimed £17.99

There is another bottle in the Cuipo range and that’s the ‘Steve the sloth’ bottle. We wasn’t sent this one but my guess is its just as great as the others…

‘Steve the sloth’ £17.99

So… Fancy a brand new trendy SIGG bottle? Want to help save a tropical Rainforest? Then you’ll be pleased to know that the Cuipo range of SIGG bottles are now available to buy online via http://www.sigg.com or http://www.cuipo.org and of course from all good SIGG retailers across the UK.

Find out more about the range over on the SIGG Facebook page (oh, and a little tip… Keep your eye open as SIGG hold some fabulous competitions on their page)!

Little Man Gets Busy In The Kitchen

If you read the blog you will know that since little man has been attending his new special school, we have discovered his got rather good skills in the kitchen.

That’s right, his becoming a bit of a master chef and whats more he enjoys the activity of cooking and baking.

A few weeks back we were contacted by someone involved in the cooking with kids campaign creates by ‘The great british chefs‘ in conjunction with Tesco. The campaign is all about encouraging parents to cook with their children as a way of encouraging not only healthy eating but also food education. It provides the perfect bonding activity (unless you’re child’s like little man, not allowing you a single look in)!

There is a whole web page of child friendly recipes to create from yummy dinners to delightful desserts and cakes.

I suggested to the Little guy that we give it a go and as expected he was up for challenge.

Only instead of selecting a recipe requiring lots of ingredients, we opted for one of the more simplistic options available… so much so there was no cooking or even baking involved whatsoever! It wasn’t because we just wanted to speedily put together something simple… the recipe we chose was one that not only looked delicious within the imaging displayed on the Great British Chefs website, but something we hadn’t ever thought about trying before.

This was a recipe for strawberry sundaes, only slightly different from the norm, as these were created with yogurt and oats (Granola) instead of that of ice cream which we would always normally use when pulling together a sundae.

The sundae recipe has been created by Gavin Brothers especially for the campaign which is running in conjunction with Tescos. The recipe introduction reads, “This strawberry sundae recipe is a fantastic breakfast treat, as instead of ice cream, there’s yoghurt and granola. Quick to prepare, even for little hands, they make a nice, healthy mid-day snack for children. Feel free to experiment with other seasonal berries and fruits”

So here’s the few ingredients needed to create this relatively healthy alternative to the traditional strawberry ice cream sundae…

160g of granola
250g of low fat strawberry yoghurt
150g of strawberries
20g of icing sugar

This is said to feed a family of 4 (sundaes served in a tall glass)

We however used our sundae glasses which look much taller than the ones used for this recipe, so we had to increase our ingredients slightly.

Here’s what you do …

Remove the tops from the strawberries and place in a bowl with the icing sugar

LIGHTEN IT UP
Feel free to reduce the sugar used in this step

2. Use a fork to lightly crush the strawberries

3. Place some granola in the bottom of each glass, followed by some strawberry yoghurt. Top with the crushed fresh strawberries and serve

We also sprinkled a little icing sugar on top of our finished sundaes for decoration purposes.

Little man seriously took over (I swear he would make a great head chef… His bossy and likes to take charge). Although this recipe was really simple, he really enjoyed putting the sundaes together.

As for the taste, we all loved them! Just check out the toddler getting stuck in!

The kids have now suggested having the yogurt sundaes more often. Alice even had one for breakfast this morning.

There are loads of recipes on the campaign page. But be warned… You may suddenly find that you feel the need to munch following browsing.

So why not select a recipe and get cooking with the kids!

You can access the Cooking With Kids Campaign page on the Great British Chefs Website by Clicking Here

Disclaimer: Please Note This is not a sponsored post! I Wasn’t paid to write this and didn’t receive anything for doing so. We joined in because we wanted to. Its a campaign we believe in and a great way to teach children skills in preparation for independence (especially those on the autism spectrum like little man).

Ikea stocking fillers in aid of Save the Children & UNICEF

IKEA are back again with their annual Soft Toy Campaign! For every soft toy and children’s book sold between October 21st and December 23rd 2012 the IKEA Foundation will donate €1 to UNICEF and Save the Children, to support worldwide education programs, ensuring more children around the world can go to school. This yearly campaign has so far raised a total of €47.4 million since 2003 and has helped improve the lives of more than eight million vulnerable children.

I’m writing today to share a couple of the items included in this years campaign, and what with it being under a week till christmas and the final week of the campaign, I urge you to get yourselves down to Ikea to take advantage of the brilliant, reasonably priced toys while raising much needed funds for UNICEF & Save the Children.

The two items we were sent came from the KLAPPAR CIRUS range of toys. This range is bold, bright, and reasonably priced, all the things I like in a soft toy.

We reviewed the KLAPPER CIRKUS Finger puppets that can be brought for just £4.99.

This is a fabulous stocking filler, a traditional toy that reminds me of those you purchase at Christmas markets. The puppet stand is made from brightly coloured card so not the most durable but all the little finger puppets are beautifully stitched felt with lovely detailing and considering there are eight of them, a fiver seems little money to pay for this set. These puppets are bright and fun and the toddler absolutely adores them.

We were also sent KLAPPAR CIRUS – Soft Toy Rabbit which cost just £4 to buy.

This super soft white bunny is ultra cuddly. His of a nice size and good quality. I love his floppy ears and long whiskers. What gives him that something extra is this bunnies sense of style. He looks dashing in his purple glittery jacket and top hat and reminds me somewhat of the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Again the toddler loves this toy and the white rabbit has now become a permeant fixture to the end of his bed.

For £4 the soft white rabbit makes a lovely Christmas gift for very little money.

Other toys in the ikea soft bear campaign include soft toys and books for as little as £1.

Here’s a few other ideas for those Christmas stockings.

VANDRING HARE – Soft Toy Rabbit £5

VANDRING IGELKOTT – Squeaky toy hedgehog £2

VANDRING – Book ‘The Hedgehog Leaves Home’ £5

I love this statement made by Ikea! It really sums up what the campaigns about and while you should pop along and buy your child a soft toy from them this Christmas…

“At IKEA, we believe all children deserve the right to simply be children – free to play, learn and develop, that’s why we work hard to give millions of children a better start in life. By buying a Soft Toy from IKEA this Christmas, not only are you giving to your child, but also to millions of underprivileged children around the world.”

I was not paid to write this post but did receive two toy samples so that we could share our honest feedback on these products. All words are my own and have not been Influence in any way.

The Big Bang Campaign… Keep it before 9 p.m

Remember, remember the 5th of November…

My guess is, many parents of children on the autism spectrum remember the 5th of November and remember it well!

The 5th of November is a night that will see the skies above us alight in an array of stunning, spectacular colours, but that’s not all we will see! Many of us throughout Britain will see not just our pets dart around the house in distress, but also a child or loved one.

Bonfire night is celebrated by huge numbers whether it’s by attending a large public display or hosting their own back yard antics. For some it’s a night of fun and laughter, a chance to meet friends, drink wine out of plastic beakers while eating hot-dogs smothered in mustard. For others it’s a night of hiding, turning up the TV and comforting their frighten child.

We grow up looking forward to such events, we loved them as a child and can’t wait to share a night stood by the bonfire with our own children. What is there not to like about this fun and eventful night?

Why don’t you ask that question to a child on the autism spectrum!

No, not all hate fireworks, but a large proportion of children and adults on the autism spectrum will spend the year dreading it! I wrote a last year about little mans fear of the firework! He thinks they are stunning and at a distance his not to bad with the big bang. But when there’s rockets flying about above his head, then bursting into a glittering infusion of colour, my child will likely do what I refer to as the “Army drop and crawl” Basically he fears the fireworks will come clashing back down on top of him, he freezes then drops, before embanking on his army crawl to safety. Despite this reaction, my little man could hold a sparkler all night long. As I explained before, it’s a sensory reaction, because the firework is above him and he cannot judge the distance between himself and the exploding firework, he then begins to fear it! My Little man feels much safer stood behind a pane of glass watching fireworks from the safety of his home.

For many people on the autism spectrum the dislike of fireworks relates to sensory sensitivity as-well as the dislike of “social gatherings”.

Even those who are not on the spectrum can have difficulties tolerating the loudness of a firework display, especially a big one! For the person with autism, this sensitivity to noise is sometimes so overbearing it causes actual pain. Now, can you even begin to imagine how hard that must be? I can’t and thank myself lucky that I do not experience such a difficulty. However this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter, because it does, it really does! Little man only has problems when we go out, so of course we avoid the public displays, or one parent stays home while the other treats the other children to a trip to our local display. That’s just how it is and always has been. I think that we are quite lucky, some children experience such anxiety that they require comfort from their parent throughout the night meaning little sleep is had by many.

I’m not trying to make you all feel guilty, nor am I saying this in the hope that you wont go to your local fireworks display or celebrate in your own way. I’m just asking that you all spare a thought for the families housing an autistic child or adult. I simply ask that as much fun as bonfire night can be, take a second to stop and think… Light your fireworks at a reasonable hour! Who is your neighbour, do you know a family affected by autism? Keep it early, keep it safe, keep it before 9 p.m.! That is all I ask!

“ Do you think that’s fair? If so, how about tweeting this post just once using one of the share button (tweet, Facebook, Stumble, etc.) located at the bottom of this post. You could even raise awareness on this one day, just by right clicking the image above and uploading as your profile pic on your social network” after all it is just one day!”

Help Susanna Walk Appeal

Some of you may remember the review myself and the children did a while back on the fabulous restaurant ‘Frankie & Bennys’

We loved it, rated it highly and have been back a number of times since.

Then yesterday I received an email about a very special appeal called “Help Susanna Walk” which Frankie and Bennys are supporting.

The appeal really touched my heart and I just had to make my lovely readers aware of it and see if any of you could possibly help this beautiful little girl who wants nothing more than to be able to walk independently.

A waiter who works at the Frankie & Benny’s restaurant in Widnes has a beautiful five-year-old daughter called Susanna who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

The waiter and his wife are desperately trying to raise money to send Susanna to Missouri in the US for a life changing operation that will enable her to walk unaided. Missouri is the only place she can have surgery urgently – in the UK there is a 2 year waiting list which would mean Susanna would miss her window of opportunity to have it done as she will then be too old to qualify ( I know it sucks).

The operation has a 100% success rate. The family have so far raised £15K but it’s been a struggle and there is a long way to go as they need £60,000 in total.

Frankie & Bennys is determined to raise the money by the end of July 2012 and have promised that this beautiful little girl will walk properly like all of her friends. Frankie & Benny’s is embarking on a nationwide fundraising weekend on Saturday 30th June/Sunday 1st July in every single one of their restaurants where they will donate £3.95 from every child’s meal purchased as well as many other specific fundraising activities for each individual venue.

How you can help

Frankie and Benny’s is a fabulous restaurant and you can feel that you’ve contributed just by enjoying a meal with the children on the specified dates as £3.95 from each of kids meal purchased on this date will go directly to Susanna’s appeal.

If you can’t visit you’re nearest restaurant on either of the two dates and you would like to help Susanna walk then you still can. Just visit the “Help Susanna Walk Just Giving Page” which has been set up as a place people can donate. You can give as much or as little as you can.

What the money raised would do

The money raised will pay for Susanna and her family to travel to and from the States for the operation itself. It will also provide accommodation for the family for a month following Susanna’s operation and further intensive physiotherapy. Money raised will pay for further treatment and aftercare on her return to the UK and hopefully enough will be raise to also provide Susanna with some equipment to aid her speedy recovery.

Susanna only has a short amount of time left whereby she qualifies for this operation, hence the need for immediate action. By raising this money now, Susanna will hopefully have the operation in September and be recovering well by Christmas this year. Just think how amazing it will be for us all to think we have played a part in ensuring it happens.

For more information about Susanna and her family, you can visit the links below:

The Help Susanna Walk Website

The St Helens Star Website

The St Helens Star News Page

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and I haven’t been paid to write this, I have done so to try and help raise awareness for the appeal and to help get little Susanna walking.

Help a child with Autism communicate with the world they live in

So, I was on twitter recently (nothing new there I know) when I came across a very interesting tweet from one of my new followers.

The tweet in question contained a link to a very interesting website and article focused around a campaign that is aiming to help children with autism by providing them with a way to communicate with the world they live in! Here’s how.

With your help a child with autism can be given the tools needed to better communicate their needs, making the world a much easier place for them to live in.

The charity making this happen is “Hearts & Minds Challenge”

They don’t need you to give funds, they don’t want your money, all they need is your old mobile phones, even those that are no longer working!

Here’s what the charity had to say!

Once upon a time, a mobile phone was a status symbol, a way to tell the world that you were so important that people had to be able to reach you all the time. Nowadays a mobile is a necessity, but we still like to have the latest model with features that can improve our daily life.

Now; when you want to trade up your old phone, you could be helping someone with Autism to communicate their basic needs and for the first time, truly express what they want. And the phone doesn’t even have to be working to help….

Autism is a developmental disability which typically affects social interaction, imagination and the ability to communicate. Half of all people diagnosed will have severely delayed speech and as a result, can become frustrated, leading to behavioral challenges and social exclusion.

In the past, these individuals could be taught to use picture exchange communication or “pecs” a system of handing over a picture to request an item. Thus replacing that negative behaviour with a vocabulary of different pictures, all of which have a huge value to the individual. They are prompted to try to say each word and can slowly learn to speak independently with the picture system as support.

However, at least a 1/4 of all people diagnosed with Autism will have to use an alternative communication system for life, which can become very unwieldy as their vocabulary grows.
They must also rely on carers and therapists to update and maintain the system, so they never have independent control of what they want to say.

There are electronic picture devices, but the vocabulary is static, the devices bulky and expensive and the individual cannot express exactly what they want.

However, thanks to the development of a simple App, which recreates the picture system in a digital format, so called ‘non-verbal’ people can communicate exactly what they want on an Apple iPod or iPad. The Grace App, named after the little girl who inspired it is a basic picture vocabulary in a digital format which the user selects then shares to communicate what they want. Most importantly, they can actually add to their pictures themselves using the device camera, or google and save an image if they cannot find and photograph what they need.

Lisa, who created the Grace App says:
“Just because someone is not yet talking, it doesn’t mean they have nothing to say”

Lisa said the App has allowed Grace to express herself clearly and her frustration and tantrums, which could last for hours are now vastly reduced.
“Grace is also interacting with us a lot more, and I’m delighted to hear her using her own voice, as her speech continues to improve”

There are a lot of families that could benefit from trying out Grace or one of the many Apps developed to support the needs of people with autism – but they need the device to use it. This is a big commitment for a family who may have limited means, and a lot of demands on their income due to the pressures of raising a child with Autism.

Hearts and Minds are a charity with a mission to raise the quality of life of individuals with autism have come up with a scheme to turn old mobiles into new technology like the Apple iPad, while raising funds towards opening an Education Centre For Autism in Greater Manchester.

To help: Go through your drawers and cupboards and clear out all those old mobiles that are taking up space, contact the school and donate those devices in the envelopes provided. Not only will you be giving a child with autism the chance to communicate, but you will go into a draw to get your mortgage paid for a year – who wouldn’t like that?

Once I read the above I just had to write this post and share this great campaign with my readers.

I also found a great video on the Hearts and Minds website that really does share a strong message with the world on what a difference we can make by donating our old mobile phones. The video shows a selected number of children with autism using their iPad at home or in school. Attached is a message from the families of these children who state what a remarkable difference the iPad has made to their child’s life.

Warning… The video is a real tear jerker! I sobbed all over my iPhone!

I was actually about to write a sponsored post for a company that specialises in recycling mobile phones, saving the environment and making us a bit of extra cash in the process. Then I read about ‘Hearts and Minds’ who are not only saving the planet but helping a child with autism to communicate. Of course it’s Ok to recycle your mobile for cash, especially if you have little… We all need some extra pennies sometimes. But remember this charity are happy to take any mobile phone, regardless of the state it’s in… Broken, old, “a brick” it really doesn’t matter!

Thankfully my son is verbal and actually speaks very well! However he does have an array of communication difficulties and even for him such technology is a godsend. Little man attends a special school and as part of an OT programme he is now learning to touch type, his fine motor skills are very poor and his handwriting hardly legible. An iPad is on the Birthday list and it’s something I’d purchase with the knowledge of knowing that for little man it’s so much more than a fancy handheld tablet.

I hope that others will read this and next time they open a draw to discover an old dusty mobile they remember this post and therefore remember that for a child with autism that dusty mobile is a door that opens into a world of communication!

Remember families and schools wanting to register for the programme can do so over on the hearts and minds website

For more information on the programme visit Grace App or Hearts and Minds to see if you can help give a child with autism a way to communicate.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored or guest post. I have not been asked to write this and have not received anything for sharing this information. I have done so as a way to help a charity on their mission to help others.

Ruby Wax – Depression isn’t having a bad hair day!

Have you ever had one of those moments, when what you’re seeing is so… hilariously funny, yet, somehow powerful enough to move you to tears? Something so thought provoking it leaves you with a strong desire to talk about it? 

I have!

I was greeted by a delightful tweet earlier in the week by the fabulous Britmums! A tweet informing me that I had won their competition, bagging myself a pair of tickets to this weeks WOW (Women of the world) Festival, located at London’s Southbank. What’s more this included tickets to see the play “Losing it” and a chance to meet the star “The Lovely Ruby Wax” following the performance.

I’d previously heard about the show, which also stars the very talented  signer-songwriter “Judith Owen” so had some knowledge of the plot. What excited me most, was the fact this wasn’t set to be your average play, Ruby Wax was actually on a mission to break the stigma associated with mental illness, this would be her being open and honest about her own mental health while somehow keeping it comical! 

I’d never seen it done, the only time id ever seen a comedian raising such a subject was by cracking non tasteful jokes, laughing at those with the condition, as opposed to laughing with them! I was intrigued to discover if and how Ruby would achieve it!

Well, yesterday morning I found out….

“Losing It” is the complete opposite to the above, its made up of an extremely funny, yet thought-provoking script that really is capable of causing you to fall of your chair as you pee your pants laughing or draw a tear as its strong message buries itself deep within you. Judith Owens amazing voice with powerful lyrics combined with the hilarious yet informative words of Ruby Wax, together create something amazingly powerful, something that grabs a hold of you, leaving you replaying it in your mind once its over, therefore proving it to be the powerful awareness tool it set out to be!

Here’s what they say about “Losing It” over on the official website

Ruby Wax had it all – career, dream house, husband, kids, so when was the moment she realised she was the 1 in 4…

Somewhere between painting her kitchen beige (again), realising she didn’t own a life manual or comprehend the contents of a children’s party bag?

Ruby’s acerbic, honest humour and Judith Owen’s touching songs are both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. This show gives you the chance to explore the ups and downs of mental illness, its stigmas and the freedom you discover when you share the darkest moments of your life.

I may not have had the same life as the lovely Ruby Wax! I didn’t attend drama school and bag myself a carer as an actress or comedian, but I did create my own wonderful family consisting of three beautiful children. However, like Ruby, this didn’t stop the hand of depression, it didn’t cure me of the ongoing anxiety attacks, severe OCD and the up and down eating disorder, all being an active part of my existence since childhood. 

My head nodded furiously as Ruby touched on the feelings of shame one feels because this is an illness located in the brain rather than another organ in the human body! Ruby is right, Mental illness doesn’t care who you are, celebrity, doctor, mother….  If your one of the 1 in 4 that mental illness has chosen to capture, than status holds no ground, we’re all human after all. 

Ruby becomes an open book, she tells her story by doing what she does best, creating laughter! I don’t know anybody who has managed to talk about depression for an hour or more without causing its audience to leave with their heads hung low.  

Oh, and it seems that Mental illness isn’t all Ruby’s clued up on… Oh no! She seems to have the whole relationship and marriage thing sussed out pretty well too! Now, I really don’t want to ruin it for those who are yet to see the play, lets just say, I almost choked on my own tongue laughing… Ruby at her best!

Both ladies make this sensational entertainment, the sheer fact that together they have created something so funny from such a serious issue, without damaging it, is fabulous, and reminded me how talented a comedian Ruby really is. This show left me wanting to go home and help break the stigma, while allowing myself to let go of any shame I may still hold regarding my own demons. As a woman who has been to crazy town and back again, as well as a parent to a child with Asperger’s who suffers greatly with anxiety and depressive moods, I’m with these ladies! It’s about time our society realised that depression isn’t having a bad hair day or feeling sad! Stop offering us tea and telling us to perk up… tea and ignorance cure nothing, just piss us off that bit more!

I’d recommend everyone checkout “Losing It”, if this doesn’t change ones perception of mental illness, then quite honestly nothing will! Having already performed for all branches of the priory and a large number of mental health wards up and down the country, “Losing it” brought the play to the public by going on tour  last year! Both the public and media seem to love what these ladies do, with a large number of glowing reviews and feedback from your national news papers, your average tom, to celebrities such as Annie Lennox. 

I was lucky to have a quick chat and grab a picture with the lovely lady herself see belowOn the whole, a great way to spend my Friday! A large dose of appreciation is on its way to Britmums for the tickets and a double dose making its way to Judith Owen and Ruby Wax for their truly inspirational play and attitude to metal illness… your all great! 

Check Out the official site for show dates (currently offering special price of £25 for their planed shows in London’s West end in August) click HERE for details

Please check out the Black Dog Tribe a social network/forum and informative website where members can share advice, connect with one another, get all the latest news and updates on mental health and current campaigns and developments! Both Ruby and Judith are a big part of the network and encouragement you all to go and say hello, speak out, gain comfort and break down the stigma  

Here’s a taster I uncovered for you on youtube 

Lastly those attending Britmums Live, don’t forget Ruby wax is a listed speaker, so if you haven’t got your ticket by now I’d suggest you wiggle on before its listed as a sell out.

 

Cooking up a treat with celebrity chef Simon Rimmer & One Products

I love reading other people’s blogs and often find myself In awe at not only the bloggers talented writing skills but their domesticated flair

There are some fabulously creative bloggers out on the blogosphere, many of them showcasing their show stopping foodie creations stunningly presented in some flawless images. I’ve always been honest when stating, as much as I am able to cook, I’ve never been one to make stunningly presented dishes, ingenious creations or well followed & recreated recipes! Something normally happens, that or I just don’t have the time, therefore sticking to what I know best. As for baking, well I’m simply what some would describe as a cake from the packet kinda momma, though I actually love cakes & desserts and always promise myself that I’ll brush up on them creative baking skills!

I do however blog the topic of food every now and then! This is often for one of the following reasons, I’m reporting  a close encounter with the London Fire Brigade, writing about chocolate either the complete lack or over indulgence of the stuff, or I’m reviewing a yummy supermarket buy!

So, you can only imagine my surprise when I received an invitation to come and cook with celebrity chef, Simon Rimmer (BBC Something for the weekend)! Ok, had someone called in a prank, nominated me for my yummy imaginative creation of chicken nugget surprise, as that’s all time will permit these days! Maybe it was something like that “Can’t cook won’t cook” show!

Actually, it was none of the above, you see Simon Rimmer would be demonstrating a few of his mouth watering creations and then myself and a few other lovely bloggers would recreate them under Simon’s watchful eye! The idea of this foodie get together was not only for the benefit of gaining some cooking skills or learning a new recipe or two, but also to learn about a brand that in-till now, I sadly had no recognition of.

‘One Difference’ is a brand like no other, a brand that has been created to actually make a real difference to others!

Seriously, I’ve never known it possible, yet there is a brand that actually does all that it does to benefit others! Producing a range of products only to donate 100% of its sales profits to charitable causes! Sounds, a tad far fetched doesn’t it?

Let me elaborate, One Difference, brings us a range of everyday essential products, One Brand’ that are sold via major retailers across the UK and internationally, to fund humanitarian aid projects across rural communities in Africa.

We were lucky enough to meet the brands director, ‘Duncan Goose‘ an inspirational man who shared some information on the brand and what it stood for. Products include the launch of, the ‘One Clever Loaf’ two unique varieties of sliced bread, due to launch later in the year! Through the sale of One Clever Loaf within the UK, start-up bakeries in Africa are funded to generate income for families as well as providing food for the communities they serve.   

Another product is that of ‘One Good Egg’ produced by selected British Lion EU certificated organic farms across the UK. These are three range, organic eggs RRP £1.99 with 100% profit being used to fund community egg farming projects in Africa. Communities are provided with hens, equipment and even training in hen husbandry, in order to provide protein rich nutrition for families, and a sustainable source of income!

One Good Egg’s are sold nationwide and are available from Tesco, The Co-operative and Ocado

Other products consist of, One handwash, One water, One toilet tissue, One Porridge, One Water and One plasters.

Duncan is also raising awareness for the HIV crisis in sub-Saharan Africa and is therefore donating much needed funds for life saving HIV programmes in developing countries, through the sale of the brands ‘One Condoms‘ with 100% profit going into the programme. They even sell glow in the dark condoms (which I thought was worth sharing, what with it being Valentines night and all that) 🙂 

Maybe I was actually invited for my eagerness to raise awareness for worthy causes as opposed to my talented kitchen skills, cough…cough…

Whatever the reason, I was pleased to be a part of it, and whole heartily impressed by not only the quality of these products (we used the eggs and bread within our dishes) but also what these guys stood for and the amazing difference they are making to the life’s of others.

On arrival at Battersea London, Simon was just gearing up to get cooking, some fabulous tips were given as he demonstrated how to create 3 dishes with the use of One Products. These were dishes I’d never even considered making at home (well, until now)! I could see the benefits of the day unfolding and actually felt pretty inspired to throw on my apron and get going.

Simon demonstrated 3 stunning dishes before we teamed up with another blogger and  recreated one ourselves (at least this way I wouldn’t be solely to blame for any kitchen mishaps or dodgy food)! Actually, all went to plan, we recreated, Chorizo Scotch Eggs with a Pepper Chutney and despite the fact I hate eggs, preferring to munch on just the sausage meat, I think it came out splendid. 

Before this great event came to an end, it was lovely to be able to sit and eat the dishes we had created along with a pudding Simon had put together, plus the welcome addition of some crisp rose wine and a good chat with some lovely bloggers.

To finish off, One Difference presented us with a beautiful woven basket containing some lovely One Products! We also got to keep the apron (to my little man’s delight).

I really did enjoyed the day, meeting celebrity chef, Simon Rimmer, the inspirational One difference director, the lovely PR team representing the brand and of course the great mix of fellow bloggers attending on the day. The greatest part was, not only did I take home some new skills, a new found sense of creativity, but also the discovery of a new brand that do this amazing thing of changing peoples lives!

When now shopping for bread and eggs, it will be great having the knowledge that the money made from my purchase will help change a families life… How amazing is that!

Please pop back tomorrow when I’ll  share the recipes of what we made on the day! Check out the images below for a tasty treat of what’s to come.

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Life as a sibling of a child with Cancer

I know first hand what happens to a family when a child is diagnosed with Cancer!

Life crumbles in an ineluctable manner, the world you’re living in changes forever!

You wake each morning to the realisation that this is reality! You’re powerless to make it stop, this frequent perturbing feeling that overcomes you, so powerful, you could vomit.

There’s no warning, you don’t get a say in it, it doesn’t matter that you’re hurting, that it’s causing your family to fall apart all around you… its Cancer, there’s no simple answers, nothing is no longer simple, your inferior to its powers as it goes about damaging all that you love in a pervasive manner.

You see, it’s not easy being 10-years-old, the older sibling of a child infested with Cancer, a 10-year-old filled with befuddlement, yet knows enough to understand the seriousness of the situation just by seeing her father cry!

Life suddenly becomes a waiting game, one minute you’re out playing with your friends, the only worry you have, is what time you need to be in for your tea, next, you’re suddenly worrying whether that thing your mother refers to as “Cancer” will allow your baby sister to live another day.

When my 2-year-old sister was diagnosed as having ‘Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia’ it was if time stood still, yet those around me continued on with life in the same way they always had. You, your family, are unable to look to the future as your apprehensive at what that future may hold!

Life becomes dark, really dark, regardless of the sun that’s actually shining, your world just remains a shadow of lingering darkness, there’s no longer the sound of laughter throughout the home, just this scary vibe of the unknown. Your mother tries with that false smiley face, she does for your benefit, yet you know inside she’s crying as inside you’re crying too!

I sit by my sisters hospital cot, I take her tiny bruised hand the one covered in sticking medical tape to hold the plastic tube in place, in my head I beg God “Please don’t take her away from me and my family”

She’s so weak, looks so fragile, yet she looks up at me with her big blue tired eyes and still manages to show me her beautiful smile. My whole 10-year-old body is swamped with emotions of both love, sadness and fear, yet I don’t know how to deal with it… I just don’t know!

There are day’s I’d sit on the stairs listening to my mothers sobs, the ones she would let out when she thought no one was around, her heart breaking for her tiny little daughter fighting for her tiny life… as a mother powerless to make it better, I can only imagine how she must have felt.

Relationships broke down between a mother and father, both on the same side, yet both dealing with life’s evil turn in their own way.

With each milestone my sister made, another blow sat waiting. Finally discharged from the hospital, she would all to often be whisked back to what was now her home just a few hours later. A simple cough or sneeze could make her so very poorly, yet I yearn to cuddle her, wrap my arms firmly around her and hold her tight.

A shadow of her once lively self with every beautiful blonde hair no longer upon her tiny head she just braved everything life throw at her! Embarking on a long whining road of Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Infections and endless doses of antibiotics, month after month this little girl refused to give in, she just kept on going.

That beautiful 2-year-old toddler is now a beautiful 22-year-old woman with her own beautiful 2-year-old blonde blue-eyed daughter!

This journey may have started some 19 years ago but I’ll never forget what its like to be part of a family where a child has Cancer, a life threatening illness that took ahold of them so suddenly… I never thought my story would end like this, I honestly thought that my little sister would fly off & play with the angels, yet here I am telling you this, sharing this ending that I will forever and ever be thankful for.

My younger brother ‘Joseph’ (then 7, now 26) with my little sister ‘Rachel’ shortly before diagnosis

I was inspired to write this post to share my experiences of being a sibling to a child with Cancer, by the lovely Nickie O’Hara, who blogs over on the blog Typecast. Nicky is a mother who can relate to my own, therefore doing a wonderful job in helping the “CLIC Sargent” (a charity supporting children with Cancer) to raise awareness of its Yummy Mummy week which commences on the 10th-18th March 2012.Click here for info on Yummy mummy week

By posting a selection of blogging prompts over a 4 week period, Nickie hopes to get us as all joining in and doing something yummy, by choosing a prompt, blogging about it and linking up on a Thursday… This is week two and I was inspired by the prompt “ Yummy post: What happens to a family when a child is diagnosed with Cancer? How do Siblings, parents cope?”

To check out the other prompts, gain more information on the awareness campaign or the Yummy mummy week, visit Nickie over on Typecast where you’re also be able to read many more post supporting this worthy cause.

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Help Sudocrem raise funds for the NSPCC All babies count campaign

Image via Wikipedia

As many should know by now, I’m pretty big on helping raise awareness for worthy campaigns that’s why I’m taking a minute to share this with everyone and anyone!

 The NSPCC is a charity who campaign for UK children, ensuring they can help children who are subjected to cases of neglect, mistreatment and abuse . Without this fantastic charity the UK would likely be a much darker place, with high numbers of children not being protected as they should be. Everyone deserves a full and happy life, where they can live without fear of another and children are amongst the most vulnerable groups of people subjected to such crawl and evil ways.

 One of the  NSPCC latest campaigns  launched, is the All Babies Count campaign which aims to reduce the number of cases of neglect, mistreatment and abuse inflicted upon children under the age of one! The NSPCC have stated that “One baby is killed every two weeks here in the UK” The NSPCC is working hard to end this shocking statistic.

Stepping in to support the charities campaign is the well-known baby brand Sudocrem who have pledged to donate a total of £25,000.

  However, Sudocrem need our help to reach this target!

No… Sudocrem are not asking you to donate any money, they understand that despite how passionate many of us are to support such worthy courses we just can’t afford to give because we simply do not have the additional resources, what with many of us donating through direct debit to an array of charities on a monthly basis. All Sudocrem are asking for is a simple like and a tweet!

 Let me explain: For every “Like” Sudocrem receive on their Facebook page they will donate 50p to the campaign and for every tweet/Re-Tweet using the#allbabiescount hashtag they will donate 25p to the charity!

You can visit the NSPCC website and use the tweet button which kindly asks that your follows give your tweet a RT and Sudocrem will therefore donate 25p to the charities campaign.

What’s more for every comment left on the NSPCC  Facebook Campaign page, Sudocrem will donate a further 50p
  So… to help such a worthy campaign all you need to donate is a tiny bit of  time!

 A few minutes if that, is what such a task would take! If you want to go that extra mile why not spread the word and get your friends and family to do the same, after all it could make the difference of life and death to a baby!

Like the Sudocrem facebook by clicking HERE

For the NSPCC Facebook Campaign page click Here

If you’re worried about a child then please visit the NSPCC website for advice. Please Click Here

For the Sudocrem website please Click Here

For the Sudocrem blog please visit: http://www.sudocrem.co.uk/blog/

Thank you to Blog Match for helping bring awareness to the campaign by sharing it with us Blog Match members

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