Lamb & Bear

Brand & Blog

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Blogiversary Giveaway with Munchkin

As promised, I’ve got some amazing giveaways for you in celebration of my 2nd Blogiversary! My first giveaway is still open so click here to head over and enter.

Next up I’ve teamed up with the lovely people over at Munchkin to give you the chance to win the LATCH Newborn Bottle Starter Set worth £30!  011650 Latch New Born Starter Kit-LCL1Designed for mums who want to combine breast and bottle-feeding, the revolutionary LATCH bottle has been developed to closely mimic the natural breastfeeding experience, so your baby gets the best feed each and every time. This product would of certainly come in use when Lamb was a baby!

While other wide-mouth bottles only look like the breast, the unique LATCH™ accordion teat moves and functions most like the breast, helping ease baby’s transition from breast to bottle and back. The LATCH™ teat stretches, moves and pumps, so baby can LATCH™ and feed just like on your breast. The bottle also features the unique LATCH™ anti-colic valve – a base venting, one-piece valve that prevents air bubbles travelling through the milk, reducing the chance of colic.

The LATCH™ Complete Starter Set ensures you have everything need to get you started, each set contains: 2 x 4oz LATCH™ Bottles, 2 x 8oz LATCH™ Bottles, 4 x 0m+ Teats, 2 x 3m+ Teats, 1 x LATCH™ Deluxe Bottle Brush including Valve Brush.

For your chance to win this fab Latch Starter Set simply enter via the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information on what makes LATCH different, please visit: http://www.munchkin.com/uk/latch-newborn-bottle-starter-set.html

Good luck!

Ax

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Top 5 Tips For Choosing A New Washing Machine

Just before Christmas our washing machine decided to pack in. Yep, excellent timing. It was the icing on the cake to our run of bad luck in 2015.

There’s no way we could afford to buy a new one so close to Christmas, so it was going to be a credit card/catalogue purchase which would be paid off in instalments. Nothing wrong with that, especially as there’s a lot of buy now, pay in a year offers around.

We were super lucky to be offered a new washing machine as our Christmas present from my in-laws. They knew how tough things were and thought the most useful and beneficial thing they could buy us for Christmas was a new washing machine. They also let us have it early so I didn’t have to spend the rest of the year lugging bags of washing to friends and family houses. Phew.

A new washing machine is an investment, those things aren’t cheap, so we shopped around and thought about what was important to us and what we needed.

Here’s my top 5 tips for choosing a new washing machine.

  1. Work out your budget. This is really important. Once you know the maximum you can afford then you can eliminate anything priced too high. That way you’re not wasting your time looking at machines out of your reach.
  2. Do your research. Being a blogger myself I totally appreciate the value of genuine reviews. Reviews from people who own/have owned a particular product and have been kind enough to share their honest opinions with you. Read reviews on shop sites, blogs, forums, wherever. You’ll probably find certain issues may occur over and over and you can then avoid that product.
  3. Think about exactly what you need. Our old washing machine was fab because the settings were really easy to work out. There were 4 settings I really wanted on my new machine as I knew they were the ones I used regularly. A daily wash not much longer than an hour. A quick wash of around 15/20 mins. A baby care wash and a hand wash/wool wash. If you have a house full of boys who come home caked in mud from their Sunday football match each week, then you’ll need hot washes etc. If you have a newborn baby you’ll need a hot cotton wash. If you wear a lot of cashmere you’ll need a delicate hand wash. Make sure you’re looking at what the machine offers you and you needs are covered.
  4. Check the size. The last thing you want is for your shiny new machine to be delivered only for you to find it doesn’t fit where the old one was. Double and even triple check it will fit.
  5. Shop around! The machine we bought was from in store. I think it was on offer, and came with a cutback of £30. Once we decided it was what we wanted, and before we agreed to buy, I quickly looked online on my phone to see it was on offer cheaper anywhere else. Turns out the shop we bought from did a price check there and then and matched anyone who offered it cheaper, but I would still suggest doing a little digging yourself just on case. Make sure you even check the stores own website, you’ll be surprised how many items are cheaper online than in store, even though it’s exactly the same product and company.

So there are my top tips for choosing a new washing machine. We are super happy with our choice. It’s perfect and will hopefully last longer than the 4 years the old one did!

If you are looking for a new machine, check out this latest video from Hotpoint featuring their new model.

Ax

*PR Collaboration

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If I was Having a Girl What Would She Wear?

I’m pregnant with my second boy which means no frills, no flowers, no fairies – well unless he chooses to wear them of course.

I can’t help but browse the baby girl section in stores or online and wonder what I might dress my own baby girl in. (Don’t worry, I’m super excited I’m having another boy!) I love fashion and just because I’m going to have 2 sons doesn’t mean I can’t lust after the girly stuff. I’ve got 2 beautiful nieces to buy for anyway!

I’ve picked a selection of my favourite finds from Zara, Next and Gap.

If you’r pregnant with a baby girl or already have a little princess at home then maybe you’ll find some inspiration from this post.

A few bits from Next…

nextcollage1 nextcollage2 nextcollage3

Oh the rainbows!!

A few bits from Gap…gapcollage1 gapcollage2A few bits from Zara…

zaracollageThere’s a few bits here that I’d actually buy for baby boy! For example, the pear baby grow and leggings from Gap are adorable and would look so cute on a newborn no matter what gender they are. I’d also put a boy in the bumble bee leggings from Next. The same goes for the 2 pairs of leggings from Zara. Boys like cats and ladybirds too!

What do you think of my choices?

Ax

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Blogiversary Giveaway with OXO Tot

oxopinAs promised I’m celebrating my 2nd ‘blogiversary’ with some fabulous giveaways for my lovely readers. First up is a giveaway in collaboration with OXO Tot, one of my favourite brands who not only have I worked with for a while now, but also use lots at home. I got to pick 3 products to give away so decided to go for products that we use regularly and highly recommend.

First up we have the Sit Right Toilet Trainer Seat. Lamb currently uses this and I think it’s a really good seat for training. It has a rubber base so doesn’t slip or slide on the toilet, has useful handles for the little ones to hold onto, and stands up on it’s own when not in use so really easy to store away. It’s also really easy to clean which every mum or dad wants to hear! RRP £18.

One of my favourite drink bottles Lamb has is the Twist Top Water Bottle. It doesn’t leak (usually) and holds plenty of liquid, and even ice if you need it! It washes well and is suitable for the dishwasher. The handy twist top hides away the straw when not in use to keep it clean. Definitely a bottle I recommend. RRP £8.

Finally we have the 4 Piece Feeding Set which is suitable from 12+ months up to toddler age and beyond. Lamb doesn’t have this exact set, but he does have the divided plate and fork and spoon set and as with the other OXO Tot products we have we love the quality. This is the perfect little feeding set for hungry toddlers and would make a great start kit or gift for someone. RRP £18.

 

To enter this awesome giveaway simply enter via the form below. This competition is open to UK entries only and all entries will be checked and verified after the giveaway ends.

Good luck!

Ax

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2 Whole Years Of Blogging

lb2Today marks Lamb & Bears 2nd ‘blogiversary’. That’s right, 2 whole years of blogging!

I can’t decide if I feel like I’ve been a part of Lamb & Bear forever, or if I still feel like a complete newbie – probably the latter if I’m honest.

I would say my second year of blogging has been much more successful. I’ve worked with fab brands, developed amazing friendships, and even launched my own Lamb & Bear children’s clothing line! How crazy is that!

Blogging is now totally integrated into my life. I don’t see myself giving up any time soon. I’ve recently heard of a few bloggers who I’m friendly with are giving up or have given up and I totally respect their decision – blogging is hard work. I may go quiet every now and then when I completely lose my blogging mojo, but after a little time off I come back fighting.

Since the middle of October last year I have been unemployed. I was made redundant without notice and went from working 3 days a week to being at home full time. I made the difficult decision not to look for another job due to being pregnant and having Lamb to look after. I just didn’t want the extra pressure on myself to rearrange childcare and find a company willing to take me on 12 weeks pregnant.

Since I left my job I’ve seen a huge increase in traffic to my blog. It just shows how much effort you have to put in to be successful – again, blogging is not easy. I now try to post something everyday, and if I can’t you’ll certainly find me on social media updating you on our daily antics.

I can understand why people find blogging so interfering and invasive to lives. I’ll be honest, there’s rarely a time where my iPhone isn’t close by, but this is my job now and I’m taking it seriously.

2 years of blogging has seen me grow into… well, I’m not sure really. I wouldn’t say I was hugely influential and certainly not professional, but I’d say I’m creeping that way. At the end of last year I made it into the top 500 blogs of the Tots100 chart (out of 9000 registered blogs) and for me that was a milestone I’d only dreamed achieving. I sometimes have to take a moment to think about how good that is. I know not everyone is registered; there are some amazing blogs who aren’t, and if they were they would definitely be ranked higher than me, but top 500 is incredible.

(I’m currently 509th but shhhh that’s close enough 😉 )

So what does 2016 have in stall for Lamb & Bear?

As mentioned earlier I’m at home full time (and 24 weeks pregnant exactly). I will soon be given 3 days a week (I suppose that’s like being back in employment) to work on the blog and my clothing range (while Lamb is at nursery and Grandmas). My blog is slowly taking a new direction with the added bonus of a pregnancy category, so I’m now able to work with some amazing maternity and baby brands that I haven’t been able to in the past. I have a few collaborations lined up for when baby is here so keep your eyes peeled for those – I’m so excited!

Earlier this month I signed up for the Suffolk Baby Show and will be selling my leggings there, along with an new exclusive mini collection. I had quite a few of you request Dinosaurs for girls/unisex… watch this space! After the show any stock left will of course be sold in my online shop, so don’t worry if you can’t get to the baby show.

I won’t say which yet, but in a couple of days my leggings are going to be featured in a national parenting magazine that I’m so, so excited about. I’m still pinching myself that I’m being featured in one of the biggest baby mags going!

I’ve just teamed up with Beebies Baby Club to be featured in their brand new subscription service. I recently reviewed the subscription boxes (which you can read here) and am super excited my brand is going to be featured as of next month. If you haven’t visited the Beebies Baby Store, you really must. So many amazing products available in one place.

Of course the most exciting thing about 2016 is the arrival of baby number 2. I can’t say how easy I’m going to find blogging with 2 kids, it’s going to take a lot of preparation and organisation, but I’m determined to keep you all updated with what’s going on in the lives of Lamb & Bear. Warts and all!

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank every single person who has read my blog, commented, interacted with me on social media, and even bought my leggings. Without readers I have nothing. Well not nothing, I still have my blog as a way of documenting our lives and something to look back on, but it’s really not the same if others aren’t enjoying what you write.

I hope you continue to enjoy what I post, promote and publish and look forward to the next year of Lamb & Bear.

Ax

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