Wednesday 29 July 2015

New management tools for food allergy and intolerance are coming...

As the number of allergy sufferers continues to increase, it is good to know that new management tools are being created. Food Maestro and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust are
 collaborating to create new digital products for patients and healthcare professionals based on food 
allergy and intolerance research.


Tuesday 28 July 2015

Disney Mini Palace Pets - a review

STOP PRESS! Palace news has it, that the Queen of England will not be replacing her beloved Corgi's from this point on. Strictly speaking the royal Corgi's are of course irreplaceable - indeed one understands that each and every poochie is uniquely cherished; it's simply that the royal Corgi line of four-legged furry friends is to be left to expire. One can only assume that this means the end of the line for Corgi's full stop... Extinction. Does anyone else other than Her Royal Highness own a Corgi? Meanwhile, one palace insider told us that the Matriarch is besotted with another palace pet, and is allegedly planning to collect the lot for her great grandchildren, quoting Queenie as saying, "Plastic tat or not, one's offspring simply can't get enough of it."
Available from: Disney Princess Palace Pets
Suitable for: Age 4+
Price: From £4.99


Monday 27 July 2015

Beautiful designer jewellery for AW2015

Finding the perfect piece for your occasion


I love my job as shopping editor for a high end mag - every so often something wonderful comes along, such as reviewing the pop up Moroccan restaurant at Searcy's The Gherkin
Not only was that a treat, but I was also able to wear beautiful award winning designer jewellery to the event, which I'd now like to shout about on Life As It Is.

First of all, massive thanks to the CMJ Media PR team who made it happen, but especially to Natalie, who managed to line up pieces that not only suited me, but also suited the theme of my night out. Natalie was told I was wearing cobalt blue and off to Marrakesh.

Take a look at this...

Sif Jakobs, Arezzo Leather Bracelet Blue, £79


Sunday 26 July 2015

Living the city highlife... Moroccan style - a review

The underground heaves - it's an ongoing rush hour. Close and clammy, emerging into the East End is a breath of fresh air. I climb the steps of Bank tube station and tune in to the fact that they are gold. Steps paved with gold lead to streets paved with gold in the oldest financial district of London. Finding my bearings in EC3, I can't help but register a nod to Mary Poppins; pigeons peck on the steps of The Royal Exchange surrounded by big black umbrellas. In true British summer fashion, it hasn't stopped raining the entire day.


30/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

First week of the hols, we went to see the Minion Movie. Here's Esme's take on the film...


Monday 20 July 2015

Fighting talk - Musings of 6YO

E: Mummy, do you know what I want to do today?

M: What's that then?

E: I want to go to Parliament and get an axe, then bring it back and chop Sofia's head off.

Saturday 18 July 2015

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

DESIGN AN UMBRELLA & SUPPORT G.O.S.H.

If you have creative children aged 5-14, perhaps a fun thing to do this holiday would be to join in supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, by asking the kids to create their very own funbrella to add to Fulton’s kid’s range of funky umbrellas. 

The Kid's Choice competition will be judged by Fulton Umbrella’s Chief Executive Nigel Fulton, fashion designer Cath Kidston, and Fulton’s head designer Rose Barber, and the winning design will be put into production at the beginning of next season. In time for all the rainy weather! The winning funbrella will support Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, a life-changing hospital charity, providing world class care whilst pioneering new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses. 

To enter the competition, budding designers can upload their designs by 31.08.15 at:
















Tuesday 14 July 2015

Starting school at just 4? Or already 5? A feature

Did you know that Summer born children are not required to start school until a full year
after the point at which they could have begun?
Yes, you probably knew that. But. Did you know that they don't actually have to go straight into Year one. You can get them into reception a year later... it is not widely shouted about, but campaigning for just this is
Meanwhile, exploring the debate between Summer V Autumn babies, my latest feature 
which you can read here in the current issue of Little London Magazine


Sunday 12 July 2015

28/52 The GraceFaith year long art project - Code writing

Esme devised a secret language last week and it kept her occupied for ages. 


Wish I could say I'd thought of this as an activity for her, but I can't take the credit.

Friday 10 July 2015

Post maternity Swimwear from Speedo

...just a thought - and a nod to post maternity(!) swimwear - Life As It Is found this gorgeous
Crystalsun swimsuit by Speedo recently...



Onboard Maternity Swimwear from Splash About

Splash About got in touch with LIFE AS IT IS because they've recently launched OnBoard, a collection of maternity swimwear


And no, I've not something to share... you all know my baby days are done with (refrains from dancing a jig), however, I asked an expectant friend to help out. To see if a swimsuit that was billed as especially tailored to fit and flatter, shape and support perfectly throughout all stages of pregnancy, from first trimester to full term, could deliver. Ha, deliver!

I thought it would be nice for this friend to receive a swimsuit. All she had to do in return was go to the beach - oh and give me her thoughts on the product. Here's what she had to say...


Tuesday 7 July 2015

Animal Architects - A book review


This September, Laurence King Publishing brings you a wonderful new book from their Children's range, entitled Animal Architects.

This book is an original exploration of how animals build their homes and the fascinating structures they create. 

Each spread contains a beautiful, colourful illustration of each animal and its home, plus a unique fold-out information panel, with stats and a simple architectural diagram showcasing the creation of the 'architect'. 

Look inside chimpanzee nests, beaver dams, termite mounds, stork nests and many more - and get to know the clever animals who build them!

VERDICT:
A beautifully constructed and really rather exquisite book for all enquiring minds; especially those that love the animal kingdom.

DETAILS:
TITLE: Animal Architects
AUTHORS: Daniel Nassar & Julio Antonio Blasco
ISBN: 978 1 78067 653 1
Published by: Laurence King Publishing
Release date: September 2015 (hardback)
Price: £10.95


Emma Oliver and LIFE AS IT IS received a copy of Animal Architects in exchange for a review on the parenting/lifestyle blog LIFE AS IT IS.

For DISCLOSURE & DISCLAIMER, please view my page on LEGAL STUFF

Monday 6 July 2015

LIFE AS IT IS - This week in July 2015...

We danced non-stop, continuing to celebrate Simon's 40th and now we're exhausted, spent. Loving the summer sun though, and managing to sap energy from that and the odd can of Redbull to keep us going through the partying. Seriously, our sitter has never seen so much action. And by the way, we love our local pub. The couple that run it have done so much to turn it around. Great arrows.

Friday 3 July 2015

Car Seats - the low down

I wonder how many of us parents are law-savvy when it comes to car seats? Having just reviewed a car, I figured it sensible to follow up with today's news... haven't got time to change copy, so have literally posted the press release for all to see.

Which? reveals child car seat confusion

New Which? research has revealed a worrying lack of public awareness about using child car seats, leading to some parents with school age children unintentionally breaking the law.


Thursday 2 July 2015

Ford C-Max review (includes the infamous Test Drive Dummy footage)

FORD C-MAX 2015 - REVIEW

PROS
Economical, comfortable, family friendly, with good safety features.
CONS
C-Max (five-seater) is unable to sit three car seats in a row, and the Grand C-Max, 
(seven-seater) sits four car seats, but leaves little boot space.

Back in 2012, MadeForMums tested the then new Ford B-Max and found it to be an eerily 
futuristic ride. So much so, we were left wondering what on earth could possibly come next? 

Hello the C-Max range, and the recent launch of which, proved Ford are still heading 
up technological advancement.

Make no mistake, as the 2015 offerings are unveiled, MadeForMums found themselves going 
back to the future and a ‘Look mum, no hands’ experience.

The new five-seat C-Max (and seven-seat Grand C-Max with sliding doors), are designed 
with families in mind, making day-to-day living easier - and safer with hand-free tech 
and numerous smart driver assistance features. But a few years on, would the new car prove 
to be a help or a hindrance when put to the test?