Sunday 30 August 2015

Product Review: Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat

http://www.summerinfant.com
Archie was recently bought the Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat to use when we are at his Grandparents. I felt like I had to review it on here because I was so impressed with it!

When we were at my Husband's parents last weekend we were looking at getting a Bumbo for Archie to have at his Grandparents. He has gotten to the stage where he hates to lie down and it would come in useful when we start weaning him in a couple of months. Plus having a seat at Archie's grandparents meant we wouldn't have to take the one we have back and forth (taking up boot space).

We were keen to get one that weekend. However, I couldn't find anywhere local that had a good deal on Bumbos. I didn't want to pay more that £25-£30, which you can get a Bumbo for when they are on offer (which they often are).

As we couldn't find a decent priced Bumbo I started looking at alternatives. The Mamas and Papas Snug looked good, but was more expensive and didn't have any local places with it in stock.

A search on Argos bought up the Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat and we decided to buy it.


On bringing it home it was really easy to assemble and we immediately placed Archie in it. He loves it! The great thing about this seat is that the tray on the front rotas 360 degrees and it has a tray area for feeding and a tray area with toys on.

I really like that it is so much more than just a seat, it is interactive with the toys and it has really encouraged Archie to start playing.

In addition to the toys and tray that it comes with it also has great safety features. It has a harness to strap in the baby and a harness to secure it to a seat (so it becomes a booster seat). It also has a "lip" around the base which gives it extra stability. Making it less like to topple over if the baby leans, an issue that has become obvious with the Bumbo (something I discovered online when searching for details on Bumbos).
The seat is made of materials easy to clean/wipe down.

It also has an orange insert that comes out for when your baby gets bigger, meaning it will last a lot longer than the popular Bumbo.

Also, although I am sure it isn't recommended by the manufacturer we used it to wash Archie (I wouldn't advise it either, it is just a way we are happy to use it). My Husbands parent's house doesn't have a bath, which has become an issue now Archie is too big to wash in the sink. But we can place him in the Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat in the shower and wash him using the shower head.

We do have a Bumbo at our own house, that someone has kindly let us borrow and it is a good product. But if we hadn't been lent the Bumbo then I would be getting a Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat over a Bumbo.

Argos currently has it on offer at £29.99.

Here is a link the Summer Infant website: http://www.summerinfant.com

Friday 28 August 2015

Slugs & Snails: Tights for Boys

http://www.slugsandsnails.ie/
You may have noticed I am a big fan of baby leggings for my little boy. I find them so much easier to put on/take off during a nappy change... and a lot of the brands I love last longer than most age ranges. Usually the sizes come in 6 month and 1 year age ranges (so longer than most 3 month age ranges you find in baby clothes). I believe this is because of stretchy materials they use.

I also find that leggings are often in bright colours and make lovely baby clothes. 

While on a recent wander into one of my favourite baby stores in Sheffield, b.biscuit (link to their website here) I came across some tights they sell, by Slugs & Snails.

Well, I am now in love with these tights!

When I looked into the company it seems that it was started by a couple that needed tights for their own little boy during cold Irish winters. But they struggled to find designs suitable for a little boy. They now sell unisex tights and their bright designs really are suitable for boys and girls.

I couldnt resist getting a pair. So now Archie is sporting the "Hoot" design with cute owls all over the tights.


They also have other designs that I think are beautiful and bright...
http://www.slugsandsnails.ie/
Some of the designs include penguins, jigsaw puzzles, mushrooms and an autumn themed one with squirrels and acorns on.

I really like the autumn themed tights and definitely want to buy a set of penguin tights for Christmas!

I love the quality and they have non-slip wording on the feet which will be useful for older babies that are starting to walk/are walking.

Here is a link to the Slugs & Snails website: http://www.slugsandsnails.ie/

Babies first hotel break!

It is my last week of maternity leave so the Hubby and I decided to make the most of it and enjoy some family time. As well as visiting family we booked a 1 night stay in North Wales, returning to a hotel we really enjoyed before becoming parents: Ruthin Castle.

I was a bit apprehensive about staying in a hotel with a 3 month old baby. Although Archie is overall a good baby I was conscious about managing any fussy moments he had, midnight feeds and eating in a restaurant with a small baby (he is still too small for a highchair).

I needn't have been worried. Archie was very well behaved and the hotel were amazing.

Castle Grounds & Peacocks
The Hotel & Rooms
The hotel itself is steeped in history, with a castle being recorded on the site in 1277. The grounds are just beautiful and we always enjoy lazing around on the terrace while the peacocks wander around us. We have visited three times now, every time in the summer, and have been lucky enough to always get good weather. So we always take a few hours to relax in the grounds, walking around or enjoying a cream tea or drink on the Terrace.

The rooms are designed in keeping with the history of the castle, with a lovely mix of old and modern. On this occasion we stayed in a Castle Room but on previous stays we upgraded to a Suite. Our personal favourite out of the rooms we have stayed in is the Suite in the "tower" over looking the gardens... I can't remember the name, but I think it was the Patsy or Jennie Suite.

In addition to the above, the beds are all amazingly comfortable and we always get a good nights sleep.

Staying with a Baby
The hotel were great about us staying with a baby. When I called to book I made sure that it would be okay to bring Archie and take him to dinner as well. I did tell them he was a good baby, which he quickly proved me wrong about by screaming as we checked in (luckily he was good for the rest of the stay). The lady I booked with even said if we needed any help while having dinner to let them know. I thought this was a lovely gesture.

We also decided to request a cot in the room, to save on boot space, and they had that all nicely set up for him. It was comfortable and when I booked they made sure to place us in a room that could comfortably accommodate a cot.

At dinner we took Archie with us, we dined in their Bertie's Restaurant, and all the staff were great about us having a baby with us. As he isn't big enough for a high chair we took him in his car seat. The relaxed setting, with gentle music and lighting was perfect for putting Archie to sleep. So we managed to enjoy a meal while Archie slept. One of only 2 meals since he was born that I have been able to eat without having to interrupt the meal with mum duties.

Archie was also a big fan of bath time in the large roll top bath!

Cream Tea on the Terrace, Baby Cot & Dinner
The Food
We always really enjoy eating at the Bertie's Restaurant at the hotel. The food is lovely, I really enjoyed my goats cheese and asparagus starter on this occasion. But what really makes this restaurant great is how attentive the staff are, the perfect mix of friendly and professional.

Things To Do
The hotel is perfectly located for visiting lots of local attractions but we always like to go north and spend some time by the seaside. About 40 minutes away are some of the best Welsh beaches; Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Gwynedd. On this occasion we spent time on Llandudno beach to dip Archie's toes in the sea... Needless to say he wasn't a big fan of paddling in the sea.

The hotel also has a spa on site, which I have used in the past, but I didn't get a chance to use this time. I am hoping that on future visits that I can sneak a massage while the Hubby is on "baby duty".

I am so glad we had a short break away as a family before I return to work, and staying at Ruthin Castle has put my mind at ease about hotel breaks with a baby!

Here is a link to Ruthin Castle's website: http://www.ruthincastle.co.uk/

This is not a sponsored post.

Sunday 23 August 2015

Afternoon Tea Giveaway

I am pleased to announce the Afternoon Tea giveaway at the Hidden Gem Cafe is Kimberley Hill.

I am sure you will enjoy this delicious treat.

More giveaways coming soon. :)

Friday 21 August 2015

DEAL!!! Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo

I have been trawling the internet for deals on the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo lately. I am really keen to get one for my baby.

Anyway I found this deal for the Jumperoo at Asda. Only £60!

http://www.fisher-price.com
Here is a link to the Jumperoo on the Asda website: http://direct.asda.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Jumperoo/000765046,default,pd.html

I havent seen a better price anywhere else.

There is also the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo Spacesaver version for sale in Boots for £41.49 (again the cheapest I have seen anywhere): http://www.boots.com/en/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Spacesaver-Jumperoo_1567166/

http://www.fisher-price.com
However, I personally want the larger model from Asda for 3 reasons. I read on reviews that the spacesaver doesnt bounce as well, the toys are further away from the seat and harder for babies to reach and lastly the larger model has a higher back rest (good for head support).

Childcare Vouchers

I have recently been sorting out childcare for my baby, for when I return to work, and I found the childcare voucher scheme a bit confusing. I thought it might help others if I blogged about some of the information I found...

Firstly, I think it is important that you know that the childcare voucher scheme is ending in 2017. Exact date to be confirmed still. When I started looking into childcare vouchers earlier this year they were due to finish this autumn, however the government have had to extend the scheme while they work out details of the new scheme that is replacing it.
The new scheme is called Tax Free Childcare, more details can be found about it here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-vouchers#changes

One important thing I learnt about this change is that some families will be worse off on the new scheme.

On the current, childcare vouchers scheme you can apply for a maximum of £243 per parent per month. Most companies offering childcare vouchers offer it on a salary sacrafice basis and you get tax benefits via the childcare vouchers. To put it as simply as possible: if one parent applies for £230 of childcare vouchers per month (and is on Basic Rate Tax) it gets deducted from their wage, but you only see a £130 difference in your wage due to tax benefits. You save around £100.

These figures aren't exact but are close to the actual figures.

On the new scheme it basically works out as every 80p you put in, the government will give you 20p of childcare. So if you had to pay £230 in childcare per month (like above) the government would pay £46 of that. You would essential pay £184.

I have based these figures on online information and my own requirements and experience with childcare vouchers.

As you can see, in this instance you would be worse of on the new scheme.

If you aren't on basic rate tax then the savings are different. It is worth checking out full details on the MoneySavingExpert website: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-vouchers#changes

The good news I discovered is that if you get onto the scheme before 2017 you can remain on it until the child is 15 years of age, as long as you remain with the same employer.

In summary, when it comes to the change in 2017, work out which scheme will be best for you. If it is the childcare vouchers scheme make sure you get on it before the new scheme comes into place.

In addition to the above it is worthwhile considering which parent's wage is best to run the voucher scheme by. For instance, when I return to work I will be going back part time and my wage will be lower, to the point that I wont pay much tax (as I will be close the threshold). If I paid for the vouchers out of my wage then we wouldn't see much saving/tax benefit, as I wont be paying enough in tax. However, my husband is on basic rate and earning enough to pay enough tax to make the vouchers worthwhile via his wage.

If your company doesn't currently run the voucher scheme it is worth encouraging them to start doing it. It offers the employer savings on your NI. If your employer is reluctant to do the scheme it is often worth mentioning that they save as well.

When your employer runs the childcare voucher scheme they will use a "supplier", like Kiddicare. Your employer pays this company the amount of childcare vouchers you want every month. This company will then either send you the vouchers or debit an online account with the amount so you can pay your chosen childcare provider.

From what I read the online system can be more beneficial as the "online vouchers" on your account dont have an expiry date, whereas the "paper vouchers" have to be used within a year.

When I say the childcare voucher company, like Kiddicare, debit your online account it isnt like a bank account. You can only use this amount to pay the childcare voucher.

In order to pay your childcare supplier online you will need to get their account number with that specific childcare voucher company.

Lastly, if you are returning to work part time and will be earning less than £10,600 a year you can transfer some of your tax free allowance to your partner (you have to be married I believe). You can register to do this here: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance. I think the saving is around £212 to your partners wage, it may not be thousands, but it all helps. :)

I hope this helps anyone looking into childcare vouchers. This only covers a few points, mainly ones that I came across while exploring childcare costs.

Thursday 20 August 2015

My Top 5 Mum Wish List

I had big plans to write up a top 5 mum wish list for the blog a couple of days ago but I just couldn't muster the energy and to be completely honest there was only 1 thing I wanted... sleep!

I would just love to curl up with a cuppa and a good book and have a full nights sleep. I miss "me" time.

This fills me with so much guilt. It doesn't detract from how much I love my baby but every single task requires so much concentration and energy at the moment, because I am so tired.

Someone asked me the other day if I was wearing eye shadow... I wasn't. I replied that that was just the natural shade of parenting... AKA sleepless nights and exhaustion.
At least I can make bags under my eyes look like makeup?!

I wanted to start this blog post with some honesty about how tiring and hard being a Mum can sometimes be.

Nothing fills you with such joy and love, while at the same time making you so tired you could cry!

In that spirit, I wanted to resume writing my top 5 wish list, but I decided it wouldn't centre so much about "mumsy" things, or items for my son. I wanted a bit of indulgence, thinking about me and what I wanted at the moment.

Fitbit
www.fitbit.com/uk
I am desperate for a Fitbit. When I was in France someone was telling me about them. They sound like a great idea to monitor your walking, exercise and calorie burning. I am 3 months postpartum now and really need to start working on getting my pregnancy belly down. I know that I am not "moving" enough at the moment. I want to become more active again and this seems like the perfect motivation (and activity tracker). Plus it comes in pink! And I am so ready to get into pink again. Everything seems to be blue at the moment (due to having a boy).

Fly London Boots
I am ready to get into Autumn now and with that I can indulge in my love of boots!!! I can't get enough of them in Autumn and Winter. A few years ago I had a set of red suede Fly London boots, they were my pride and joy. Sadly they got ruined in Budapest, due to the snow. They went so well with everything and looked great with jeans. I am keen to get another pair over the next couple of months.

Link to boots on Amazon (image from Amazon).




Date Night
My son is now 3 months old so I feel ready to try a night out with my Hubby, just the two of us. I would love to go back to my favourite Sheffield restaurant. We love Vito's restaurant in Walkey (link to their website). It has the most delicious steaks, locally sourced. The owner is a lovely Italian gentleman and he makes the most amazing Italian food. I can't recommend this place enough!

Maggs London Make Up Bag - (http://www.maggslondon.co.uk/)
http://www.maggslondon.co.uk/
I love the Maggs London make up bags by Hannah Maggs, especially the one called "Grayson", after her son. It has animals on it and I feel that getting it would be a nod to my own life as a Mum to a little boy. I feel like it is time for me to rediscover make up as the past 3 months have mostly been about survival with a new baby (and not a lot of effort has gone into looking good). I keep hinting to my Husband that I would like this for Christmas, but I might not be able to wait that long. :)

Teething Jewellery - (http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/)

http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/

Okay, so this item is for me and my baby.
My son is definitely teething at the moment, he chews on his fist with the desperation of a chocoholic eating a Snickers bar! Everything is going in his mouth too!
I love the teething jewellery from Smart Mom Jewelry. These pieces of jewellery are safe for your baby to chew on as they are teething.
Plus they look beautiful.
I really like the idea that there is something you can wear that they can safely grab hold of, play with and chew on.
I especially like this Lapis Lazuli Donut Shaped Pendant.


This is not a sponsored post.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Expectation Verses Reality of Parenting...


Being a Mum hasn't really been what I expected. I don't mean that in a bad way. But my expectations before I had my son compared to the reality are very different.

Here are my top 8 expectations verses reality parenting thoughts...

Expectation: My pregnancy belly will go down really quickly.
Reality: Hahahahaha (that is my now self laughing at my pre-birth self). Enough said.

Expectation: I am going to take my baby to so many things: baby massage, baby sensory, swim classes...
Reality: At £120 a course for each of those, how about you pick one?! How do Mums, on maternity pay, manage to pay for all these classes and courses?! Not to mention, getting ready and out the house for a 10am class can sometimes seem like they are expecting miracles!

Expectation: Babies only cry when they want something. I will always pick up my son when he cries, and immediately.
Reality: My son has already learnt the art of manipulation. He cries just because he hasn't been played with in the past 5 minutes and wants more attention, he stops the moment he is picked up.
The reality is that Mummy needs a shower, she smells after you pee'd and puked on her. So Mummy is gonna have to let you cry for just 2 minutes while she has the quickest shower of her life!

Expectation: I will be really chilled about everything...
Reality: Me now... Is he breathing? Is he eating enough? Is he breathing? Is he eating too much? Is he breathing? His feet are too cold, lets put on some socks? Is he breathing? His feet feel too hot now, lets take the socks off? Is he breathing? 

Expectation: I will sterilise the dummy every time it falls out his mouth!
Reality: Oh bugger... he dropped the dummy onto his play mat again, for the 20th time this afternoon! Sod it, I will just suck on it and then give it back to him...

Expectation: I will sleep when the baby sleeps.
Reality: Slap (that is current me slapping my pre-birth self, for being so delusional!) You barely ever get to sleep when the baby sleeps. You use that time to do the mountain of housework or just basics... like eating!

Expectation: I am going to be really together with everything. I will be out and about everyday, looking my best and being an all around great Mum.
Reality: It is 4pm. We haven't left the house all day, both me and the baby are still in our PJs. The curtains are closed  and we are watching Disney films. I had a chocolate bar for lunch. We had to have a shared bath after my baby attempted to do a surrealist painting with his poo, on his changing mat.

Expectation: I will be realistic about my baby. I will never utter the words "he is so advance for his age"... It is unlikely he will be a baby genius.
Reality: "OMG... He is so advance... Look at his head control. So advance. He rolls over already. I am teaching him to count in 4 different languages. I swear he almost said Hello. He is so handsome. I think he will look like Brad Pitt when he is older..." (admittedly I only do this in front of my Hubby as I know I sound ridiculous, but I just cant help it).

Gift "Haul"

I love sharing the great baby clothes and items I buy on my blog, especially if I am happy with them and they are good quality. But I thought it would be nice to share some of the items that my baby has received lately, as gifts.

Some of the items are lovely and I know are well priced, so I thought I would do a gift "haul" blog post.

He has received some beautiful items from Next lately. Including this handsome occassion set which he recently wore to a family get together:


The little waist coat and bow tie is adorable! It is perfect for the end of summer and autumn, plus a great outfit for any special occasions! (This is still on their website).

He also got these beautiful sets from Marks and Spencer lately...



The sets he got had 3 long sleeve tops, a cardigan and 2 legging style trousers. I love them because they are so soft and have remained really soft, and cuddly, after washing. They are a decent size too. I am finding that some 3-6 months clothes are small and he wont be in them long. However, these clothes have got a lot of room in them still (he is just 3 months). I couldn't see these sets on their website anymore, but they have similar ones and the cardigan is still available (website link).
The clothes are thick and soft, but don't overheat him so they are ideal for autumn!

He also got these lovely tops from Morrison's Nutmeg collection. They were given to him buy one of his doting Grandparents, and I know they are really well priced at only a few pounds each:


The yellow, long sleeve top is so soft!

I couldn't resist mentioning this adorable item too...


He recently got given this flat cap from the Jasper Conran collection from Debenhams. I call it his Yorkshire lad look! (Here is a link to the cap on the Debenhams website).

And lastly, when we were in France he managed to woo some lovely French locals and they bought him this winter jacket for when he is 1 year old.


This beautiful, and generous gift was from a shop in France but I managed to find the Ikks (the brand) website (link here), which has similar coats on it.
I cant wait to go back to Les Gets in winter and cuddle him up in this coat, while showing him how to make snowmen. 

That sums up some of the lovely items Archie received lately. Thank you everyone, he loves his gifts.

Monday 17 August 2015

GIVEAWAY: Afternoon Tea @ The Hidden Gem Cafe

You may have seen my recent blog about the Hidden Gem Cafe in Sheffield... If you haven't it is worth checking it out (click here).

Since I really enjoyed the experience I have teamed up with the Hidden Gem Cafe to giveaway a Cream Tea for 2!

Check out these pictures of the tempting treats...


The Cream Tea for Two includes:
  • Scones, Jam and Clotted Cream
  • Selection of patisseries
  • Sandwich selection (for 2)
  • English Breakfast Tea
All you have to do to get your hands on this giveaway is do one of the following three things:
  • "Like" the Mama Lucy facebook page (click here to go to the page) then comment and share the post about the Afternoon Tea giveaway (really important you comment).
  • Or go to the @mamalucyuk Twitter page and retweet one of the tweets about the competition (click here to go the page)
  • Or comment on this blog post below.
You can visit the Hidden Gem Cafe website here: http://hiddengemcafe.co.uk/
And follow them on Twitter @hiddengemcafe1

The winner will be announced next week (on the blog, twitter and facebook). Good luck everyone!

Thank you to the Hidden Gem Cafe.

Teething... Just... ARGH!

I gave myself a break from blogging this weekend.

For two main reasons; firstly I am exhausted.

I know I have mentioned being tired a few times, sorry to be repetitive. But my goodness, 3 months of not one full nights sleep is seriously effecting me now. I have coined the term "mummy-zombie" in our house to accurately sum up how I feel at the moment.
Sadly being tired from night feeds does not mean I sleep at night. I just can't seem to get back to sleep after feeding Archie at night. My nights are filled by watching trashy TV programmes on Netflix instead of sleeping.

And secondly I have a teething baby. I had no idea how upsetting and hard it becomes when they start teething. This has meant that Archie is sleeping much worse as well, and is generally grumpy and very fussy. To the extent I am wondering where my delightful baby has gone.

I do feel so sorry for him though, it is obvious that he is really distressed. I have been offering him a teething ring and have given him the occasional calpol doses when he has been very upset. But today I plan on taking myself off to Boots and throwing anything in the basket that will help him during this time.

If anyone has any tips on surviving teething then please let me know. :)

Dolittle Dumplings Coat Giveaway: Winner

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Dolittle Dumplings coat giveaway is Karlie Thompson.

I hope you and your little one enjoy the prize!

Thank you to everyone who entered! As always I wish I could give everyone a prize, all my readers and followers are so lovely!

I do have more giveaways coming up so keep reading the blog for updates. And check out the giveaway page on the blog for the current giveaway!

Have a lovely day,
Mama Lucy x

Friday 14 August 2015

Chicco Next2Me Crib: Review


I am going to hold my hands up and admit that I am probably a neurotic Mum! I think I get this from my Mum though...

I vaguely recall one occasion, when I was little, where I had tripped and landed face down on my nose. Pale liquid came out of my nose afterwards, which I now realise was probably just runny snot (sorry for the description), but my Mum was worried and stated it was probably my brains coming out my nose and took me to A&E.

Anyway, back to me being a neurotic parent. One thing I have been neurotic about is my baby's sleeping arrangements. My baby has pretty much outgrown his Cocoonababy (which I did a full review on here). I love the Cocoonababy, it has been magic for my baby's sleep and I am really sad he has outgrown it. I can put him in it and he will always fall asleep and get a good rest. He doesnt like going onto his back, flat sadly.

In addition to him sleeping well in the Cocoonababy it has meant that he has been able to sleep in bed next to me, while in the Cocoonababy. As it is raised and he is "strapped in" he has been able to be right next to me as my partner has been sleeping in the spare room (my poor husband was starting to fall asleep at his work desk due to night time feeds interrupting our sleep, so being a good wife I let him sleep in the spare room).

I have loved having my baby right next to me, safely in his Cocoonababy. But now that he has outgrown it I don't want to just co-sleep with him. I would be worried about the dangers without the "safer" option the Cocoonababy offers. But I don't feel ready to have him move to his large cot, further away from me.

I blame Google. You Google good baby sleeping practices and suddenly you are reading statistics about SIDs (and if you are like me, panicking!). I once Googled babies hiccuping in the womb (as Archie did that a lot inside me) and suddenly I was reading about how it was a sign of a knotted umbilical cord and I should consult my midwife ASAP... needless to say this wasn't the case but the hiccup/Google incident made me very upset.

But because of this, I was a bit desperate to have a way of having Archie stay closer to me, for a little longer. Luckily, I have a fellow Mummy friend who has lent me the use of her Chicco Next2Me Crib. Firstly, just a big thank you to that fellow Mum... and secondly, I am now one happy Mum thanks to the Chicco Next2Me.

Admittedly I have been eyeing the Chicco Next2Me since before Archie was born but we already had the Chicco Lullaby Travel Cot for downstairs, the Cocoonbaby and a Alma Bloom Mini Crib... I couldn't justify another £100+ for the Chicco Next2Me.

But borrowing it has been amazing, and so much appreciated. For those of you that aren't aware the Chicco Next2Me is a crib that allows a safer form of co-sleeping (well it is technically called side-sleeping).

The side of the crib comes down and the crib secures to your bed so that you can have the baby right next to you. But you aren't able to roll onto the baby and the slight "lip" in height difference between the bed and the crib means that baby is unlikely to roll onto your bed.

Having my son right there, in plain sight is so comforting. I have literally fallen asleep holding his little hand. It offers me peace of mind until he is that little bit older.
http://www.chicco.co.uk
On a practical note it is so easy to assemble, it took us only a few minutes. It could also be used as a travel cot as it packs away to a decent, transportable size. The side does come down but it is also secure if placed up (as if it was a normal crib).

The mattress doesnt feel too hard, just right, whereas I have found the Chicco Lullaby Travel Cot mattress does feel too hard (to the extent I think my son is finding it harder to sleep in during the day, as it is his downstairs/daytime cot).

A lot of the fabric fixtures for the Chicco Next2Me seem to be removable so they can be washed, this is important when your baby seems to be performing a scene from the Exorcist in his nappy!

And although I don't breastfeed myself I have heard that it is very useful to have for that, as you are able to feed in a sleeping position with the Chicco Next2Me.

Overall, I am really impressed with the Chicco Next2Me and am so grateful to have something which means he is still close to me during the night. I would highly recommend it.

This is not a sponsored post.

My "skincare routine"...

Before I gave birth, during the first month of my maternity leave, I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos. I really like following "vlogging celebrities", especially ones focused on families (such as The Michalaks, Mrs Meldrum and the SacconeJolys).

In fact, I attribute much of my education on parenting to these vlogs. They were a lot of fun to watch during the boring days of waiting for my baby to arrive. My favourite has to be The Michalaks, they have an adorable little boy and watching them raise their son gave me some confidence that I would manage when my own son came along.

In addition to vlogging about parenting a lot of the Mums in these vlogs look gorgeous all the time and sometimes put up videos about their make up and skincare routines! I am not sure how they manage it. I am still at that stage where getting a 5 minute shower during the day is a miracle... How does my baby know the exact minute I enter the shower and decide to wake up and start crying?! (I think he has a sixth sense about these things).

So when I am rushing just to have a shower other time consuming "luxuries" such as make up and skincare routines have gone out the window. In fact, the words "moisturising routine" seem like some sort of cruel taunt when said out loud... and my make up bag remains unused and unloved since I bought it back from the hospital. (I didn't bother putting make up on after I gave birth, in the hospital, either... there was not enough make up in the world to make me feel/look good after 35 hours of labour and a C section).

After I gave birth my skin became very dry especially on my face and neck... Yep, that pregnancy glow went a lot quicker than my pregnancy belly! Combine that with a general lack of time and my skin did not look good. However, I can happily report it is looking loads better now... A lot less "The Mummy Returns".

So like many of these lovely Mums online I wanted to share my current moisturising regime.

Here it is:


Yep, all I do is lather on a dollop of Johnson's Baby Lotion. :)

I am being ironic of course, but at the same time deadly serious. This has really worked for me!

I am unlucky enough to have combination skin, patches of dry skin mixed with oily skin. I have found that Johnson's Baby Lotion gets rid of the dry patches on my face but also doesn't over moisturise the "oily" T section on my face.

So for now, this is my moisturising/skin care routine. I am hoping that someday soon I can return to my proper routine, which I use The Body Shop's Vitamin E range for. But from what I have heard that day may coincide with my son leaving for University?!

Thursday 13 August 2015

Getting all poetic over babies first autumn/winter...

Is anyone else excited about autumn coming?! There was the slightest chill in the air this morning and it made me all nostalgic for the colder, coming seasons.

I love autumn and winter! Both seasons just fill me with wonder and excitement... Here come the cliches...

Leaves turning different warm colours and falling, bonfire nights at local parks, warm stews and soups, hearty pies and desserts, Halloween and pumpkins, Christmas, snow and so much more!

I know summer isn't even over yet, but September is coming and with it the promise of all the perks of autumn and winter.

I feel that these seasons are when Britain really comes into its own and offers its best! Forget 30C summer days, give me cold fresh winter day with a Sunday roast any day.

I can't wait to fire up this bad boy again and get the Christmas scented Yankee candles out!


Don't even get me started on the Christmas markets! In December I am happiest with a bratwurst in a bun and mulled wine while viewing handmade gifts in German style markets!

And now I am a Mum it comes with even more excitement; autumnal strolls in the park with the pram, babies first Christmas and I plan on taking Archie to bonfire night (but I will be buying him a pair of baby noise cancelling headphones)... I truly can't wait to share all these experiences with him!

These seasons, this year, are also going to coincide with Archie weaning... I can't wait to make pumpkin soup for him and homemade focaccia bread over Halloween! That sounds way more middle class than I am, I just find focaccia bread is harder to ruin! :)

And once it gets to Christmas Archie will be old enough to sit in a highchair and try some form of Christmas dinner.

So while I will enjoy that last days of summer I am also anxiously awaiting the day the first autumn leaf falls!

Amazing Giveaway: A DoLittle Dumplings Coat!

I am beyond excited about this giveaway!

I have teamed up with DoLittle Dumplings, the makers and purveyors of beautiful, colourful items for babies and young children. Based in Oxfordshire they sell all over the UK, offering unique and colourful patterned clothing! Have a look at some of the gorgeous items they sell (picture to the left).

You can also see more details on their Facebook page (click here).

We are giving away one of their beautiful reversible coats! This giveaway is great because you get to pick the design/size you want!


The winner will be able to pick the coat that suits the little person in their life! Sizes available are up to 3 years old!

Take a look at some of the coats they have available (see photo above).

This is the kind of giveaway where the item you win will be really special! Selected by you!

The winner will be offered options of the fabrics and sizes (up to 3 years old) available from DoLittle Dumplings and then the coat will be posted to them.

The winner will be selected next week and announced on the blog, Facebook and Twitter!

All you have to do to win this item is do one of the following:
Go to the Mama Lucy page (click here), then share and comment on the post about this giveaway. (Make sure to do both so that you are entered into the draw). 
Or retweet the post on Twitter about the giveaway (@mamalucyuk). 
Or comment on this post on the blog!

A big thank you to Dolittle Dumplings for this amazing prize!

Maybe Baby

This post does include language and descriptions that relate to conceiving, so if you don't want to read about that then don't read it. (I mean that in the nicest possible way).

I am feeling a bit anxious about posting this blog as I have parents that read my blog, but I decided to post it as the objective of my blog is to help others and I am hoping this information will be helpful. So... if you are related to me, please perhaps skip it?! Unless you want to read it of course.
If this post helps one person conceive then it is worth it.

Being a Mum is a journey that starts months before you actually give birth. For many parents I believe it starts the moment you decide to try for a baby.

After spending 3 years wearing my husband down to agree to try for a baby he finally agreed last summer. My husband is a very sensible, cautious man so insisted we waited for the right time financially.

Anyway, last summer he finally gave in to my biggest wish to start a family, and with that go ahead we began trying and so began the first stage of parenthood!

I think, very often, this first part is overlooked by women until they have gone through it. I was blissfully ignorant before trying to have a baby about how this stage can be an emotional roller coaster and at times difficult.

I started by lying to myself saying that I knew these things would take time and I would be relaxed about it... That I wouldn't get into the science too much and just let it happen naturally. However, despite all my laissez faire statements, I secretly expected to fall pregnant on the first month and was very emotional when my period came along the first month of trying.

We were lucky, we fell pregnant after about 4 months trying, but as each month passed with no positive pregnancy test I was getting more disappointed and much more detailed about my ovulation (the "science" of conception as I call it). In fact, I recall one PMS, hormone induced rant after getting another negative where I miserably informed my husband we were probably infertile and we couldn't have a baby... I realise now this was mean, stupid and totally based on being so up tight and emotional about conceiving!

While I doubt many women get to that level of craziness about conceiving, I do think many women become very desperate during this stage as the months start to go by without getting pregnant.

This part of motherhood is hard! So I wanted to share some of what I learnt for anyone trying to conceive.

Firstly, and most importantly you need to know the science behind it! I had no idea that a woman is only fertile and able to get pregnant 3 or 4 days out of the month! This was news to me... How do so many women end up pregnant by accident when we are only fertile/ovulating 10% of any month?!

I was discussing this with a fellow mummy and we agreed they don't cover this enough in biology at school. Though I appreciate they want to avoid pregnancies while you are at school, they don't prepare you or provide enough knowledge for reproduction as an adult.

For information on "the science" behind conceiving try this website: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/ovulation

Because you can only get pregnant during such a short time frame you need to know when you are ovulating! If you want results quickly I strongly believe you need to know when you are fertile every month. Knowing this is very important if your objective is to get pregnant quickly. You might skip a week when you don't feel like being intimate and completely miss the only 3 days you can get pregnant. Sperm does live inside your uterus for a week or 2 after sex but statistically speaking the best chance you have is by having sex during your 3 days of ovulation!

You can know when your ovulating by using handy ovulation kits, calculating your ovulation period (using handy online ovulation calculators such as this one here) and by looking out for signs from your body, which include:
  • changes in your cervical mucus (sorry to be graphic, but it is what it is).
  • feeling sexy (ovulation is when you are most fertile so your body natural makes you want to reproduce)
  • ache in your belly (some women can feel when they are ovulating)
You need to know your body when you are trying for a baby. I got pregnant on a month I ovulated earlier than expected. I could tell that I was ovulating by knowing the signs/changes my body went through.

I also really recommend ovulation tests, the best I found was Clearblue.

In addition to this everywhere says to stay calm as stress negatively effects fertility. Easier said than done! But I believe it really makes a difference as I fell pregnant around the time I went on holiday. A lot of glossy magazines suggest a "babymoon" - a holiday where you try to conceive. Taking your mind off it with a holiday could perhaps help?

You also need to get your body ready, taking prenatal vitamins is always a good idea. And I read that exercise and a good diet help too. I even made my husband take tablets designed for men when trying to conceive (as I read it is important the man has good levels of certain vitamins for reproduction, such as zinc).

Lastly be aware that saliva and lubricants can be harmful to concieving, so to increase your chances of getting pregnant it is best to buy a conception friendly lubricant (if you use them) and avoid oral sex.
Here is a link to a lubricant designed to help conception (in other words it isn't harmful to sperm) called Conceive Plus.

And lastly know that these things can take time but if you really want this as quickly as possible be honest with yourself from the start and give in to the "science"... whip out that ovulation kit if you really want to! Part of me feels like there is a lot of pressure for us women to be "cool" about conception (and wanting a baby). That we can't really admit how much we want a baby out loud, even sometimes to our own partners. But I feel strongly that if you get into the "science" from the start that it can really help get the positive result a little sooner.

I hope this helps anyone trying to conceive, and good luck. :)

Wednesday 12 August 2015

My holiday clothing must have!

http://www.next.co.uk
I know I have mentioned a few times about my post pregnancy recovery... Sorry to harp on about it but it is such a big part of postpartum and being a new Mum!

I am still not back to my pre-pregnancy weight and body... I am a realist though and am going to do it in my own time.

So when it came to packing clothes for myself for France I realised a lot of things didn't fit me. My pre-pregnancy clothes were that bit too tight still and my maternity wear was too big... I managed to scramble together a mixture of clothes but I did treat myself to some new shorts for those hotter holiday days...

I really struggled to find a pair of non maternity shorts that would look good on my postpartum tummy and hips and that I was happy with... in the end I gave up and bought a pair of maternity shorts from Next. I wanted to share them on here because they were perfect!

Any other postpartum Mums might be interested in them for holidays and those last few days of British summer.

These shorts look like "normal" (not maternity) shorts but they have these expandable panels on the side. Perfect if your tummy is still not completely flat after giving birth!

They are adjustable too, so you can tighten them as your tummy goes down and the jean fabric was so comfortable!

I really felt good in these shorts and they went with lots of different shoes and tops! I wore them for hiking as well. They were a must for my holiday!

Here is a link to the shorts on the Next website: http://www.next.co.uk/g73410s6#674376g62

This is not a sponsored post.

Smoking Hot!

Smoke in Sheffield: "Polished, industrial-chic restaurant with barrel tables, serving US-style ribs, steak and burgers."


I always love sharing places I have enjoyed visiting and one place I went to recently was Smoke in Sheffield.

It is a great place for a meet up with other Mums... Or "Mummy dates" as I like to call them... Because they offer delicious food in a relaxed setting, and are also very understanding about when a group of Mums take over an area with their prams (which is always important to me as I feel my pram is the size of a baby mammoth).

The food is the kind of American style burgers and meats that is popular these days... With a good twist. I had a burger (perfectly cooked) with twice cooked chips! Delicious!

I really liked the atmosphere and the waitress was friendly. They also have really nice touches; they give you BBQ flavoured popcorn as a free table nibble while you wait and the drinks are served in funky glasses!

I will be honest, I did feel their Banoffee pie wasn't as good as mine (still good though)... But I am very picky about my desserts (and maybe a little bias)! :)

Definitely a place I would recommend, especially for a city centre, family friendly place to have a good meal.

Here is a link to their website: http://smokebbq.co.uk/
(Check out the Man Vs Food Challenge... Wow).

Good food, good wine & good views...


I have finally arrived back from my long weekend in France and wanted to share my trip on here. I had such a great time and feel really refreshed. I got back yesterday and thought to myself that this is the first week that I feel like my body is recovering from the birth of my baby!

The place I went is called Les Gets and is in the French Alps (about an hours drive from Geneva). It is higher than Snowdonia and is a location that is great for hiking, parapente and mountain biking in summer and in winter it becomes a great destination for skiing/snowboarding. It is a perfect destination for families because of all the activities available... In both the summer and winter seasons! One I would definitely recommend.

It offers the ideal combination of French wine, cheeses, fresh baguettes and croissants, fresh mountain air, tap water that is basically Evian, beautiful views, family activities and welcoming locals!

Just a sample of the delicious food we enjoyed...
I also think that nothing beats a long mountain walk with a stop at one of the mountain chalet restaurants for a plat du jour! I think you can really enjoy crepes, croissants and wine without any calorie induced guilt if you have spent 3 hours walking up a mountain!

I really felt great during the walks as well... My exercise has been so limited since my C section but walking is something I can do without straining myself too much... And when the weather is this glorious and the views are this beautiful you forget that you are working off that morning pain au chocolat!

What amazing views?!
On a random note we have discovered that Archie loves French, whenever someone speaks it to him he gets the biggest grin on his face (without fail). He also managed to woo many of the locals and people celebrating with us, to the extent he got several gifts off people (including a beautiful ski jacket for when he is one).

If you like the look of Les Gets here is some practical information:

The main reason for the trip was to attend a family celebration so I stayed with family but the summer rates at the hotels are really reasonable (a quick check I did for a Sunday was between £50-£100 per night for many of the local hotels).

You can catch a transfer from Geneva airport using Alpy Bus (http://www.alpybus.com/home) for around €20 one way.

The fresh baguettes and croissants from local bakeries for breakfast are a must!

Activities such as swimming in the lake, parapente and hiking are all available, and there is also great local towns to visit (such as Morzine and Chamomix).
Plus some of the hikes you can do around Les Gets offer views of Mont Blanc as you walk!

There is a local market selling delicious French delicacies on Thursdays, and having a lunch of the plat du jour in one of the local restaurants offer amazing French food for great value!

Monday 10 August 2015

Amazing Giveaway: A DoLittle Dumplings Coat!

I am beyond excited about this giveaway!

I have teamed up with DoLittle Dumplings, the makers and purveyors of beautiful, colourful items for babies and young children. Based in Oxfordshire they sell all over the UK, offering unique and colourful patterned clothing! Have a look at some of the gorgeous items they sell (picture to the left).

You can also see more details on their Facebook page (click here).

We are giving away one of their beautiful reversible coats! This giveaway is great because you get to pick the design/size you want!

The winner will be able to pick the coat that suits the little person in their life! Sizes available are up to 3 years old!

Take a look at some of the coats they have available (see photo above).

This is the kind of giveaway where the item you win will be really special! Selected by you!

The winner will be offered options of the fabrics and sizes (up to 3 years old) available from DoLittle Dumplings and then the coat will be posted to them.

The winner will be selected next week and announced on the blog, Facebook and Twitter!

All you have to do to win this item is do one of the following:
Go to the Mama Lucy page (click here), then share and comment on the post about this giveaway. (Make sure to do both so that you are entered into the draw). 
Or retweet the post on Twitter about the giveaway (@mamalucyuk). 
Or comment on this post on the blog!

A big thank you to Dolittle Dumplings for this amazing prize! 

Be back soon...


I have really missed my daily blogging while I have been on holiday!

But I am back tomorrow and this holiday has inspired me with lots of new ideas for blogging... I have had a chance to use several baby related items on holiday as well which I am keen to write all about (and review).

So this is a short post just to say I will be back soon!

And in the meantime... check out the giveaway about to go live in 2 minutes! :)

Friday 7 August 2015

Review: Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine


If aliens invaded my house and said I could only take one thing with me I probably wouldn't take my husband... As long as they returned him after probing him I would sacrifice him and take my Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine instead!

Because as a bottle feeding Mummy this machine is currently the Romeo to my Juliet... I am in love with this machine. If it could do the dishes I might even let the aliens take my husband permanently.

After struggling with breastfeeding I made the decision to formula/bottle feed my son. I needed to do something that made me feel like I had some control over everything that comes with being a new Mummy. I was recovering from a C Section, my husband's paternity leave was ending and after a couple of weeks of painful attempts at breastfeeding I moved exclusively to formula.

During this time a friend who was also bottle feeding referred me to the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine... This machine cuts out so much of the hassle that comes with bottle feeding.

For those of you that aren't currently aware, when you prepare a bottle these days you need to boil the kettle and then wait up to 30 minutes for the water to cool before pouring it, adding the formal etc etc...

This 30 minute wait can be the most heart wrenching and painful time as it often means your baby is screaming for a feed. Let's be honest, unless you are a mind reader most Mummies don't know exactly when their baby will wake and/or want a feed. As as you aren't meant to prepare formula bottles in advance these days it basically means a potential 30 minute wait between baby waking and when the bottle would be ready... Thus a screaming baby is highly likely, because most babies aren't reasonable when hungry!

But with the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine it makes a bottle in less than a minute! It was the answer to my prayers... Basically, it puts a shot of boiling water into a bottle, which you add formula to (the boiling water kills any bacteria in the formula) and then it tops up the mixture with filtered cool water. Resulting in sterile formula at the right temperature for a baby, meaning you can give the bottle to them immediately (and within a minute of starting the whole process).

This machine can literally be salvation during night time feeds as well. Avoiding that potential 30 minute wait at night can literally be the difference between you being able to function (somewhat) and going crazy. Especially in that first month when sleep can become a distant memory.

It is an expensive piece of equipment but I know I am going to get lots of use out of it, you can also buy it from several places, including Mothercare and they price match. Or you can buy it from Very and spread the payments over 3 instalments.

My only complaint is that it can be quite loud when making the bottles, in the words of my husband it woke him up when I did night time feeds... Saying this to a sleep deprived Mummy might not be the best idea (as he found out). But it's okay because he will get his comeuppance when the aliens come...

I haven't been asked to review this item, all opinions are my own and this isn't a sponsored post. 

Originally posted on 15/7/15

Thursday 6 August 2015

Train Drama


I am currently writing this on the flight out to Geneva, Archie's first flight!

He has been a little gem... Not one crying fit or baby tantrum. Well... Yet. There is still 1 hour left on the flight.

The hardest part has been the other aspects of travelling.

The major drama of the morning has been the train journey. I was travelling via train to the airport. Anyway, my poor husband was helping me on the train with all my bags, baby and pram when the train started moving... He wasn't meant to be on it! It wasn't going to stop for another 40 minutes either, and he get another train back then...

I felt so guilty!

But on the bright my husband got to be part of Archie's first train ride.

It has been such a long day for a flight that is only an hour and a half. But I have learnt a lot about travelling with a baby.

Firstly I would avoid trains when you need your husband to help you board... Or travel very light so you don't need assistance getting on! :) They don't expect you to book a seat for a baby but if you can purchase the extra seat the extra space is very useful!

If you can avoid taking a pram I would. Getting around the airport was difficult! You have to use the lifts instead of the stairs and it is a constant battle for space! Not to mention Easyjet were not very helpful... There was only stairs to the boarding gate (so we had to fold up the pram and take it all down stairs). No one was around up assist us. They didn't seem to be aware we had a pram to put in the hold as we boarded and no one told us where to collect it after departing from the plane. Apparently you need to collect it from Special Luggage?! I never knew that...

It was also more time consuming getting through security with a pram. Longer queues that moved slower.

So if you can get away with travelling with just a baby carrier then I would.

Always change your baby before boarding the flight.

Definitely feed them a bottle during take off. Archie was absolutely fine on take off because of this (the change in air pressure didn't effect him at all).

Make sure you have everything you need out of your bag before the plans sets off. Including milk in a bottle ready to go.

Take more milk and bottles than you think you will need in your cabin luggage in case of emergencies.

And lastly always travel with someone. Luckily I was travelling with family but I wouldn't have been able to cope on my own (for my first travelling experience with a baby).

Things I wish I had known before having a C Section! 10 Top Tips & Advice!

One of the hardest parts of having a baby has been having to have a C section during the birth of my son. I was in labour for 35 hours and that was a walk in the park compared to how I felt the first couple of weeks after having a C section!

If anyone is having or has had to have a C section I wanted to share some tips because I could have really used a few when recovering.

One: Get extra DVT socks!
If you have had a C section you will have to wear DVT socks for 6 weeks after the operation. This is important for your health of course but they are a real pain. They were only going to give me one pair when I was leaving, ask for another pair! You will have to wear them day and night for 6 weeks so a spare pair is essential!

Two: Injections!
In addition to wearing DVT socks you will also be given injections to take home (and administer at home) to thin your blood and avoid DVT. Be prepared for this. If you don't like needles be aware you will have to get someone else to inject you for about 5-6 days after the C section.

Three: Be careful walking downstairs!
I slipped down the stairs 3 times within 3 weeks because of the DVT socks. Be very, very careful!

Four: Accept help and don't push yourself!
This may sound obvious but I pushed myself too hard after the C section and my scar didn't heal as quickly as it should have done. Accept your limitations and accept help! In fact, if you need help just ask. We got family to stay with us after my son's birth because I really needed all the help I could get. If your partner can take the full 2 weeks paternity leave I would encourage you to make sure he does. I wouldn't have been able to cope without that help for the few couple of weeks.

Five: Delayed Milk
If you have a C section your milk can be delayed coming in. In case you aren't aware your milk takes a few days to come through usually, in the meantime you produce colostrum which is excellent for babies. However, your milk can be delayed coming in, mine took 7 days (instead of the usual 3 or 4). Bare in mind that this may cause your breasts to hurt even more, as your baby is sucking but not getting much in the way of colostrum (it is thick and doesn't flow as freely as milk, there isn't as much of it as milk either). I had complications with breastfeeding due to this, which I wrote about here. If this happens to you, try not to stress about it as stress makes things worse (when it comes to breastfeeding).

Six: Hearing Test
In hospital they will try and perform a hearing test on your newborn. Often babies born via C section still have mucus in their ears (from being in the womb) and it means they can't get a reading. Don't worry, they will give it a week to clear and ask you to come back to do the test again. This was the case with my son, he went back and his hearing test was all clear the next time.

Seven: Mucus
In addition to mucus in the hears babies can sometimes cough up or sick up mucus too (in the first couple of days) due to having been born via C section. Just be aware of this and if they sick it up make sure they aren't on their back so they can get it out.

Eight: Belly Flap
I really hate the term "belly flap" but I discovered it after having a C section. When you have a C section you often get a flabby, postpartum tummy that takes time to go down. It can sometimes cover your scar (as the skin below your scar is tighter than that above it), causing a "flap" over the scar. Your scar needs air to heal so this "belly flap" can be bad for recovery. One thing I found helped was having swabs to pack into the scar area... and of course encourage air to get the scar as much as possible. I know this isn't a subject that most people will like reading about but this is the reality of a C section. I want it to be helpful rather than gloss over a major part of the recovery of a C section.

Nine: Cabin Fever
Your recovery will be longer than normal and you will be very sore afterwards. But if you can, try and get out. Even for a coffee where you drive to the cafe. Getting a bit of sunlight and coffee a couple of days afterwards made me feel human again. Of course, my husband had to push the pram, carry the baby etc. But when we went out for coffee it was amazing to get out.

Ten: Be Realistic!
I am going to be honest, your body isn't going to look great after a C section and it will feel even worse. I felt a lot of pressure to get my postpartum tummy down quickly but in reality you are not able to exercise for a while (I am 11 weeks postpartum and I still have occasional aches around my scar when I push myself). It is going to take longer to recover your body shape after a C section. You are not going to look like the Duchess of Cambridge, who after just 3 weeks was skinny again! Be prepared that the recovery of a C section can be a longer process than normal birth. I have stopped fretting too much about my body shape and started focusing on being happy and healthy for my son. The rest will come with time.

If you have had or are going to have a C section then I hope you have a speedy recovery. If anyone has an questions please feel free to contact me.