The Power of Blogging .... I Never Expected That

When I started out blogging back in January I did not know what to expect. I thought perhaps my blog might be a kind of journal.  Recording what we get up to as a family and something my parents and Sister might occupationally dip into.

When I set it up, I didn't really think too much about the name, the direction it might go or even about followers.  I didn't even read any other blogs before doing it myself. I certainly didn't expect to meet so many like-minded people, make new friends or that I would get to meet them at a big event called Cybermummy! This year has been truly amazing.

I definitely didn't realise how my blog would give me a voice, the power it would offer to make me heard.

Let me show you what I mean.

Two weeks ago we had some new furniture delivered.  Unfortunately it was not up to the standard we were expecting.  We contacted the company - Oak Furniture Land and after several phone calls we decided to take a full refund.  However, we were left feeling very unsatisfied with the situation. We felt as though we had been let down by the company and were still without the furniture we had saved so hard for.

Then I wrote a blog post.  You can read it here. I sent a link to it to the Company and thought nothing more of it.  I didn't write the post for a response.  I wrote it because I had various feelings that I need to vent anger, frustration, disappointment etc. I thought the company should also know about our dealings with their Customer Services team.

A few days later I had a message on Twitter and my blog post saying that someone would be in touch. Sure enough they were. The Customer Services Manager rang to say that they were aware of the blog post and deeply unhappy that we were feeling the way we were and of our situation. He told me that he needed a few days but that he and the  Head of Sales were going to look at the furniture we had received and would get back to me with a solution.

Two days later he rang back as promised and agreed with everything I said. He told me that they had seen the furniture and that it was definitely not to the right standard.  They had discovered a faulty batch and that it was on the way back to the factory with a full report.  He also told me that he recognised a training need within Customer Services and that he would put this right.

I am very happy with the way our situation has been dealt with since and would like to thank the Company for that. I managed to speak to someone sensible that has apologised for the furniture and the way we were treated.  He has now put aside some new furniture which both he and the Head of Sales have physically seen and inspected for themselves and guarantee it is of the right standard. We have also kindly been given a discount for our inconvenience. We are now just waiting for a new delivery date.

However, without my blog this would not have happened.  We would still be without furniture and the company would not have been aware of the faulty batch or the need for training.

This experience has shown me what a fantastic platform my blog is for making myself heard..... I never expected that!

Karen x

MUMenTum - Week 11

Hello again,

Wow its been 11 weeks we have been doing this for .....its amazing.  For me things have changed drastically since the start.  The main thing is I am no longer on a diet!! Thats right no more dieting for me.

I have ditched the diet and instead have been listening to my Thinking Slimmer Slimpods and have been wearing my Hotpants and guess what?  I feel great!

I even went out this week and brought a pair of little white shorts for the summer.  They were a size 12 and I slipped them on without undoing the zip or button...amazing! We still have a few weeks left before husband is on holiday so maybe I should try them on in a 10...not sure they will fit over my bottom though! I will have a think about it.

Now I am not claiming to have dropped a dress size yet but I am feeling slimmer.  I could probably safely lose another stone and believe I will but not through cutting carbs.  No I am going to continue the way I am.

Now I have been slacking on the exercise lately but managed an hour on the cross trainer yesterday and felt good.  Therefore this week my aims are:

• 1/2- 1 hour exercise 6 days a week
• Wear my hotpants
• Listen to my slimpods every night
• Continue drinking lots of water
• Continue with fruit tea 

I am a bit annoyed with myself as I seem to have misplaced my measurements again. To be honest I think little Miss is getting taller and has moved it along with £25 pounds. Anyway, I will be measuring again to record my progress too.

Hope you are all doing well too and look forward to reading all your posts.

If you are checking this out for the first time all you need is a  MUM TUM, write a post, grab the badge and add your name to the linky.  We are all very supportive and appreciate new members :-)

Karen x

SIlent Sunday

Trust Me To Test Your Toys!

Hi my name is Karen and I really really would like our family to become toy testers!

I made it to the top 25 to become a Toys R Us Toyologist but unfortunately not the top 10.  You can check out my review here:

Review of the Leapfrof Leaptop

Then I entered and won a competition to become a Toyologist for a day with Jenny aka Edspire. You can see my review here:

Tomy Aquadoodle With Animal Sounds

Here is another review I did just for fun:

Review of the Evenflo Exersaucer

I discovered recently that I have missed the opportunity to apply to review toys with the fabulous Toyjeanius and Letterbox. How frustrating! I don't understand how I missed them as I was following them both on Twitter and am on there daily. I could kick myself.

If any companies out there would like me to review toys for them I would be really happy to.  I am very keen and enthusiastic.  I also have two beautiful girls who love playing as well as being photographed and videoed which always helps. You can contact me on:

 wouldliketobeayummymummy at gmail dot com

If you happen to be a blogger just passing, who knows of companies looking then please do give me a nudge in the right direction! I just don't know how I keep missing them all.

Many thanks

Karen x

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop - Week 7

Its Saturday again and time for another blog hop.  For those of you who don't know I am on a mission to find beauty, fashion and fitness products that really work and will make us Mummy's feel that little bit yummier.

This week my fabulous finds are lush products.  I have been a huge fan of Lush since they first opened but recently I was fortunate enough to be sent some lush products to trial and review including Avobath and Sugar Scrub.

Avobath is one of the Lush bath ballistics.  At only £2.99 for 180g these really do not cost the earth and are a lovely treat for mum's at the end of the day.  This one happens to be my favourite one.  It has  a gorgeous citrus scent that is really quite delicious. 

Fresh avocados are mixed in with the fruit and lemongrass to leave your skin feeling super soft and silky. Once you have filled your bath with lots of lovely warm water, drop it in and watch it turn the water into a shimmering green pool.  Sometimes as an extra treat I like to add a few bubbles too.... heavenly!! A great product and one you will always find in my bathroom.

Even with skin as sensitive as mine these Lush ballistics are great and score a massive 10/10 from me.  There really isn't anything I would change about them.  They also do a huge variety of scents and colours so there truly is something for everyone.

The sugar scrub costs £2.65 for 100g so again not too expensive. This fab new product looks and smells pretty similar to the avobath but is very different 

"Its no nonsense stance stimulates activity and tackles cellulite with fennel and ginger. Skin calming lavender has a balancing effect. Get yourself wet in the shower or bath, but don't let the bar get under the running water or it'll be lost before it can prove itself. Scrub, scrub, scrub and rinse away. It doesn't waste any time getting down to business". 

Although I don't have cellulite I definitely liked the way my skin felt after using it.  It felt amazingly clean, smooth and fresh.  I will mention that it is quite scratchy but I quite like that...you might not.  Also its quite hard making sure it does not all disintegrate too quickly.  Try snapping a bit of and just using that bit. I would give it a score of 8/10.

So come on then ladies, what are your favourite products, tips or accessories that make you feel yummy?  Please share.  Just write a post or take a photo and add your name to the linky.  Feel free to grab my badge too.

Karen x

For the record I was sent one advobath ballistic and  one Sugar Scrub to try but all words and opinions are my own.  Watch this space too for more lush review's as I have been sent a variety of other new products to try including some for men (Husband is kindly helping out).

What If We Didn't Have Teeth?

Teething - why does it have to hurt so much? My poor little baby went to bed and woke up 40 minutes later screaming in pain.  She only ever wakes up if teething or poorly and it will be in the evening not the middle of the night.

Earlier today I noticed the amount of drool had increased significantly so guessed a few might be on their way. She has had the required amount of medicine.  She has had Ashton & Parsons and she has had the gel. When I put the gel in her mouth I could feel her top gums were bulging,  I think perhaps two might be trying to force their way down inside her mouth.

What next?  I havebeen in three times. I have given her a little cuddle, I have laid her down and ssshhh patted her bottom and she has settled for a while.  I hope that's it but don't believe it will be.  Oh and she has been wearing one of those amber teething necklaces for a week too.

Children go through all this pain to get their teeth and then they just all go and fall out!!  They then get adult teeth which are bigger...does that mean more pain?  Then when you get older they just fall out again. Its just horrible! It got me thinking what if we didn't have teeth?

Obviously we would have difficulties eating, which would be a problem. So then I started thinking what we could do instead.

Maybe we could all be born with full size adult ones which never fall out.....but then breast feeding would not be an option so I guess that wouldn't work.

Maybe we could all just get given a set by the Dentist when you get to a certain age.  Of course they would never need treating and would not fall out.  That would be fantastic!

Oh dear, she is screaming again so that's the end of my hypothetical what if's and I'm off to check her.  All teething advice welcome

Karen x

Frozen ipod had me all in a panic

Last night was a nightmare and made me wonder if I have an addictive personality.

A few weeks ago I was addicted to chocolate...like seriously addicted.  if I didn't eat it, I thought about it frequently and craved it every single day.   After listening to my Chocoholic Cure Slimpod for 8 days I was soon "cured" of this but now I am afraid I am addicted to my Slimpod's (I have drop a dress size and a chill out one too). Last night is my reasoning for questioning my behaviour.

I got into bed as usual, put my ear phones in as usual and went to listen to my Slimpods... BUT OH NO! It had frozen.  There was a Check sign on the screen. The top said "Disk Mode" and the Bottom read "OK to disconnect".

I phoned Husband at work in a bit of a state but he couldn't help me off the top off his head.  So I settled down for the night feeling a bit panicky. Two seconds later I thought I am never going to get to sleep this is going to annoy me so I turned the lamp back on again and looked it up on my phone.

I found these instructions:

To turn iPod Disk mode off:

1. Toggle the hold switch on and off
2. Press and Hold the Select and the Menu button for more than ten seconds
3. The normal selection screen should appear, your iPod is out of Disk mode.

Sounds straight forward right?....Wrong. What on earth does toggle mean? Is it wiggle, keep pressing, I was not sure.  I tried it all and it was still frozen.

Then I looked it up again and found these instructions in English:

In order to take the iPod out of Disk Mode, you will have to reset the iPod. To do this, press and hold the Center and Menu buttons together until the Apple logo appears. That should do the trick.

Phew that did it.

So panic over, I settled down happily with my Slimpod's and was fast asleep even before the end of the first one. However, I couldn't believe the way I felt when I thought I wasn't going to be able to listen to them for one night. It certainly wasn't something I was expecting.  Has any one else experienced anything like this?

Karen x