A blogging challenge gone wrong, but it’s alright

When Innocent asked if we’d like to take part in their latest campaign we said YES! Kieran especially is a huge fan of the Innocent products and thoroughly enjoyed making a spooky veg fiend in the Halloween campaign.

True to the time of year, this time around Kieran has received a fab gardening set with mini rake, fork and watering can and a selction of fab seeds which can be found in the multipacks.
The challenge was to drink the drinks, fill the empty cartons with soil, plant a seed in each and watch them grow.
Simple enough one would think, but not in our house.
Our plan was to collect up all the cartons then plant everything all at once. We wanted to have a seed race and see what came up first and which grew the fastest. We were going to keep a chart.

Then disaster struck! Daddy, forget that we had an important challenge to run recycled all the cartons.
Nooooo!
This set us back a bit but it was ok! We bought some small pots, filled them with soil, planted and popped them outside.

And then, after the mild weather we’ve had….. the frost came. I can’t blame Daddy for this one because I should have known better but am a terrible gardener. It’s been some time now and it appears that the growing race is a non-starter. Ooops!

Not to be beaten we have used some more of the vouchers we received with the gardening kit and have been supping our way through more delicious smoothies, collecting more seeds and will soon be read to replant again, indoors, away from recycling-mad Daddy’s and seed killing frost.

This might sound like  bit of a disaster but it has actually been fantastic fun! We’ve looked up the seeds online so that Kieran could see what we should be able to see when shoots start to appear and we’ve had great fun on the Innocent Kids website with all the fantastic games and features (I have developed something of an obsession with the Whack a Fruit game).

For us, so far, this challenge has been about spending time together learning about growing things, health and drinking gorgeous smoothies. Has it all gone to plan? No! However Innocent are a pretty savvy lot and they know that as long as the kids are having fun it’s all good – and we’ve been having a blast!

If you are on twitter make sure you follow the #innocentseeds hashtag to read about those with better organised greed fingers and also to find some fantastic competitions. You can collect your own seeds in every pack too so happy growing! Find out more and say hi to the garden gang on the Innocent kids website.

Dear So and So: The “Nicki is off on one” edition.

Dear Yorkshire Water.
Seriously?
You send us a letter saying our new water rates from April are slightly higher.
Ok, I can go with that though the tight cow in me is gritting her teeth.
THEN I wake up, yet again to no water!
I rang your customer services who said “we think  there is a burst pipe somewhere but haven’t found it yet”.
Really?
As a consequence the school has had to make the decision to close and although I now have water again (at last), I have extra children who have lost another day’s schooling.
We are not amused!

*****

Dear People who email me and refer to me as:
Curly&Candid
Mummy Blogger (urgh!)
Mummy (slightly creepy)
Nicholas (ok you are just taking the piss)
My name is Nicki, not Nickee, Nikki, Noo Noo or anything else.
If you pitch something and start with the correct name there is a chance I’ll keep reading.
Her who doesn’t think checking details should be overlooked.

*****

Dear People who email me to say my blog is perfect for:
Dog biscuits (I don’t have a dog)
Car care products (I don’t drive)
Items that fit people who are the the size of one of my legs (really?)
Have a quick look at the blog from time to time.
Thanks.

*****

Dear people who don’t scoop the poop.
There is a special (and rather stinky) place in hell for you.
Her who is training her kids to yell “LOOK MUMMY, THAT GROWN UP DIDN’T PICK UP THEIR DOGS POO!”.

*****

Dear 5yr old,
Please don’t chew the end of your school pencil and swallow a bit.
I got a call from the school to tell me you were ok but to inform me of what had happened.
1) This could have hurt you
2) When I see the school number on caller ID I panic
3) The conversation with the school manager (who was secretary when I was at school there!) went badly as I accidentally let slip that I am a pen chewer and somehow I now feel very naughty!
Love Mummy who doesn’t want you to chew anything but your food.

Have a good weekend all!

Dear So and So...