Weight Watchers - The start

Remember last week I blogged about my weight watchers, weight loss challenge?  Well it ALL kicks off today, I've spent the last week testing out the iphone app and website, which, admittedly, took me a while to find my way around.  The app is great, every food imaginable has a value, and all you need to do, is add this into your own personal log.  If you can't find a value, then you simply add it in yourself.  You can also add "favourites" which is superb for me as I do like the same thing for breakfast day in, day out.

The point system is different to the one I successfully followed in the 1990s, so it is going to take me a while to get my head around it all.  Everything is also measured in grams which I just don't do (does anyone know if I can change this?) I have the key to success, the only thing I need to do now is follow it through!

Now I've got the swing of things, and I know what my Pro Point allowance is, I have set myself the goal of losing 2 stone (24lbs) by the 24th December 2012.

I am feeling confident, supported and more importantly, determined to do it!

If you would like to join me, the rules are simple:

1)Simply post your update - I am going to  weigh in every Friday as weekends are my weakness.  That way I can over indulge and play catch up Monday-Thursday!  I would love it if you came and linked here so I can go and support you.  I think group support is a great motivation.   It would be great if you could do the same and please link up to the linky below (my first ever one!) and I will come show you some love and support as we "DO THIS" together!!  

You can also use #wwback2best on twitter and if you don't blog, but want to join in, then please just leave your update as a comment below!

Good Luck Everyone!!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

Talking Poppy Cat Soft Toy Review

With two big brothers, it is very rare that Pixie gets to choose what to watch on the television.  When she does get "troller" she loves nothing more than sitting down to watch the adventures of Poppy Cat and Friends.

Poppy is a much loved children's character, created by Lara Jones in the book series which has sold 2.5 million copies worldwide.  

It's a delightful series that really captures Pixie's attention as she watches Poppy and her friends go on all sorts of adventures.

We were sent a poppy cat talking toy to review and I just knew she was going to love it!  This retails at £9.99p and is very easy to work, you squeeze Poppy's tummy and she'll talk back to you with one of her favourite phases.  This is suitable from birth.

Consequently, Poppy has been everywhere with us, hitching a ride in Pixie's bag and cuddles at the dinner table. 

Pixie gives Poppy a 10/10.

Peace and Love


S.A.M xoxo

Silent Sunday

I'm a STAR, you hear me, a STAR!!

Did you know that Sharon from I heart Motherhood is married to a guy I used to hang around with in my teens?  Small World eh!  Anyway, we were chatting the other day as their gorgeous boy is through to the final casting call for a commercial (and it he doesn't get it, it is a travesty as he is gorge!).  I happened to mention to Sharon, that her hubby and I were in a commercial along with the rest of our mates, when we were teens.  We had a chortle and then I went onto youtube and GUESS what I found!!

Can you find me???  

Then, I uploaded this to my facebook page and ANOTHER friend then tagged me in this which was a press campaign for Chessington, also from 1991.  

The sad thing?

My hair is still the same LOL!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

Did I ever tell you about my disco cu*t?

Oh my gosh, just typing that title makes me cringe.

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't like swearing.  Ever.  Especially the "C" word which I find so offensive.  However, a recent conversation with an old friend had me in hysterics as she recalled one of my biggest and probably funniest malapropisms ever.

Back in the day, I used to do a *lot* of client presentations, working for a TV station I was always pitching to advertising agencies and clients for new business and even if I do say so myself, I was a good presenter who never practised but always winged it.

However, this is the story of why you should always ALWAYS check your work before presenting to clients.

Every year the advertising industry gets together to celebrate the great and the good in advertising at the annual media week awards.  It's a great chance to catch up (and cop off ;-) and put your glad rags on and the drinking goes on until the sun comes up.  Those were the days....

On this particular year, I had been *stupid* enough to book a meeting with the head of Singapore Airlines in the UK the morning after the awards, and despite my boss and I saying we would get an early night, we were still up drinking at 5am.

The next day dawned and we headed off to the head office of the client to give the presentation.  Our agency were also there, worse for wear and we all stank of booze.  Undeterred, I was looking forward to the presentation and hopefully walking away with millions of pounds in revenue.

I stood up, I started well and was really on good form.  Heck, I was even enjoying myself until  I noticed my boss giving it the "cut cut" sign and the agency looking aghast.  The client had a stony face and I really couldn't see what the problem was, so carried on.

I was putting together 3 different levels of investment and had copied the slide from each.  Only to realise as I got to the final proposal, that instead of writing this:

Total Cost:     £ 5 million

DISCOCUNT 10%

Offer to SA: £4.5m

Yes dear readers, all the way through my presentation I was proclaiming I had an amazing disco cunt rather than a discount to offer the client.

So, what did I do?  Did I ignore the error of my typing or did I in fact admit my mistake and make a joke out of it by spinning around saying it was a very pretty disco cunt??

I'll leave that up to you to decide!!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

Robbie and Ayda Williams have had their baby girl!

ooooh _ I do love twitter.  Just found out the news that Robbie William and Ayda Field have had their baby girl!!!  I bet she is going to be beautiful.

"PRAISE BE, IT'S THEODORA ROSE WILLIAMS..."

18 Sep 2012

Blog Author: 

Robert Williams

PRAISE BE, IT'S THEODORA ROSE WILLIAMS, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS TEDDY.....
BORN 3.33PM ON 18.9.12, 7LBS 4OZ...
BABY, MUMMY AND DADDY ARE ALL ROCKIN....

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEST WISHES

XXXX

What a beautiful name.  Let's hope that she is brought up out of the spotlight and that she is blessed with love and peace growing up.

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

My weight loss challenge - Weight Watchers

I've struggled with my weight since being diagnosed with an under active thyroid back in 2004.  Each pregnancy has made things far worse, but now, after deciding that I am having no more children and that my thyroid levels are all in check, I am thrilled to announce that I am embarking on a new challenge along with Britmums and Weightwatchers to lose weight - for good!  It's been coined the "back 2 best" challenge and I am planning on losing 24lbs (2 stone) by the end of December.  You can follow our progress on the #wwback2best on twitter or check out my blog every Friday.

The only diet I have ever been successful on was weightwatchers (back in the 90's) as I found it easy to manage and accountable.  We had a big group from work participating and it was the group support that really helped me.   I am starting this journey with 20 or so other bloggers and really looking forward to the emotional support that I can offer and can be offered back to me.  Lord knows I am going to need it when faced with a bar of chocolate!

The beauty of the challenge is that it is ALL available as an app, which, for me as a busy WAHM to 3, who is constantly on the go, BRILLIANT.  Using the "ProPoints" plan (where every food and drink has a points value) I am going to be able to track on the go, everything I am eating/drinking.  This will really help me fit MY weight loss around MY lifestyle rather than be dictated to by meetings etc.

I am planning on starting this new chapter of my life on Friday 28th September (so that gives me just over a week to buy some scales, read up on the ProPoints plan as well as get my head int he right place.

If you want to join me on this challenge, then you can also sign up for just £1 (!) and trial the app for free (subject to T+C's)  as well.   All you need to do is click on this link and leave me a comment below and I will open up a linky for a weekly link up each and every Friday so we can encourage and support each other on this journey.

I am so SO up for this challenge - are you going to join me??!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

Disclaimer: I have been provided with 6 months weightwatchers membership free of charge along with a goody hamper.  However, my opinions and words are all my own and will not influence the reviewing of this one iota!

Silent Sunday

David Walliams RATBURGER - latest book and Worldwide Premiere!

One of our favourite children's authors is David Walliams.  In fact, we have the whole collection and  my absolute favourite is   "Billionaire Boy" whereas Beansy loves "Gangsta Granny".   A few years ago, we we given "The boy in a dress"and "Stink" as a birthday present and our love affair with all things Walliams began.

The books have captured the imagination of Beansy as they are sensitively written but incredibly funny whilst still having a great story line.  

We are not the only uber fans, as each week, 20,000 copies* (source: Bookscan 2012) on average are sold in the UK alone making David Walliams one of the fastest growing children's authors in the UK.  When "Gangsta Granny" was released, it went straight to the top of the children's book charts and his books have been translated into new fewer than 25 languages worldwide.

Now that my friends, is impressive no?

This Thursday is the WORLDWIDE PREMIERE LAUNCH of his new book "Ratburger" (loving the name already) which is about an uber villian called Burt.  He will surely go down in history as one of those characters that children love to hate and I am giving YOU the chance to be one of the first people to own this book.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is this:

1) Tell me in the comments below, who is your favourite character from a David Walliams book and why. (1 entry)

If you want an extra entry, please tweet the following "I'm in it to #win it with @superamazingmum to win the new David Walliams book "ratburger" and don't forget to let me know in the comments that you have done this.

If you want yet another entry, please follow this blog and also leave a comment to say that you have done so. (1 entry)

I will draw a winner on the 30th September 2012, UK entries only please.

If you can't wait until the 30th September, then you can pre order it now from amazon.  Tickets are also available for the premiere (£8 adults and £6 children) with lots of surprises and the chance to meet David Walliams and get your book signed if you happen to be in London this thursday.

I'm taking Beansey and three of his friends on Thursday and can't wait.

Good Luck!

Peace and Love


S.A.M xoxo

Silent Sunday

SOS

My good friend Tamsyn who blogs over at  Anecdotes of a manic mum is having a really REALLY tough time at the moment.  Her husband suffered a life changing, brain injury nearly a year ago, and life for Tamsyn and her family has really changed beyond recognition.

They are currently living in Oxfordshire, about 30 minute from the OCE where Alex is a resident.  His accident has left him blind, dependent and a shadow of his former self.  His recovery is going to take years and whilst Tamsyn is accepting of that, her life of course, is one struggle after another.

Firstly, they are going to move Alex to Milton Keynes - to a centre that is not appropriate to Alex's requirements or a suitable environment for children to visit, but just as importantly, it is over an hours drive away.  Tamsyn at the moment sees Alex daily - this is something they BOTH benefit from, Alex gets strength from seeing his family, and it is the highlight of Tamsyn's day.  Moving him over an hour away will jeopardise this daily contact - how can Tamsyn be expected to do this as well as raise four children and all that entails.

Government funding at the OCE has run out for Alex, so, they have done what they can do and provided him with a bed - doesn't matter that it is in another County, just that they have "ticked the box"

Tamsyn is currently in the situation where her benefits have been stopped.  This is a travesty as she wonders how and when she is going to feed her children.  She has filled in so many forms and is at crisis point - she needs support, she needs funding and she needs a home that is adaptable for family living.  

So, what can you do to help?

Please share this blog post, RT, and let us garner as much publicity as we can.  We need to support people who really, genuinely need benefits and help.  There are children in the UK who are also living hand to mouth and we need to do all we can to support families like Tamsyn's.

Here's a video montage of Alex.

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo

Damien Hurst, Red Ted Art, Tracey Emin and ME!

Well blow me down, and knock me out with a feather.  I have *only* gone and made something "crafty".    Not only have I made something "crafty", I actually think it is bloody good (blows own trumpet - LOUDLY as still in shock that I did it).

I've always had a bit of banter with the gorgeous Maggie who is the quite simply, the uber queen of craft in my eyes, and even she has given up on encouraging me to 'have a go".  Now, don't get me wrong, I quite like sitting down with the pens and paints (colour by number, natch) and doodling.

In fact, I am a great doodler as any teacher from my old school would attest.  

What I am beyond "hopeless" at though, is anything that involves glue, and cutting and sticking.  It is all so fiddly and precise and I just don't have the patience or inclination to do any of this.    Then, when we do partake in making something, I have to sit on my hands as the kids stick willy nilly as the perfectionist in me want it to look perfect.  Conversation would go like this:

"Oh mum, doesn't this look amazing with the head upside down, and the door on the roof"

"Yes darling, it is fab, I love the way you have used your imagination, it looks brilliant" when really all I want to be saying is "WTF, the head is upside down dude and the door goes in the middle of the house, surrounded by 4 perfect sash windows NOT IN THE FREAKING ROOF!!!!"

Well you get my gist.

Anyway, I wanted to rectify this situation and do something memorable with the kids, I needed a project and so, I went to the drawing board and had a long hard think.   I came up with the following:

1) London 2012

2) Family

3) Memories

Now all I had to do was put that little lot into the cauldron and come up with something "arty".

Then I had a flash of inspiration, (after visiting an American client) and decided that I was going to turn all of that into a junk collage.  

The kids then spent the next 6 weeks filling up a huge ikea bag with anything red, white or blue that meant something to us.  We ended up with the following:

Lego

Dollies

Coke Can

Spit Fire plane

Tickets from coldplay concert/rugby event/derby/polo/olympics

Ferry crossing ticket

Ile De Re bridge pass

Shells collected from the beach

Pens

Old balloon

Broken necklace

Slinky

Home grown red chilli (please say it dries and not rots)

Candles

Marbles

Toy Gun

And tons more "stuff".

We got a box frame, a hot glue gun (thank you Maggie for that tip!) and got to work......

1) Draw your picture - we choose a flag as being so patriotic and a great year, It seemed very fitting to do

2) Get the kids to colour it in (note the tape measure, Miss OCD was measuring it all out precisely)

3) Look away whilst your youngest child "freestyles"

 4) Hot Glue Gun - be careful, a little goes a long way and I still have blisters on my fingers!  Stick on your bits........

5) Get happy clappy, slappy - no room for OCD here Mama!

6) hmmmmm - where shall I put this piece of junk?

7) Beaver togles, scissors, a broken sailor, a porsche, and my old necklace.......

8) Sit back and admire your handiwork.................or, sell to the nearest up and coming Hoxton gallery as a work of art!

Don't think my art teacher would be giving me an E for *THAT* masterpiece do you ;-)

Peace and Love

S.A.M xoxo