Shop bought baby food. Why the guilt? (Review)

When I was pregnant with Kieran (my first) I read every book, visited every forum and I knew what I had to do to ensure that I would be the perfect mum.

Looking back now, as a Mum of two I marvel at how I managed to get through a whole day without somehow getting injured due to my naivety! You very quickly learn that you only have one pair of hands, that there are only 24hrs in a day and also that your baby will not be the same as anyone else’s…. they are all individual. So, best laid plans aside, I realised it wouldn’t hurt anyone to try and make things easier on myself occasionally.

Ready made baby food *GASP*. A lazy mum’s shortcut or a life-saver? Definitely the former. Freezing veg and mushed up meats etc I didn’t find too difficult as I was cooking them anyway but breakfasts were a nightmare. Kieran lived on those powdered cereals until he was old enough for weetabix etc. Recently Plum-Baby sent me two of their breakfast pouches to try with Taylor. I love these! (As did Taylor at a guess as the contents soon disappeared). At last something different for breakfast! We tried Banana & Apricot Porridge and Prune, Peach & Baby Rice and I was impressed not only at the ease of use (ready to go in a pouch which can be resealed and popped in the fridge to finish within 2 days) but at the list of wholesome and rubbish-free ingredients. Everything is organic, there is no added salt or sugar, no bulking agents, no additives…. basically (in my humble opinion) these are just as good, if not better, than any such breakfast I could try and make by hand.

So why the guilt? Why should we feel bad because everything that passes through our child’s lips hasn’t be grown in our own garden and lovingly sieved for hours…! Never mind the books, ready made baby food isn’t the work of the devil but a convenient, tasty and healthy meal for my precious ones.

Plum baby pouches are 99p each (RRP) and available via their website and selected retailers. Catch up with them on Facebook for news and special offers and why not join the chat on Twitter?

*Plum Baby sent us some pouches to try and review. This is where their input end, all finding are those of mine and my families and based on our our experience of the product

A changing bag that goes with heels? Koochu! #review

I am the proud owner of two beautiful boys, 5yrs and 7m and on any given day when not working I can be found up to my elbows in arts and crafts and baking ingredients! I love being a Mummy! I can’t explain the fulfillment, the joy… any parent reading this will be nodding. However (there is always a “but!”), I also like being a woman!

I have been dressing in saggy jeans, saggy tops and well worn in shoes for too long now and have been on a journey of sorts to find the woman that used to reside in this body. The one with matching underwear and legs that were always shaved. Losing weight and sorting the “inner” me is being taken care of – today I’m talking about the window dressing that makes me feel like a woman!

I was sent a Koochu Catalina bag (RRP £105) to review recently. I was told it was a changing bag that doubles as a chic / grown up bag for Mum when she is out and about. A giant understatement .

The changing bag part of the bag is fantastic – it is roomy, with 9 compartments, two thermo-insulated pockets, a two piece changing mat including a soft towelling upper (both of which are washable), and has a purse which is attached (chained) to the inside of the back which I use for all the cards I “sometimes” use but that I don’t want cluttering up my purse. The exterior of the bag is faux level which is wipe clean and the inside can be completely detached (and cold washed) leaving you with a fantastic bag just for you.

I think I can safely say that as a changing back it is fantastic.

Now, as a bag for me… I love it. Whether I am popping into town shopping or going out with the girls (it happens occasionally!) it is  perfect. You see, in a normal week my activities stretch to two school runs, Tesco shopping, shopping and running errands in town. I don’t go far and with two young boys I’m not often gallavanting about the county in kitten heels but what this bag does give me is a chance to look and feel smart and fashionable every day. It doesn’t matter that my bag is filled with nappies and wipes rather than designer make-up, it still looks great, grown up and gorgeous.

I had a freebie changing bag with Kieran, it spent the majority of it’s ugly life shoved under the pram/pushchair out of sight. My Koochu is very much out and proud whether I’m out with my boys or out with the girls!

For the local lovelies that are reading, you can view the Catalina and other Koochu bags in the exclusive North East store, W H Watts. Visit them online or pop along to see these products “in the flesh” at 114 – 118 Parliament Road, Middlesbrough.

To view the full range and get a sneaky peak of the Autumn/Winter range visit the main Koochu website, visit them on Facebook for new and offers and say hello on Twitter.

* I received a back from Koochu to keep in exchange for a review. This is where Koochu’s input ends. My review is based on my own findings after using the Catalina bag over a period of time.