http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/ryan-gosling-wont-eat-his-cereal-is-basically-the-best-thing

I would REALLY like him to grow up and not be fussy, but I think he has other ideas.

Just when I thought I’m losing this battle, he chose Kellogg’s Coco Pops Croc Prints cereal at a local supermarket and our breakfast times have been transformed! This morning he had two bowls of them. Tomorrow he wants to have three!

Here’s what he told me he likes about them:

- Very tasty

- Nice and crunchy

- Don’t get soggy

- He likes the crocodile on the front of the box

- He also likes the puzzle on the back

- And generally likes the chocolate prints / feet

I am very careful about endorsing any products, but this has been a winner. I think for Kellogg’s GB team it’s an R&D budget well spent. They certainly now have a few happy customers and fussy boys like to eat them… a lot

The sea was clam and lovely today, but we didn’t find any crabs… Where did they all go? Was it too cold for them or they were just too clever and hid from us? Another theory my other half came up is that they hadn’t been born yet.

What’s yours?

Magic Moves® Wand is a wonder of a toy disguised to look like a microphone. I must admit I wouldn’t have picked it up in a shop. We usually go for trains, airplanes, Hot Wheel cars or Lego. Little did I know what a jam-packed surprise of a toy it is. It sparkles and flashes with 90 fun commands. It got us dancing, acting out and generally having lots of fun.

When we figured out what Magic Moves® Wand is about my son kept asking: “I wonder what it will tell me to do next?”

There are two modes (you switch buttons “Play” and “Repeat”) and plenty of special commands like “Freeze”, “March”, “Let’s Dance”. Thank God that volume can be adjusted. Sorry neighbours

I was amazed by the wide variety of activities it has to offer – it’s educational, develops drama skills and very entertaining.

I would highlight what stood out about the toy for us (and it’s hard to compare with anything else we ever played with):

- we like the music it plays,

- it would appeal to 3-5 year olds, both boys and girls (there are things to do as a princess, train, rockstar or an airplane),

- it’s a great party game,

- it’s damage resilient (we did drop it a few times in our excitement.)

I would only make one comment that some of the commands were not very clear for a child nor his mother to comprehend. Nevertheless, we had lots of fun.

N.B. I was sent a sample of a Magic Moves® Wand to be reviewed.

I think I’m developing a mind obsession with Lego spaceships!

I was excited to come to the conference, and so stayed overnight in London (unlike my last minute dash to BritMums Live!) earlier this year. I was particularly looking forward to the star-studded line-up and couldn’t wait to hear what they had to say to the assembled mum bloggers. Zoe Williams, Gaby Wood, Natasha Walter, The Bloggess, Tanya Byron, Cath Elliot, Eleonor Mills, Suzanne Moore and more and more. With Caitlin Moran being the cherry on the cake!

I was also surprised how many delegates were already quite established bloggers, some of them with publishing deals under their belts. And all that swearing!! That what happens when you get a group of feisty journos in a room.

*Tbh I found that quite therapeutic!*

I took everything on board and made a few notes for myself. What I realised is that there is no right or wrong answer. Blogging sits outside the traditional rules of writing and the rules for social media still haven’t been written. So here are my views and musings on the matter of:

* THAT PHRASE

“Mummy blogger” vs “mum blogger”. The former gets a lot of grief, but it works. Advertising needs a clear way of identifying who we are. We don’t mind being called a “yummy mummy”, but “mummy blogger” seems to annoy mums who blog. Does this really matter? Either way it works in my humble opinion, especially when we’ve got bigger fish to fry. I know I will choose my battles carefully

* TROLLS

If it’s your public space (your blog, a Facebook page) I would draw clear guidelines for community management. Big brands and businesses do it, why shouldn’t we? These are our communities and we are in effect a brand, so don’t let anyone abuse you or use any derogatory language towards your readers. This is obviously harder to moderate on Twitter, but ignoring them and not giving them the attention they so desperately seek sits well with me.

* WRITING

I must confess I’ve been worrying about not blogging frequently. To have a moment to think, let along write, is quite challenging as I don’t just want to share my day-to-day ramblings. What I liked about the advice given is that the writing element will develop with time and it takes years to develop your voice. That was the feel-good factor! Not rushing and taking my time.

* UNITED YET NOT

What made be feel quite sad is that we are all women who blog for whatever reason and yet we are all competing with each other. Why oh why? Why aren’t we collaborating more? Guest blogging, campaigning, getting things done. It makes sense. To make an impact as mums,  bloggers we should have a more united front.

For starters we hold economic and political power – who runs households, allocates family budgets, makes purchasing decisions for him, her, kiddies and organises this, that and the other? If we continue to show our brilliance in the pieces we write and highlight the big issues that are important to us and our families, both advertisers and the government will start to take notice.

And finally, what a BOMBSHELL Caitlin Moran is!! I had to think quickly on my feet as I was attending this conference on behalf of a friend, a mum and a fabulous jewellery designer, who adores Caitlin. We discussed a possibility of sending Caitlin a sample of her eccentric jewellery line, but didn’t quite get organised. And so I thought – this is my moment!

As Caitlin was making her way saying goodbye to friends before getting into a taxi, I leapt forward just like in The Bodyguard movie to get to her in two steps and pass on a sample to her. She probably saw a real desperation in my face. She smiled, said “thanks” and probably thought “what a loon!”

Few more photos from the conference and a nod to the sponsors and The Blog Clinic:

Google+ and lovely Matt Cooke for being so gracious and not so overwhelmed by so many excited women on a Saturday morning and connecting me with other mums on G+.

Nintendo ladies for being so cheerful and patient with a mum, who never saw a Nintendo DS in her life… Definitely on a wish list for my son now.

Gorgeous Boden stand, a very inspiring collection for next season.

Jax Blunt for making me feel good about WordPress again!

And my lovely ex-colleague Victoria Noble from Zone who ran “Brands with Bloggers” clinic.

And other sponsors, who so generously filled our goodie bags!!

I will be following this post up with individual product reviews for some of the brands in the bag. Please bear with me. There was so much good stuff, that I thought I should share it with local mums asking for a review in exchange.

How wonderful it was to be in London again

It takes time and effort to get to know the real person behind each one. What I find really special is how reassuring, comforting, funny, hilarious they are. They lift you up and make it all better.

Then I saw a message from New Mum Online via Google+ that a lovely a mum blogger, whom I know only as a Multiple Mummy, wasn’t well. Her condition is quite serious. Of course I don’t know Kerry on a personal level, but I get a good sense what she’s like from these photos Liska (aka New Mum Online) shared with us. She’s funny, friendly – she’s one of us!

So today (Saturday 24^th November) is the day for prayers, thoughts and wishes for Kerry to get well soon!!

To follow this event on Twitter, search under #Healing4Kerry hashtag or join Google+ event tonight at 10pm.

This week I was going down the memory lane and there’s nothing like the 80s! Those silly clothes, OTT make-up and teenage dreams…

This made me think about the 80s themed party a very dear friend of mine threw in 2007. It was a very special year. I am one of a group of girlfriends and each one of us turned 30 that year.  And each one of us threw a themed party to be proud of.

This particular party I remember very well. But not because I danced my socks off and had the time of my life. No. At this party I was about 4 months pregnant and my dear God, did I feel sick? Those who had difficult pregnancies will understand what I’m talking about.

Everything took a huge effort. My pregnant imagination couldn’t stretch very far – I settled on Madonna. It felt like a permanent state of being, of being sick. We finally set off and stopped, drove and stopped. I bickered with my poor husband no end. Perhaps we should just turn back?

Looking back at the photos I am so glad I went. It was a super party and a fabulous decade to celebrate!

Turned out there were at least 10 of us (Madonnas) that night. And my husband went as Mrs Thatcher…

Autumn is a beautiful time of year. I find I appreciate it more the older I get. Don’t laugh – I’m not that ancient!

It’s always good fun to get silly and play fighting with leaves in the park.

Also it’s time to stop and think. With all that running around in the summer, it’s actually really nice to slow down a little.

What do you like about autumn?

“First of all i want to thank you for your email and the description of the security control and your experiences at the Vienna Airport. I do understand the feelings of your son and your frustration about the unprofessional behavior of our staff. I regret and apologize to you for this incident very much.

To answer your question, of course there should be a consistency between the European Airports, but we have no bearing on the executions from the other Airports. Enclosed i send you an Attachment of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 list of prohibited articles for passengers and cabin baggage – attachment 4-C. We have been instructed to class the Scooters among the paragraph e) of the Regulations. But it`s possible to check in the Scooter to the Check-In-Baggage to travel with them.

To your great joy we are glad to inform you that your Scooter is still here at the Vienna Airport. Would it be possible for you to pick up the Scooter from the Airport?

I very apologize again for this disagreeable occurrence and i assure you, that this incident will be a big talking point in our next works meeting, for continual improvement.“

It’s beyond belief to hear that my son’s scooter is still there. Why did they keep it? Hmmm. And what an interesting suggestion to come and pick it up from the airport?? We are talking about over 900 miles distance. Shall I pop in after lunch? Will write back to see what they’ve got in mind.

To be continued…

Image copyright http://www.vias.at