TomTato and Egg and Chips - tomatoes, aubergines and potatoes ....for the time deficient

I decided this year I would grow some vegetables but needed them to be fairly easy as the twins still demand a lot of attention being so young so I set my sights fairly low - initially I was just going to grow basil but a special offer dropped into my inbox one morning in May talking about an easy to grow crop of tomatoes and potatoes from the same plant! Promising I thought - a 'gadget' plant.  On clicking through I noticed that they also sold a plant that grew aubergines and potatoes on one plant - now, aubergines are something I have never even given a thought to.  

The reviews were good so I thought I would give them a bash.  I needed to order a 40L container to grow them in and settled on this Potato Barrel because I thought the lift up section would be handy for harvesting the potatoes without disturbing the fruits and veg growing about them and its held for the season but will probably be binned at the end of this season.

Anyway, onto the good stuff. They arrived as 12cm high plants  Here we are in August and check out these - buckets of awesome tomatoes and two lovely little aubergines.....all for minimum effort.  I will be harvesting the potatoes soon but all in all its been brilliant!  Even the twins have developed a taste for tomatoes but only when they are picked straight from the vine! 

As this season draws to a close I will most definitely be getting some more next year - grabs yours here: http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-plants/all-vegetable-plants/tomtato-and-egg-and-chips-duo/t70245TM

Begone plain walls!

As my house transformation on a budget continues, and thanks to Walltastic, I decided to use one of their new Large Character Stickers to turn the bland walls in what was our under-utilised Dining area, into a playroom for the twins.  The transformation using the Walltastic Disney pictures was so easy I am hoping one of these giant stickers will do the job and eliminate the need for this room to be painted - because lets face it with kids playing in here I would much rather repaint later! 

So - what is it? The 4ft sticker comes in three pieces in a fairly small box the length and dimensions as a standard wallpaper roll. Inside is the sticker in three pieces along with a light switch, door and half a dozen other themed stickers.

Unboxing revealed the whole thing to be very simple.

1. I laid out the three pieces and decided the position of the main sticker 
2. I started by removing the middle section from the backing paper very slowly.  The quality is very good and the smell reminded me of plasticised the Panini stickers I used to put in my stick books as a child.  In fact this was a fun as that!  I positioned the middle section in place touching the top edge.  
3. Next the right side then the left - take care to 'touch' into place the sections to allow for repositioning.
4. Smooth out with a cloth with care

That's it, time to transformation - 20 minutes tops!  I can happily say this has done the job and leaves plenty of space for some shelves and hooks to be added! Finished sticker is below, see what you think!  If you like this idea you can find all the designs here Amazon with free delivery.......

 

Playroom so far

Post Holiday - Towels, Bags, Bedding and a little Aubergine

So - been a while but we got back from Italy and as promised here are the reviews for a couple of new bits we intended to try out while holidaying with the twins this year.

Dock and Bay towels definitely were worth the investment.  As I mentioned in the last post they weigh next to nothing and took up no space in our luggage but were indispensable!  We purchased two X-large ones in the stripes and two plain Large ones.  

I washed them as per the instructions - which is no fabric softener before leaving and packed them into their little bags.  We were able to use them continuously for the two weeks that we were away and only required a quick sink 'refresh' wash every couple of days.  Both on the beach and by the pool the all performed really well four our family.  The x-large ones were larger than the sun loungers and covered them completely which also meant that they were a superb size to cover up an adult.  The large ones for the kinds were perfect as well and have been made well so with plenty of growing room I am pretty sure they will serve us for years to come.

The washed and air dried in 30minutes on a hot afternoon and have not suffered from any fading as far as beach performance goes - a quick shake removed any sand and the way they almost instantly dried meant that even after multiple dips in the water you weren't at any point in the day left with a damp towel.

The only bit that takes a bit of getting used to is the technique of 'patting' instead of 'rubbing' dry......or alternatively just wrap yourself tight in one and find yourself dry on the unwrap. All in all - these are going to be a firm fixture for anymore holidays.

Collapsable bags.  Out of the two new ones I purchased this year I have to say that I loved the Go Travel Foldaway Tote bag.  It was really durable and looked great for both day and night use.  There was ample space for all the usuals (wallet, camera, sunglasses, water bottles, husband's stuff) and a full nappy changing kit for twins and spare clothes!  I was deep (13 litres) but not too wide so it didn't get bulky making it easy to carry on the shoulder. I could even fit supermarket shopping in it without a problem.  Zip is good and sturdy and best of all it cost £4.99 with free delivery.  

Cabin Max Metz bag, so this was primarily purchased for my husband to carry as hand luggage for the flight.  He was packed up with nappies and games and snacks in addition to his tablet and wallet.  Sat very well on his back and was easy to get on and off in a rush.  The separate front pocket was useful to make things like snacks easily accessible. We found that is was perfect for the flight but on arriving at the location it isn't the sort of backpack that you would take out for a day trip - it was just too big so wouldn't be good if you were looking for something dual-purpose and considering that you pay a little extra for the 'cabin baggage' guarantee it may well be worth finding a standard rucksack.

I will also try and find some photos!

Next up for reviews: well the boys are two and a half and will no longer tolerate their Gro-bags when going to bed and having just removed the bars from their Bunk Cots to convert them to toddler beds I thought I would give the Gro Company Gro-to-bed Bedding which claims to be an "all–in–one duvet cover, bottom sheet and pillow case set has been cleverly designed with zips to keep the duvet in place and help to prevent little children from rolling out of bed."  With a fairly high price point for someone that needs to invest in at least two but ideally four they better be good!  I might also enlighten you to how we have found the Bunk Cots since they were also a gamble of an investment at the beginning but over two years down the road are really showing us that they were well worth the outlay!


I am also going to tell you about TomTato (AKA Ketchup and Chips plant) and 'Egg and Chips' plants I purchased in May when I was fairly unconvinced about the claims that they would deliver with relatively little effort Tomatoes and potatoes on one plant and aubergines and potatoes on the other ....relevant for all you Mums and Dads of multiples out there that used to grow your own but think that you no longer can........not to mention totally bonkers......what can this alien plant be - can't possibly be true - or can it?!!!

Treat for my Teeth - the Oral-B Genius 9000 Smart toothbrush

A DHL truck outside my house can only mean one thing, well two actually; either I have forgotten about something that I have ordered online or the wonderful people at BrAun have be kind enough to send me to try out.  So always willing and able here I go!

Since I am still only on week 11 of the initial 12 week course using their Silk Expert IPL Hair Removal system and Sonic Body Exfoliator (still to write a blog post on the overall results of using the system after after 12 weeks about that keep following) I am super lucky to have been chosen to tooth-test the new Oral-B Genius 9000 before it goes on sale!  So see it here first folks.  


The box contains a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar pieces.  This is my third Oral-B electric toothbrush I am pleased to find the the unit is lighter than my current Triumph model.  The new black body is also sleeker and looks much cooler than the old white ones associated with the brand (though for those of you that prefer white it will be an option on this model).

New features are the bits that I like to get my teeth into (excuse the pun!).  So we have a mobile phone holder and bluetooth connectivity icon on unit.   This readers can only mean one thing to tech geeks - this is a Smart toothbrush and we need an APP!  

I presumed that scanning the QR tag in the instruction booklet would take me straight to the app in the appstore, this however is not the case it took me to Product registration - which needs to be done as this will extend your guarantee but this model isn't there yet! To find the app I had to do a traditional search and hope that I am downloading the right one. Bearing in mind that this product is not on sale yet so perhaps this will change.

Unboxing video!

App downloaded.  Toothbrush unit needs to charge.  The nice touch with this model is that you can either mount it on the traditional vertical stand or inside the Smart Travel Case which charges the toothbrush and mobile phone!  I am going to be trying out the latter.

I will then need to pair my phone to the toothbrush and this can't be done while its charging so that's all for now folks!  Check back later for more!

A little time later...... its all charged and ready to go!  I unfortunately made a little video because this is more of a show and tell gadget (apologies in advance as this is clearly NOT my day job!).  In summary nice lightweight unit which feels good to hold and is the same size but lighter than previous models.  Some older brush heads are compatible and will fit on the top and the app once you have positioned the phone correctly seems to work well

but needs a little practice.

Pros buying the new Genius 9000:

• The lightweight handle
• The Smart Travel Case with inbuilt charging for toothbrush and phone!
• Easy to pair phone with toothbrush
• The app reminding me to use my mouthwash and clean my tongue
• The feel after you have finished cleaning your teeth - definitely more effective leaving that smooth feeling
• The 'oh so pretty' personalised 360 degree LED colour ring

So far so good!  I'll be back with more updates in a few days!

14/06/16 - UPDATE
Err.....The app is REALLY annoying.  I hope they refine it before they release but I am unsure what they can do to make it better.  The technology needs work I think it just can't accurately tell where I am brushing so sometimes takes twice as long because you have to hold it in the same place for ages in order for the app to pick up on it.  Being a Mum as well I sometimes want to just 'brush my teeth' - that was the beauty of the Smart Meter, it just quietly sat in the bathroom and would automatically count down as soon as you started your toothbrush.  No phone to find, then unlock, then open the app, then make sure the app sees the brush, then confirm the prompts, then brush your teeth which when you have precious time before the next fight or 'Mum' request is so important.  I don't want teeth brushing to start becoming another thing I need to maintain the app needs to make the process easier not more complex.

The toothbrush itself is great though and you can feel that you get a really great clean.  It will be the first electric toothbrush I take on holiday I think this year I am so enamored - despite the failings of the app.

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Bedroom Makeover with Walltastic Disney Collages

I know I promised to update you on my holiday purchases and that post will come, in the meantime I decided to dive in and FINALLY decorate the boys' bedroom yesterday which up until now has been a sea of neutral paint.  We moved here late last year and whilst I have had the ideas all lined up it was, as is often the case, a real lack of motivation and time that was holding me back from making them a fab bedroom.  Not to mention the weather.  We needed a sunny day to ensure speeding drying to deter the boys from peeling before bedtime!  

Anyway, the weather was right and Walltastic Disney Collage was the answer! So, what are they all about?  Well, 64 sheets of Disney characters in a box in either a blue or pink background.  We went for the blue set which comes with the Disney pictures, a small instruction booklet and a pouch of enough wallpaper paste to make seven litres (I used a fraction of it!).

What I like about them:

• I'm not a decorator and found the slightly larger than A4 sized sheets were less intimidating and required significantly less set up than normally wallpaper 
• The variety of characters, and there are loads, 78 as quoted by the box, this means that when the time comes that they no longer go loopy for the Lion King there are plenty more characters to choose from.  
• No arguments; one loves Olaf, the other Nemo? No problem they are both on the wall!
• If they get ruined or damaged you can just replace the one sheet without having to redecorate the whole room

I decided to write this post after I had finished because I really was unsure at how the whole thing would pan out but trust me readers - it was easy.  Done in two stages in a little over two hours.  

Equipment:

• One bucket to mix the paste in
• A stick to mix the paste (once you add the water its ready in 90 seconds
• A smaller bucket with water and a cloth (to wipe down the pasting bench)
• A flat surface (this is the great bit, you don't need a decorating table! I used a piece of wood and lay it on the floor)
• Two cloths; one to clean your pasting bench the other to smooth down the designs
• A brush (I used an ordinary clean painting brush)

Doing four sheets at a time I would lay them out and stick them up and once you get in the swing of it it really was easy.  The margins inside the designs aren't straight this means you don't even need a spirit level when you are putting them up, I just followed the ceiling and gave each one a very slight overlap (because they expand with the moisture of the paste and will shrink again as they dry).

Tips:

• Worth sticking them up with blue tack to see how they will lay out first.  I didn't do this with the window which resulted in a couple of fill-ins - and actually thats the only downside the box could do with a couple of blank sheets that you can use where your room may leave a couple of gaps so that you can cut them down and use them to fill in those areas.

All in all - the boys were absolutely thrilled and I couldn't help but be impressed, we kept the blinds and walls neutral because there is so much colour and all for a bargain price of £29.99! 

These pictures are superb quality making them an excellent option to quickly transform a bedroom and you can use as many or as few as you like! 

Holiday Hoarding - Holidaying Essentials for Parents of Multiples

Very soon we are will make our annual pilgrimage to the Motherland (Italy), we have been travelling regularly with our boys since they were a few months old.  

For me this means careful preparation and before we go I scour the web in search of products that are going to make the journey that little less painful.  I have popped the best of the best (from my experience) below! 

So here are my essentials for multiple parents as tried and tested by us after a great deal of investment:

Travel Grobag (Age of the little travellers: zero - 18mths): the GroCompany make loads of brilliant products for children and we were avid fans of their standard Grobags.  The great thing about the travel ones is that they come in and extra lightweight 0.5tog (so

perfect for leaving in a nappy and letting them just sleep in that for those extra warm nights).  The other great feature is the holes on the back which allow you to strap them into a car seat with the Grobag intact - perfect for those 'car to bed manoeuvers'.  Patterns are adorable and when you come home you can still use them for late night trips.

Munchkin Miracle 360 Sipper Cups (Age of the little travellers: from as soon as they learn to drink): I first picked up a couple of these when I was in the US.  Tired of spilt drinks but keen for them boys to learn how to drink from a cup their awesome design means you can tip them, throw them, hang them upside down (the cups not the kids) and there isn't a spill, they undoubtedly end up on their side on the floor and there is never a drop spilt.  Also the two parts are easy to clean and easy to assemble.  

I had also tried WOW cups which we already available in the UK at the time.  Unfortunately WOW Cups didn't cut it, the lids would not always form a watertight seal which often resulted in leaking and even the lids flying off after a throw, not so with the Munchkin Miracle!  Sturdy design in a variety of bright colours, my blue and green ones are nearly two years old now and have stood the test of time so I am delighted to see that they are now available in the UK for all to benefit, they also do a 'Trainer version' with handles which is slightly smaller.  This year I will be buying a couple of extra ones so two can be permanent travel ones.

Totseat in Action

Travel High Chairs (From when they can sit up): 
Couple of recommendations here after trying 'oh so many' different products!  Firstly the Totseat we were lucky enough to land an offer of buying a full price one and getting a travel version for free and as a multiple Mum I love any BOGOF offer.  So two years down the line these are still going strong we still take them everywhere since we find quite often restaurant and pub highchairs have broken straps and with twins it is vitally important to ensure that both boys are sitting safely at all times.  Made from durable fabric and adaptable for every chair we have some across when we go abroad we are often asked what they are and where they can be found.  They also fold away into a little pouch - no space consumed at all!

Chicco Pocket Snack

For visits to Grandma and overnight stays with relatives we also have the Chicco Pocket Snack Booster.  Lightweight and fold to nothing so can live in the car without taking up space these boosters are as happy sitting on the floor as they are strapped to chairs.  They are adjustable height-wise which is an added bonus meaning you can raise them to be the same height at a dining table as everyone else (we know how important that becomes at around two years old).  Detachable tray and safety harness.  Look out for offers on these since investing in two warrants a good deal on them! 


Inflatable Cot bumpers (a good alternative to taking two travel cots abroad): another US purchased which can not be found over here are The Shrunks Wally Inflatable Bed Rail I have two of these.  They come in small little pouches with a pump, take minutes to inflate and have a cool safety valve feature which means they don't deflate in between pumps.  I prefer these to other designs because they have a suede affect fabric on the bottom which means they stay in place all night and if you have a fitted sheet over them a single bed magically turns into a toddler bed.  

CGear Sand Free Mat - look no sand!

C-Gear Sand mat: brilliant find this mat, great for days on the beach because it keeps sand at bay.  I didn't believe it at first but it really works and makes holiday days on the beach less stressful because if you have your little ones playing or sleeping in the shade they don't get everything covered in sand, you won't even need to hire loungers with one of these.  Even if they decide to tip sand onto the mat a quick brush and it sieves away leaving the mat clear again.  I also purchased the beach bag from the range - no more sand in with my belongings!  The only drawback with this for travelling is weight.  For UK trips with a car this isn't a problem but the large one weighs in at 3kg and is annoyingly bulky.  We got away with it by stowing it on the pushchair for the flight.  You could also buy a smaller one which resolves the bulk and weight issue! Either way - a worthwhile investment!

Frostfire Moontent: I am throwing this in the holiday section as it is a serious tent.  We have one of these and use it both as a beach shelter and play tent for the garden.  Super easy to pop open and stick out on the lawn and equally wherever else you may want to travel to.  Enormous inside with plenty of space for both twins and Mum and maybe even Dad to play in.  Drawbacks are that packed away, whilst being light, it is probably two wide in diameter to fit in a standard luggage case but if you are driving to your holiday then this will stow just fine.  Forget expensive kids tents and one purpose beach shelters - watch this tent on Camel Camel Camel for a price drop and grab something that will give you the durability you are looking for and the kids lasting fun!

So what's new for this year's holiday?  

Lighter less bulky towels: I have invested in Some Dock and Bay microfibre towels which are in the washing machine as we speak.  So far I've been impressed, four (two XL beach towels and two medium sized ones) of these towels are weighing in at less than one standard beach and fold so thinly this will free up lots of space in our luggage.  They seem very soft and durable but I will update after the holiday to give a full verdict on them.

Bags, Bags, Bags: I have a little obsession with collapsable bags and this year is no different.  I have invested in a Cabin Max Metz bag, a backpack targeted at travellers who only want to travel with hand luggage I thought that for parents of multiples who always need a way to carry as much stuff as possible in an efficient way these might fit the bill.  The bag has arrived and is comfortable on my back with plenty of space so I'll be using this to carry onboard for the flight laden with snacks, entertainment, nappies, wipes, as well as my bits.  In addition I also purchased a Go Travel Foldaway Tote bag at the bargain price of £5 so when I arrive at the other side I have a lovely looking shoulder bag that has oodles of space as a changing bag as well!