christmas advent calendar issue

baby buzz

Christmas Advent CalendarSpecial Issue

B75 Telford RoadNew Southgate

LondonN11 2RL

Company No: 8234631

Nickie [email protected]

0208 361 072707944 240 321

Cindy Evans

Jenny Blyth

Emily Hewett, I am [email protected]

Dean Baxter, [email protected]

The views expressed in this magazine are not alwaysthose of the publishers. Neither the publisher nor any

other person associated with the production andpublication of this magazine makes any guarantee,

warranties or claims as to the accuracy of any of thecontents of this magazine. We include and useproducts and services that we believe to be of a

reputable standard but we advise readers to make theirown judgements. The publishers and magazine will not

be held accountable and or responsible for any losscaused by errors, loss or negligence resulting from

Baby Buzz Magazine Limited. We do not acceptresponsibility for any unsolicited material or

photographs published. Terms and Conditions for ourcompetitions can be found on our website at the time of

being published. No section of this magazine isauthorised for use or reproduction in any form without

the prior consent of the editor.

No purchase is necessary. All prizes must be acceptedas offered. For products that have been reviewed andthen given away as part of a competition giveaway, it

must be noted that there will be minimal wear and tearto that said product. All prize details and prices arecorrect at time of going to print. Winners shall be

notified by email after the closing date with a deliverydate to be agreed.

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Hi everyone,

I don’t know about you but I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet. Aswith many other people, money is tight this year but nevertheless, I’m aiming tomake it a great and memorable one for my family.In this issue, we have a fantastic Advent Calendar full of amazing prizes to give awayeach day in the run up to Christmas. Simply answer the questions and email us youranswers to be with a chance to win. We also have a fun and easy mince pie recipeso that the kids can get involved with the preparations for Christmas, as well as athe usual reviews of fantastic products new to the market. Hopefully you will allhave read the November/December issue which had extensive gift guides withsomething for every budget whilst staying away from the usual high street optionsthat seem to be advertised everywhere!

I know that this time of year can be a very hard time for some, but amidst all therushing around, present buying and wrapping and hours spent in the kitchen, don’tforget to take a moment to just enjoy spending time with your family, friends andloved ones.

Finally, I wish all my readers a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nickie xx

Welcome to the World xx

Name:Albert Cornelisus Murray

D.O.B: 15�� October 2013

Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz

Parents:Steve & Joanne Murray

Name:Leia Mary Devereaux

D.O.B: 23�� November 2013

Weight: 5 lbs 12 oz

Parents:Sam & Georgie Devereaux

Handwoven & hand-dyed with a satin label

Available in Pink, Blue or your own colourchoice, perhaps Birthstone Colour? Providedwith its own presentation box. £17.50 each,

which includes delivery

www.JustWoolTextiles.co.uk

Scarves for Adults & Children as well asBlankets also handwoven

The Big Chill…

Dear Joanne

My kids are 5 and 7 andfrom about midOctober they taketurns in getting coldsuntil about March. Itstarts just as a snottynose which goes on forages and then doeseventually develop intoa cough. This goes incycles and eventuallyboth me and myhusband also get ill.We seem to have spent

the last few years in a constant state of ill!

We eat really well and I'm always cleaning so I can't understandwhy! Is there anyway which herbs could help?ThanksSue ________________________________________________

Hi Sue

I sympathise, it's no fun at all and snot is a default setting formany people in the winter. Some of my fave kitchen remediesare honey, lemon and grated ginger in hot water, raw garlic,thyme tea and a fab onion syrup.

To make the syrup, layer slices of onions and raw unrefined sugarin a jar, seal the jar and leave overnight. Strain off the liquid anddrink! I'm also a fan of inhalations and use a plug-in diffuserwhich is designed for children, I really find them helpful for adultsblocked, stuffy noses too.

Herbally speaking, I would look at Echinacea; I sell the liquid andthe tablets and can give high doses which really help if you're ina stream of getting ill all the time. I'd also give some lovely teaswith elderflower, lime flowers and yarrow which help to blowaway a fever and support the healing of the delicate mucousmembranes.

I could go on and on about this for ages as there is so much wecan do! Please feel free to drop me a line to discuss further orto purchase some Echinacea or teas!

Let me know how you get on.

Joanne [email protected] and www.jmherbalist.co.uk

Your questions and answers when it comes to fighting Colds!

We recently attended the launch of a fantastic new hair salon aimed at just children called Sharkeys. What you might not realiseis that they also have the party room of all party rooms on the lower ground floor! Should you wish to treat your little one to anextra special birthday full of glamour and want your little one to be treated like a star then this is the place to go.

So what does every little girl want, well to be pampered of course!

If you do choose to have a Birthday Party at Sharkeys, each girl will be pampered with a pretty hairstyle, very basic make-upapplication and a mini-cure. When they are all ready to go, they can choose from the array of beautiful dress up clothes and puton a fashion show of their own (pictures will be taken too!)

The party includes:use of the glamour room for 2 hours, hair styling, mini-cures & basic make-up, fashion show and pictures, in-house music,

birthday girl can bring her own music, invitations and balloons, selection of hot and cold food and drinks, party bags (optional)and recorded video of party (optional) £40.

For more information, please contact: 77 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, London, NW8 0AEPhone: 020 7625 2680 | Facebook: SharkeyscutsforkidsUK | Email: [email protected]

Last year whilst I was pregnant with my 4�� baby I got sucked into oneof those Channel 4 documentary’s, this particular one was called ‘Howto be a good mother’. And on this documentary the presenter met witha woman who had consumed her own placenta!!

My initially reaction as I spat my honey nut cornflakes across the room(my craving) was utter disgust, and I questioned “how could you?” Ithen started to ask “why would you?” I had previously booked a doulato support me through my pregnancy and birth (google doula, everylabouring mother should have one) and had mentioned the programmeto her, with a disgusted, confused look on my face, but as it turned outmy Essex doula was also the only placenta specialist working withinEssex. We discussed the benefits of placenta consumption in lengthand I was becoming more and more accepting of the idea, but stillstruggled with the image of frying it up with some fava beans and a niceChianti and then came the clincher…….you can have your placentaencapsulated!!

Just an innocent looking capsule fully loaded with everything your bodyneeds for recovery after your birth. Why else do you think every othermammal on the planet eats theirs, gets up and walks back out into thewild ready to take on the world? Unfortunately for us educatedmammals that are surrounded by science and medicine manufacturerswho push all their remedies grown within laboratories using syntheticingredients, we have become accustomed to the pharmacy being thefirst port of call. We have lost site of the fact that our bodies are madeto birth and offer us the essentials for recovery after the birth. We havejust evolved too much to deem is acceptable.

“Recent scientific research has shown that placenta is a rich healingagent for the body and contains potent amounts, over 128, rich growthfactors. Also found in potent supply in the placenta are stem cells, the

medical miracle of the 20th century. This combination provides the mostunique form of cellular healing and repair. Placenta growth factors havebeen found to have anti-inflammatory properties, improve regulationof the autonomous system, improvement of blood circulation, woundtissue healing, inhibition of protease, enhancement of nerve generation,balancing multiple hormone levels, immune boosting, analgesic effectand improvement of intestinal environment” -(MFIII Human PlacentaInjection,2009). How offensive could a capsule be? It was a completeno brainer and from that point in I was a convert. Less than 24 hoursafter my birth I was chugging down what was to become my happy pillsand never looked back.

My blood loss only lasted a few days rather than weeks, my milkproduction was in overdrive, my hormones were so stable that therewere no baby blues, day 3 came and went without me even noticing it,my energy levels never seemed to waiver and the most impressive thingwas the dream like state I was in for the whole time that I was takingthem.

I was so impressed by the smoothness and speed of my recovery thatI made the decision to train to become a placenta specialist myself sothat I could spread the word and help other mothers understand thatit’s not just for hippy types or cannibals, it’s not some weird cult or onlyfor extremists. I am a normal everyday modern mum who just wanteda bit of extra support in my recovery, I don’t live in a commune and Iwash my hair every other day, I have a Bugaboo and I use Amberteething bracelets on my baby, I am new age meets high-street.

My training is now all completed (with IPEN independent placentaencapsulation network) and I have, alongside my colleague (and fellowdoula) set up Essex Placenta, we offer encapsulation alongside tinctures,balms, creams, essences and homeopathic remedies to help aid motherswith their natural recoveries.

www.essexplacenta.co.uk

By Lauren Derrett

Silk Glorious AnticipationDress - £139.00

Happy Dress - £95.00 Perfect Ways Poncho -£98.00

Timothy Cheeky Monkey -£29.50

Personalised AromatherapyCandle - £39.95

Hello Mum, Hello BabyWelcome Set - £39.95

Pink Blossom Eye Mask -£46.00 Baby Hugs Necklace -

£120.00Mama Mia Red Changing Bag

- £255.00

December 1st

On the 1�� Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A) a partridge in a pear treeB) two turtle dovesC) three french horns

For your chance to win all of these fantasticprizes, just answer this simple question:

Prizes included today:

1. Nativity Advent Calendar, Tesco2. Lumilove Savanoo Lion, Pabobo3. A Sweetshop Jar, Hope and Greenwood

Email your answers to: [email protected]

Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 1�� December.

1

2

3

December 2nd

Which of these is not one of Santa’s reindeer?

A) PrancerB) RudolfC) Sherman

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, justanswer this simple question:


1. Newborn Bundle with gLotus and gVeggie, gNappies


Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 2ⁿ� December.

December 3rd

Where does Father Christmaslive:

A) South PoleB) North PoleC) Seychelles

For your chance to win all of these fantastic prizes, justanswer this simple question:


1. Basketball Hoop, Chad Valley2. Princess Ball Pit, Chad Valley3. Mix Colour PlayBalls, Chad Valley4. A Sweetshop Jar, Hope and Greenwood



December 4th

For your chance to win thesefantastic prizes, just answer thissimple question:

What is the name of Santa’s wife ?

A) GoldilocksB) Mrs ClausC) Julie




1. Stokke Bag Special Edition Shoulder Bag 6. Metanium Barrier Cream2. Theraline Plushy Moon 7. 2 x Mumlins3. Clare Byam-Cook - What to Expect when You’re breast-feeding 8. Magic Mitten4. Lansinoh, 60 Ultra thin Nursing Pads 9. Aquaint Cleansing Water5. Babycup Little Cups

December 5th


1. Power Rangers Deluxe Gosei Morpher, Bandai Toys2. Power Rangers figurines x 2, Bandai Toys3. Harumika Style Studio, Bandai Toys

What do Santa’s reindeer eat?

A) Burger & ChipsB) CarrotsC) Chicken Chow Mein

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, justanswer this simple question:



December 6thFor your chance to win these fantasticprizes, just answer this simple question:

What goes on top of a Christmas Tree?

A) A CabbageB) A Christmas FairyC) A Pair of Mittens


1. Baby Knits from around the World, Kari Cornell2. Knitting Kit, ButtonBag3. Fairies Fridge Magnets, Supercast4. Knitted Blue Baby Shoes Kit, Crafty Nana5. 2 x Easy Fun Cardboard and Colouring Models6. Two Fluffy Fabric Bunnies, ButtonBag



Which of these plants is traditionallyconnected with Christmas?

A) DaisyB) TulipsC) Poinsettia


1. Tommee Tippee Limited Edition Bottle Set2. Milton Portable Soother Steriliser3. Teething Bugs4. Halo & Horns Moisturiser5. Metanium Barrier Ointment6. Finger Puppers7. Soft Rattle

Please state upon entering whether you would like the“girl” or “boy” themed prize.

December 7thFor your chance to win either ababy girl gift set or a baby boygift set, just answer this simplequestion:



December 8thFor your chance to win these fantastic prizes,just answer this simple question:

.What date is Christmas Eve?

A) 31�� JulyB) 24�� DecemberC) 1�� January




1. Power Rangers Deluxe Gosei Morpher, Bandai Toys3. Harumika Living Room, Bandai Toys

December 9th

For your chance to win thesefantastic prizes, just answer thissimple question:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, whenall through the house, not a creaturewas stirring not even a ……………………

A) ElephantB) MouseC) Cat




1. Baby Bouncer, Chad Valley

December 10thFor your chance to win one of two fantastic prizes,just answer this simple question:

Santa has a naughty and nice list, how many timesdoes he check it?

A) One Hundred TimesB) TwiceC) Once




1. Plushe Wheely Bug2. Ladybird Ride & Roll

December 11thFor your chance to win these fantastic games, justanswer this simple question:

Who makes the toys that Santa delivers?

A) Toys R UsB) ElvesC) Harrods


1. PLYT Board, Game2. Hotel Tycoon Board Game



December12th


What is traditionally put into a Christmas Pudding?

A) A WatchB) A Pair of DiceC) A Coin




1. Cbeebies, Family Ticket to Wembley2. Lego Duplo, Places (2-5 years)3. Mini Meccano Set4. BigJigs Rail Wooden Train, 3+5. Twig, Puzzle Blocks6. Set of plushey Blue Nose Friends7. Wooden Abacus, Kiddicare8. Wooden Building Blocks, Buzzing Brains9. Sports YoYo, 5+

December 13th


According to the song, how many days of Christmas arethere?

A) TwentyB) TwelveC) Two




1. Funky Giraffes, Set of 7 Christmas Bibs2. Funky Giraffe Hat3. Babasling, Neutral Colour4. BabyKokos Tutu (image shown may not represent the tutu available)


December 14th




1. Gnappies mini bundle with gpants (large)2. Thermomenter Set3. Inch Blue Monkey Gift Set (0 - 6 months)

What do most people eat for Christmas lunch in theUK?

A) PizzaB) Fish & ChipsC) Roast Turkey



What colour is Santa’s belt?

A) PurpleB) BlackC) Yellow


1. Bumper Book Collection (Orion Books & Assorted)2. Spineless Classics - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory3. Action CD for Children

December 15thFor your chance to win these fantastic prizes, justanswer this simple question:



Where does the tree in London’s Trafalgar Square come from?

A) ChinaB) NorwayC) America


1. Ben 10 Transformer2. Badge It Game3. Ben 10 Figurines x 2

December 16th




When are Christmas tree’s traditionally taken down?

A) 14�� FebruaryB) 25�� DecemberC) 6�� January


1. Playmat, Chad Valley2. Bambino Bundle3. Sanamama Carrier

December 17th



1. 3 x Vertbaudet Storage Boxes2. Barefoot SOS Set3. Noroclear Hygiene Set4. Digital Thermometer Kit5. Stocking Fillers

December 18th



Do male or female reindeergrow antlers?

A) MaleB) FemaleC) Both

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question:



What are you supposed to do under Mistletoe at Christmas?

A) Tickle someone under itB) Kick someone under itC) Kiss someone under it


1. Perilla Luxury Gift Set for mummy and child2. Qube Knitted scarf and socks

December 19thFor your chance to win these fantastic prizes, justanswer this simple question:

December 20th

The name mistletoe comes fromthe Anglo Saxons, but what doesit mean?

A) Christmas on a twigB) Kiss on a twigC) Dung on a twig

For your chance to win thisincredible prize, just answer thissimple question:


1. SmarTrike (please choose from green, purple, red, blue or pink).



December 21st

How many wise men were there?

A) SevenB) TenC) Three

For your chance to win this incredible prize, justanswer this simple question:




1. Tractor Ted DVD, Book, Duvet Set and Water Bottle2. Selection of Lottie Dolls


1. Salter Scales2. Tommee Tippee Steriliser3. Cheeky Wipes Washable Baby Wipes Kit4. Peepo Pregnancy Calendar & Keepsake Set5. Aden & Anais Swaddling Wrap6. Elastalabo Kit7. NoroClear8. Metanium Barrier Ointment9. Mumlin Set10. Selection of Books

December 22ndFor your chance to win this incredible mama-to-beprize, just answer this simple question:


Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 22ⁿ� December.

Which of the following ‘Misters’ is not due to appear atCBeebies Live! The Big Band?

A: Mr TumbleB: Mr TC: Mister Maker

December 23rdFor your chance to win this incredible prize, justanswer this simple question:

What date is Boxing Day?

A) 24�� DecemberB) 25�� DecemberC) 26�� December




1. Shnuggle Moses Basket2. Jumbo Playmat, Kiddicare3. Aden & Anais Swaddling Wraps

December 24thFor your chance to win this incredible prize, justanswer this simple question:

What fruit is used to make atraditional Christingle?

A) PearB) MelonC) Orange




1. Beaba Bumper Collection of mixer and rice cooker attachment, storage pots2. Organix Food Christmas Collection

December 25thFor your chance to win this incredible bumper prize,just answer this simple question:

What colour was Rudolf the Reindeers’ nose?

A) GreenB) PinkC) Red




1. Joovy Ergo Caboose (Wine / Burgundy Colour)2. Pacapod Changing Bag3. TallTape Height Chart4. Reindeer Soft Toy, Babes with Babies5. Reindeer Towelling, Cuddledry6. BornFree Baby Bottles Set

The following pages are dedicatedto the amazing companies that

contributed to this months‘Advent Calendar’ Issue.

Tesco have a wide range of Christmas accessories to get your home ready for the festiveseason. One of the many items in the Christmas Range is this beautiful Nativity Advent justwaiting for you to fill with goodies for your children, whether it be a chocolate or a small toy.So whether its indoor or outdoor, tree or table decorations, Tesco have something to suit allyour requirements at great value.

To view the fantastic products available, please visit: www.tesco.com/direct

BabaSlings Ltd is delighted to announce thattheBabaSling®Classic will be available in some exciting newcolours for 2013. Keen to give parents an even greaterchoice when it comes to picking their ideal sling, the brandhave developed the Classic collection in line with trends forthe New Year.

Having heard that the colour experts, Pantone, haverecently announced that Emerald is the colour of the 2013,BabaSling Ltd are especially excited to be launching theBabaSling® Classic in a new green tone ‘Teal Green’. Inaddition to this, they’ve also selected a beautiful Aqua Blueto complement their extensive range of colourful carriers.These bright and fun shades will look great on both Mumand Dad and will certainly ensure they are bang on trend!Another popular trend at present is the emergence ofneutral tones, which are sure to be big this year, soBabaSlings Ltd is very pleased that Misty Rose is the othercolour joining the Classic collection. The subtle pink is idealfor anyone looking for a simple and elegant sling. What’smore exciting, the brand have also decided to furtherdevelop their Organic sling and are very pleased to announcetwo new shades; Pebble and Berry, the perfect solution forthose parents looking for an eco-friendly sling with a touchof colour. theBabaSling® Organic is made from 100% organiccotton and offers the same benefits as the rest of their range.

Babywearing is not only convenient for busy parents on thego; it’s a great way to bond with baby. theBabaSling® allowsMum and Dad to ‘wear’ their little one in five differentpositions from birth to two years. It’s easy for Mum tobreastfeed discreetly whilst out and about, and gives Dad agreat opportunity to keep baby close.

theBabaSling® Classic is ideal for everyday use and it can beeasily adjusted depending on the adult using it. Babywearingis a great way to keep little ones engaged with the naturalrhythms of everyday life and if they fall asleep it’s easy tounclip the buckle and gently lay them down without wakingthem up. BabaSlings Ltd understand daily life with a littleone can be messy, so all their slings can be washed at 40degrees, making it easy to keep those beautiful colours cleanand sparkly!

Daniel Lucas, Managing Director of BabaSlings Ltdcommented ‘We were keen to introduce some new coloursfor 2013, and as we’d had such interest in our Organic slingwe felt it was important to offer a little more variety. ThePebble and Berry fit very well with the natural feel of theOrganic.”

Brighten up your babywearing wardrobe with theBabaSling®!

A colourful way to carry baby!www.thebabasling.com

RRP: Classic £39.99/ Organic: £44.99

Bandai was founded in 1950 by the late Naoharu Yamashina under the name of Bandai-ya. Bandai be a companywhich, in his words, makes toys that please people of all generations, irrespective of the times, a firm that will developand grow for ever and ever. Bandai UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the third largest toy company in the world, Bandai Co. Ltd.Established in the UK in 1982, Bandai UK has grown to be the master toy licensee of some of the most popularproperties in children's toys and entertainment, including Power Rangers, Pokémon, Ben 10, Digimon, Gundam,Thunderbirds and original products including Badge It! and the worldwide phenomenon Tamagotchi.

Creating Diverse Businesses and Services by Capitalising on Characters’ AppealThe Bandai Group makes the most of its extensive line up of characters, and offers appealing products and services ina wide range of fields including video game software, apparel, confectionary, visual content, amusement machines andprizes, mobile phone network content, and course, toys – a field in which we have a long history. We not only turncharacters into products, but also launch these products in a timely fashion, in close association with TV and othermedia. It is our challenge to create new businesses by forecasting the needs of the times, and at the same time. Promotethe appeal of characters in a multifaceted manner, so as to further reinforce our management foundation.

There is an extensive range of toys available for boys and girls and cover every price bracket! Visit the website formore details.

WWW.BANDAI.CO.UK

The Barefoot StoryOur brand name was inspired by the ancient Chinese traditionof doctors who travelled from village to village without shoes,dispensing natural remedies. Developed by natural healthcareexperts, our range of Barefoot SOS products is specificallyformulated to bring together the science of skincare with thenatural power of botanical extracts.

The secret to our success lies in our unique advancedformulations. Our carefully crafted blends combine the bestof cutting-edge science with a thousand years of herbalwisdom. Using only the finest natural ingredients, which havebeen hand-picked by experts to deliver high performance withpowerful therapeutic benefits.

The 'Save Our Skin' Brand PromiseAt Barefoot, we pride ourselves on being the experts incombining the highest quality blend of naturally pureingredients and active botanical extracts to bring the mosteffective results to challenged or uncomfortable skin.

· Our products are free from harsh syntheticchemicals, including paraffin, parabens, SLS, as wellas artificial colours, fragrances and animalingredients.

· We formulate our products to be as gentle aspossible, ensuring they are suitable for all ages.

www.barefoot-sos.com

Editors Note: Baby Buzz readers have reviewed a large range of the Barefoot SOS products and theresponses have been amazing! A fantastic product highly recommended by us!

www.plyt.co.ukA fantastic new board game that actually helps maths, I can’t believe I said that. For us Maths has always been a complicated subject butit’s unbelievable how this game has made it that much more enjoyable and dare I say it, FUN! PLYT is a fast paced numeracy game for allages from 4 upwards. It’s easy to play, loads of fun and allows players of different ages and abilities to compete against each other at thesame time, making it a great game for family and friends. Even better it helps improve numeracy skills for all players – the more you playthe better you get! So what do you have to do? PLYT is about challenging yourself to correctly multiply a number of dice together withinthe time, thinking strategically and being the first to reach the end of the trail. One of the great aspects of the game is the way a player justlearning their 2 times table can be just as competitive as a player capable of multiplying 6 dice together. The key to winning is performingat your standard and challenging yourself to go for more. Answer correctly within the time and move round the board by the Master score– but beware – landing on a PLYT square can change the game! Absolutely brilliant and a must for anyone with children!!

Price: £24.67

Our Bandana BibsOur Bandana bibs come in a range of unique designs withpracticality and affordability in mind. You will not find thesedesigns anywhere else as these truly are the genuine article.With ethically sourced materials and being a company thatfocuses on the needs and desires of mothers and theirbabies and toddlers, we are proud to sell our bandanna bibsworldwide. We have listened to feedback from many mumsand brought together bibs that not only look brilliant andmatch any outfit, but make sure your baby is kept warm,dry and as cosy as possible. Any mother knows that theconventional baby bib is hit and miss with babies. By theirnature babies grab bibs and often cover their mouths withthe fabric as mum tries to feed them. These bibs fit snuglyensuring baby feels at ease yet being secure enough so thatthey cannot be pulled off mid feed.

Our funky bibs are so stylish that the designs can suit anyoutfit, making them not only useful but a great fashionaccessory too. Baby can wear the dribble bib for hours,which are ideal when teething, ensuring a dry chest at alltimes, and ultimately a happier baby.

Baby GiftsFunky Giraffe Baby accessories are both practical and stylishand make great baby gifts for friends and family. With FunkyGiraffe you know that your gift will be used. You can alsohave your order gift wrapped with your personal messagemaking it an easy gift idea.

Bandana BibsOur bandana bib products are growing; recently welaunched a questionnaire asking you what designs you’dlike to see on our bibs. The results have been amazing, andas we’ve worked to produce incredible designs on yourfeedback, we’re overwhelmed by the results. Our bandanabibs not only look great, made from soft cotton with a fleecebacking, these will always keep baby dry. We have abandanna bib to suit and day or night time outfit, and asdemand for our range grows we are also producing babygrows, extra large bibs, and romper suits!

www.funkygiraffebibs.co.uk/

CBeebies Live! The Big Band is the brand new live arenashow from the producers of Justin & Friends. This music-themed extravaganza is bound to have pre-schoolers rockingin the aisles when the show sets out on tour over Easter2014, visiting London’s Wembley Arena on 5�� and 5�� April.Tickets are on sale now and full details can be found atwww.CBeebieslive.com or by searching for ‘CBeebies Live’on Facebook.

Warming up their vocal chords and practising their scales forthis spectacular show are some of CBeebies’ best-lovedcharacters including Justin Fletcher MBE and his alter egoMr Tumble, Mister Maker and – making his CBeebies Live!debut – gardener extraordinaire, Mr Bloom. Also, takingleave from their tropical island to bring their unique musicalsound to CBeebies Live! are ZingZillas. Additional castmembers will be announced later in the year.

Justin Fletcher said: “I am so pleased… this is going to be afantastic show with great production values. It’ll be great to

share the stage with my CBeebies friends and see theaudience join in the fun!”

Phil Gallagher, better known as Mister Maker, returns toCBeebies Live! for his second tour: “I first performed withCBeebies Live! in 2012 and I’m delighted to be returning forthe 2014 tour, “ he commented. “I think the ‘big band’theme is going to be great fun.”

Ben Faulks who plays Mr Bloom added: “It’s really excitingto be joining the cast of CBeebies Live! This will be my firstexperience of an arena tour and I’m particularly lookingforward to playing Manchester. The Arena is a HUGE spaceand I’m sure it’s going to be very memorable.”

Baby Buzz Magazine has teamed up with BBC Worldwide tooffer readers the chance to win a family ticket for four peopleto the 1.30pm performance of CBeebies Live on Saturday 5��April. The ticket is valid for any combination of adults andchildren provided there is at least one adult in the group.

The Orion Publishing Groupwww.orionbooks.co.uk

The Orion Publishing Group have a fantastic range of booksfor every member of the family this year. We’ve been givena selection of children’s book to feature as part of our bonanzagiveaway which the include the following:

First and Second Term: School for StarsThe first and second books in a glittering new series aboutdance, drama and friendship by sisters, Holly and KellyWilloughby, set in a boarding school: the School for Stars.

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY lives in London with her husband andchildren. She is best known for presenting ITV1’s flagshipdaytime programme THIS MORNING as well as prime-timeshows SURPRISE, SURPRISE, and THE VOICE for ITV and BBCrespectively. This is the first project Holly and her sister, Kelly, have collaborated on together. KELLY WILLOUGHBY hasalways dreamed of being an author and is now following herdream of becoming a writer and loving working with hersister. She lives in Middlesex with her husband and daughter.

Horrid Henry – Royal RiotA gorgeous gift hardback bind-up of four classic HORRIDHENRY early reader stories by Francesca Simon, and illustratedby Tony Ross. Includes: HORRID HENRY'S THANK YOU LETTER,

HORRID HENRY'S SPORTS DAY, HORRID HENRY MEETS THEQUEEN and MOODY MARGARET'S SCHOOL.

Francesca Simon spent her childhood in California, and thenwent to Yale and Oxford Universities to study medieval historyand literature. She now lives in London with her family. Shehas written over 50 books. Tony Ross is one of Britain's bestknown illustrators, with many picture books to his name. Hehas also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, forauthors such as David Walliams, Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton andAstrid Lindgren. He lives in Wales.

Do you speak English Moon?Gorgeous jewel-coloured art perfectly complements a timelessbedtime picture book from Francesca Simon and illustratedby Ben Cort; two of the most successful authors andillustrators in children's books today – you can’t be lonelyfalling asleep when you share your day's adventures with themoon.

Ben Cort is the worldwide bestselling illustrator of ALIENSLOVE UNDERPANTS and DINOSUARS LOVE UNDERPANTS andhas illustrated over 50 other children's books.

One day over breakfast, Jason and Kim Graham-Nye cameacross an interesting fact. They found that conventionaldisposable diapers are the third largest contributors tolandfills in the world. And yet! Only five percent of thepopulation uses them. Crazy. It was a fact of stunningproportion met by another amazing fact: a single disposablediaper can take up to 500 years to biodegrade in the landfill.That got the Graham-Nyes thinking, since they were aboutto have a baby themselves. At 60 diapers a week until toilettraining kicks in plus the likelihood of having more than onechild, well, it was beyond comprehension. And so theygasped. Did they want to jump on the landfill train?Absolutely not! What would the neighbours say? How wouldthey face the world on Earth Day? And what about theirgarbage can? A heavy thought, indeed. So Jason and Kim didwhat any two self respecting, socially responsible people doin a situation like that, they began researching an alternative.Obviously, disposables were out. Cloth used too much waterfor the water conscious couple living in drought-strickenAustralia. And then they found it. A company in Tasmaniamade flushable diapers. An earth friendly option in their ownbackyard! They were delighted. Just a small shipping chargeaway and an order was on its way. The idea went over bigwith family and friends.

And so, Jason and Kim brought this revolutionary newconcept to the U.S. (along with their baby and dog). Dropthem a line sometime to say hi, or if you're inclined, to saythanks for keeping diapers out of landfills. And please, passthe word. Kim and Jason are the proud parents of two boys,Fynn and Harper. gDiapered from day one.

*gNappies is known as gDiapers outside of the UK.

This autumn gNappies introduces tops and gPants to mix andmatch, coordinates that are functional and fun and inspireparents to make each nappy change matter. The gLotus dressis brightened by a patchwork lotus blossom and a messagethat reminds us to live simply. The gVeggie tee proudlyproclaims a love for veggies. Both tops have coordinatinggPants. The collection also includes two new solid colours.Grecian Fig and Greyhound Grey. Limited edition legwarmersfor babies are also available.

The gNappies autumn collection is available ongNappies.com, Ocado.com and selected retailers acrossEurope and North America. They range in price from £14.95for solid gPants to £24.95 for the gLotus dress.

GNappies is committed to creating a world where conventional nappies no longerexist. In 2005 gNappies introduced the disposable nappy inserts that can becomposted. The inserts tuck inside gorgeous looking, thoughtfully-designed diaperscovers that have helped make gNappies one of the most respected baby brands onthe market

Baby specialist Kiddicare was established in 1974 and became part of theMorrisons family in February 2011. Kiddicare have opened 10 newsuperstores over the past year and has won multiple awards for excellencein online, delivery, product range and customer services from influentialsincluding Mother & Baby, Which? and Retail Systems.

By the end of 2013 over 1,000 staff will be employed by Kiddicare andover 1m customers visit Kiddicare.com each month. Whether you need acar seat or a cot bed, a buggy or a baby monitor you'll find the best brandswith the best choice at the best prices: from Avent to Zoggs. Find Kiddicareon Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.

www.kiddicare.com

Fans of My Blue Nose Friends will be thrilled to hear that four new characters will launch in time for Christmas; Ziza theAfrican Elephant, Flash the Pink Dragon, Avery the Fluffy Chick and Tinsel the Arctic Fox. The super cute collectable toyseach have their own unique personalities and will be available from November 2013.

Available from byCarteBlanche.com, Clintons, Tesco,Amazon, Hamleys, WH Smiths and IndependentRetailers nationwide. RRP £5 each.

Noroclear is the only cleaner and disinfectant proven tocombat norovirus and kill such a wide range of superbugs injust one minute.

Noroclear products include hand rub, hand wipes, surfacewipes and disinfecting spray. All are non-alcohol based and100% bleach-free so is kind to your skin and to theenvironment. Noroclear hand wipes and foam contain naturalAloe Vera for gentle skin conditioning, ideal for frequent useand for children. Plus our hygiene pack includes Noroclear inthe three handy sizes that will be most useful, wipes to cleanand disinfect the surfaces you will touch, skin wipes to cleanoff dirt, stickiness and germs and a small foam rub to keepsafe and refreshed on the move.

Noroclear was developed for professional medical settingsand is the only product for sale in the UK which is proven byEuropean test standards to kill so many germs in just oneminute. Noroclear kills superbugs including MRSA, C. difficile,E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and even bird flu (H1N1) in just oneminute.

It also kills the human flu, swine flu and human corona viruses,TB causing bacteria and Norovirus in just one minute.

Noroclear hand wipes, surface wipes and hand rub – deliveringpeace of mind for you and your family, available as a pack oras individual items.

www.combatnorovirus.com

Created in 1992, Organix exists to give children the best start in life, by givingparents better, more nutritious choices for their little ones. Organix foods arecreated by real people in our kitchen, using nothing but the best naturalorganic ingredients, so you can rest assured there’s nothing in our foods to stopthem being food as it should be, just as you’d make at home. That meansnothing artificial, just ingredients full of goodness – perfect for giving your babygreat food foundations for life.

www.organix.com

Pabobo’s Play range of toy lights provide the perfect luminous companions for your little one, whether day or night.

��The Lumilove Savanoo range of colourful little animals mean children can have fun everywhere. Their moveable arms andlegs make them ready for any adventure with a generous charge of 8 hours operation for lots of well lit hugs. The Savanoolights change colours like rainbows, needing just one tap from a small hand to freeze the colour, then tap again for the rainbowlights to continue. Ergonomically engineered shapes feel great to little ones and the Lumilove range is safe too – with nocords, and never heating up, even under sheets. Choose between the Lumilove Savanoo Lion, Hippo, Monkey or Giraffe RRP£25.00

Pabobo is the inventor of the first portable, rechargeable nightlight. Pabobo pioneered the use of LED, creating light toenhance both parent and child well-being. Designers of Lumilove, the first luminous companions for children, the Paboboteam develops all its products in strict compliance with CE standards. All Pabobo creations are designed to be handled bychildren, innovation and design are central to this approach.

www.pabobo.com/en

“Even before most people could read, books have been a bastion of human culture. Whetheryou love it because it changed your world view, or just made you happy for an idle hour, afavourite book can be a significant part of who you are. At Spineless Publishing we believethat having a great work form part of the backdrop of your life figuratively shouldn't stop youhaving it there literally.”

The fantastic people behind Spineless Classics have given us this beautifully told story ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of our advent calendar prizes.

So what is a spineless classic? Quite simply they are stories well told and well known over theyears that have been presented on one page. The quality and the detail are exquisite and willcreate the most amazing focal point for any child’s bedroom. This is one of those gifts thatwill suit anybody and everybody and they come in a array of different stories.

For further information, please visit www.spinelessclassics.com to see the vast selection ofstories available.

We were extremely privileged to feature Jacqueline and herfantastic creation, PacaPod in our November Issue and werethrilled to be offered the stunning Mirano weekend bag to giveaway as part of our Advent Calendar Issue. So what is PacaPod?

Jacqueline Waggett, Creator of PacaPod…Clothing designerand mum of two small girls, drew on her own experiences todesign the unique 3-in-1 baby organising system bag.

"As a mum when I need something I want to reach it quickly,easily and with a degree of confidence. That may sound prettyobvious but how many times have you rooted around a baglooking for the elusive wipes or a nappy bag only to beconfronted with a half eaten sandwich, Flopsy bunny andhandful of raisins? Life’s busy enough with the kids and wheneverything’s in place it means that we as a family are free togo and do the things we want. It can be something as simpleas a trip to the park, playground or more adventurous travelsto far-flung places but knowing that I’m organised is one lessthing to worry about.Being free to do the things I love with the one’s I love issomething I wouldn’t change for the world, time is precious –we don’t get it back”

But it wasn’t just becoming a mum that gave her the spark todesign her own baby changing bag. Having spent fifteen yearsdesigning outdoor clothing, which had to be comfortable andpractical even in extreme weather conditions, Jacqueline tooktime cycling around the world with all her possessions storedin two bicycle panniers. As you can imagine, her eye for design– combined with the tips she learned for travelling light andbeing organised – came in handy when she came to realisethat there was a gap in the market for great-looking andpractical baby bags.

Jacqueline had been disappointed with many of the baby bagson offer to new parents: often, a lack of differentcompartments meant that things were difficult to find andmany of the design options were not ideal if Dad wants to takethe baby out. With a little imagination and business sense –and a few focus groups with other new mums – Jacquelinelaunched PacaPod at Harrogate Nursery Trade Show in 2008.Since then it has been enthusiastically snapped up by busyparents, celebrities such as Peaches Geldoff, Jo Whiley andBen Fogle and major nursery retailers including John Lewis &Mothercare & JoJo Maman Bebe across the UK.

www.pacapod.com

Renowned British tea merchants Ringtons have partnered upwith Baby Buzz Magazine to offer one lucky reader the chanceto win an exclusive luxury gift box worth over £60!

The stylish gift box prize will be packed full of Ringtons finestSignature loose teas, speciality coffee, herbal infusions,bagged tea, and items including a gorgeous 1907 tea caddyand Ringtons tea fuser.

With over 100 years of expertise in tea buying, blending andpacking, Ringtons knows a thing or two about tea and has abrew to suit every taste. Ringtons select only the finest andfreshest leaves to make sure customers enjoy the perfectcuppa.

As well as a traditional doorstep delivery service – wherebyRingtons delivers “tea and more” to over 260,000 customersthroughout the UK through a regular doorstep delivery service– Ringtons also offers the perfect gift for tea and coffee lovers,through its beautiful and stylish gift boxes.

The range of gift boxes can be viewed online atwww.ringtons.co.uk and sets include tea, coffee, tea fusers,

biscuits, preserves and home ware. The gifts are suitable forall ages, budgets and occasions. Worldwide delivery is alsoavailable via the Ringtons website or Customer Care teamwho are on Freephone 0800 052 2440.

The Luxury Great British Tea Fuser Gift Box shown containsthree 125g packs of expertly selected loose tea and a Ringtonstea fuser a brilliant and easy-to-use infusing device that takesthe fuss out of preparing loose tea. While the delightful Large1907 Gift Box contains a pack of 80 Kenyan Gold tea bags,All-Butter Shortbread Rounds, 1907 heritage tea caddy andfine bone china 1907 beaker which features real 22 carat gold.Established in 1907, Ringtons is a family business that startedlife when Samuel Smith began selling tea from a horse andcart to the households of Newcastle upon Tyne. Today 106years after Sam Smith began his business; Ringtons remainsa family-run business and continues to deliver the uniquedoor-to-door personalised delivery service it is renowned for.

Follow Ringtons on twitter (@Ringtons) or search for Ringtonson Facebook.

Ringtons Teawww.ringtons.co.uk

We’ve all heard of Salter whether it be as the “Scales” to trust when baking or seeingthem at the hospital or health clinics when having our little ones weighed.

Did you know that Salter is the world’s most successful and trusted brand of domesticweighing scales bringing over 250 years of expertise and innovation to kitchens acrossthe globe. The UK based manufacturer has come a long way since its humblebeginnings in the English village of Bilston by spring-maker Richard Salter and has sinceremained dedicated to developing and expanding its range of quality kitchenware withthe latest technologies and state of the art designs.

Salter has always prided itself on positioning the user at the heart of each productbringing customers beautiful looking homeware that is not only accurate but also theperfect complement to any home.

We have been given an amazing opportunity to give away a set of scales to one luckyreader, these are no ordinary scales and will no doubt keep parents rest assured oftheir little ones weight gain. A fantastic prize to be included within the Advent Calendarspecial issue.

www.salterhousewares.com

I have a great affection for Shnuggle, as they were the very first company that I approached when I launched the magazineand from that point, last October, I have watched and waited for each new product being released. The first of the rangethat I saw at the Baby Show was their Moses Basket Set, which is just beautiful, and it epitomises the essence of quality andbeauty, exactly what any parent wants for their new baby. We have been given a gorgeous white set (recently launched inJohn Lewis) to give away in this Advent Calendar Issue and I can’t wait to share any future products with my readers beingbrought to the market next year.

A little bit about Shnuggle…Shnuggle is a growing family business created in 2009 by Sinead & Adam in beautiful Co. Down, Northern Ireland. Foundingthe business after having two lovely children of their own they were inspired to create clever products to make life easierfor modern parents. The company philosophy is to re-design every day baby products to make them safer for baby, morefunctional and of course more practical for busy, modern parents. The multi-award winning Shnuggle Basket brings a freshnew approach to traditional Moses basket while the amazing Shnuggle Bath is the world’s first soft and cosy baby bath (beinglaunched soon). With a continually expanding range of innovative products that are designed in the UK, Shnuggle remainsfocused on safety, quality and functionality above all else. Shnuggle are looking for partners to help bring these excitingproducts to babies all around the world and would love to hear from anyone interested in working with them.

A little bit about the Moses Basket The award-winning Shnuggle Modern Moses Basket captures everything you like abouttraditional Moses baskets along with some improvements you’ll absolutely love. Made frome a super-strong, hypoallergenicand easy to clean material it’s far safer for your baby. It’s almost silent when baby moves around and a clever locking systemmeans the hood actually stays up, helping your baby to stay asleep. With beautiful 100% pure cotton fabrics, it’s a warmand cosy place for baby to begin life in the outside world.

www.shnuggle.com

It’s not easy to recommend a product when you don’t knowmuch about it but in this case I actually had one bought formy little girl towards the end of last year, so know how muchit is loved and how practical and easy it is for her to adjust toas she grows.

Founded over a decade ago, Smart-Trike™, which has grownsteadily over the years, is an international company providingride-on-vehicles to families across the world. The main focusof Smart-Trike™ is on high-technology and innovation todevelop state-of-the-art ride-on solutions for each cyclingstage that babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers experience toultimately aid development and provide enjoyment. Smart-Trike™ manufactures traditional, well made and durableride-on vehicles which are cleverly designed to support from10 months all the way up until pre-schooler stage.

Safety has always been a focus at Smart-Trike™. Theuncompromising quality standards ensure that the productsare both durable and safe. Prior to manufacture, eachproduct is thoroughly tested to comply with the strictestinternational standards for babies’ and toddlers’ products.The quality assurance team continually reviews the designand procedures to ensure that products exceed both existing

and new safety regulations around the world. Smart-Trike™is constantly using the highest quality materials, which aretested and certified by the leading global certification labsworldwide (Intertek, BV, SGS, LGA etc.). Smart-Trike™products pass the strictest tricycle and toy QA standards (US,EU, Australia, Canada etc.). Smart-Trike™ will continue tomake safety our top priority when designing andmanufacturing ride-on-vehicles.

Parents are satisfied when their babies use Smart-Trike™products because they are convertible, multifunctional andgrow with the child from 6&10 months up to 36 months andbeyond offering the ultimate longevity for the family to enjoyfor years and years.

I can safely say that this is a well used and much-lovedessential for our little girl and one I can’t praise highly enough.

Enter for your chance to win one of the Dream Smart-Trikes™(available in green, purple, red, blue or pink).

http://smart-trike.com/

“The Smurfs 2 is out on Blu‐ray and DVD 2ⁿ� December and The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol is out on DVD now.”©2013 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Hemisphere - Culver Picture Partners I, LLC All Rights Reserved. SMURF, and all Smurfscharacters: © Peyo. All Rights Reserved. “Smurf” and “The Smurfs” are registered trademarks of STUDIO PEYO.

London, UK 21/10/13 – Just in time for Christmas, Sony Pictures Animation’sTHE SMURFS 2 arrives December 2nd on Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™, DVD andUltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This heartwarmingnew adventure reunites the world’s favourite three apple-high creatures,bringing laughs for every member of the family.

Only included on the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray are three all-new, kid-friendlyfeaturettes, including “The Puurrfect Companion: Azreal’s Tail,” showing howGargamel’s sidekick was created, from the live-action cat to the digital double,and how actor Frank Welker brought the character to life. Both the Blu-rayversions and DVD come with deleted scenes and two additional featurettes.“Animating Azrael” gives an in-depth look at how filmmakers animatedGargamel’s sidekick, and the all-new “Daddy’s Little Girl: The Journey ofSmurfette” traces the origins of the one-and-only Smurfette back to Smurfcreator, Peyo, and features Katy Perry on how she tapped into her inner Smurfto voice the classic character.

The countdown to Christmas just got Wheely Fun!

Enter our competition on page 21 (December 10��) to bein with a chance to win this years ultimate Christmas musthave - Hippychicks brand new Plush Wheelybug!

This Christmas surprise your little one with a PlushWheelybug, the exciting new addition to the adorableWheelybug family and The hottest new toy for pre-school-ers. Available as a cute Panda or Hedgehog and featuringthe unique multi-directional castors and adorable looksthat have made the Wheelybugs so loved, Hippychicksnew Plush Bugs are set to become the most coveted fourwheel adventure for pre-schoolers. Loved by little onesfor over a decade, Hippychicks best selling Wheelybugsalready come in six adorable animal designs - a ladybird,cow, bee, tiger, mouse and pig. Their cult status is rootedin their clever design with their smooth padded bodiesgiving the comfiest ride possible and their unique multi-directional castors offering little riders easy manoeuvra-bility and satisfying speeds. A robust grip handle also

helps little ones use their Wheelybug as a companion tohelp steady them as they take their first faltering steps.

To mark their 10th Birthday, the new Plush Wheelybugencapsulates all of these brilliant original features but withone main difference - super soft, interchangeable, machinewashable covers. Choose from super cute Panda orHedgehog designs (additional covers cost£15 each). Withmore covers planned your child can have a full menagerie!

For more information on Hippychick’s popular andinnovative range of high quality toys go towww.hippychick.com, where you’ll find everything fromfunky Hoppers through to traditional wooden ride andpush alongs with a contemporary twist and baby softmusical cot toys.

Tractor Ted, young children’s farming superhero, haslaunched lots of new products for Christmas this year whichmake fantastic Christmas presents and stocking fillers,especially for little boys.

It’s no secret that young children are fascinated by tractorsand 'tactor' is often a child's first word, and following thesuccess of the book, the new All About Tractors DVD (£9.99)uses real life footage to show children the most up-to-datetractors at work on the farm with useful commentary alongthe way to show that tractors come in different shapes, sizesand colours, the different implements they can hitch up to,where they are built, the jobs they do on the farm and evenwhat can go wrong. There will be a special Christmas editionof the DVD in which Tractor Ted meets the reindeer (pleasesee image attached).

Tractor Ted’s Christmas Activity Book (£4.99, available frommid September) is a 32 page full colour book with lots ofactivities such as Christmas colouring, counting and cookingChristmas recipes like Reindeer Cupcakes and ChristmasCrispies and playing Christmas-themed games such as guessthe footprints in the snow.

Other new products include the Tractor Ted drinking bottle(20cm high; £4.99) and the light blue children’s single duvetand pillowcase set with button opening (100% cotton,featuring tractors and other machines, £36.00).

And of course there are all the usual Tractor Ted DVDs (£9.99)and books (£4.99) which cover big machines, looking afteranimals, the seasons and where our food comes from, as wellas toys, clothes and products such as the ruck sack, breakfastset, lunch tin and wellies.

All products are available at www.tractorted.co.uk oryou can simply enter our fantastic competition to win one ofeach product.

www.tractorted.co.uk

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Launched in August 2012, Lottie™ is a new, innovative fashion doll for girls aged 3- 9. Since her debut, Lottie has won12 awards in the USA and UK, including 3 Oppenheim Portfolio Platinum Awards, generated international press coverageand been the beneficiary of positive parent and blogger reviews.

Arklu carried out 18months of research working with girls, parents, retailers, industry experts, child psychologists andchild nutrition experts, leading to the generation of over 100 action points which have been incorporated into Lottie’sdevelopment. The three points that resonated the most strongly were:

· Girls being concerned by body image from a young age· Girls being prematurely sexualised· Girls missing out on their childhood

To address these issues Lottie has been based on the scientific proportions of a 9 year old child, with the exception ofher head (which has been increased to accommodate hair play). She does not wear jewellery, makeup or high heels.She can stand on her own two feet.

Her clothes are vibrant in colour and have significant attention to detail. Lottie’s clothes are very much activity based,in line with those of a 9 year old instead of an adult. She wears pretty dresses, as well as hardwearing clothes for muddy,outdoors play. Lottie allows girls to be girls and enjoy their childhood, in all its facets. Lottie’s motto is ‘Be bold, bebrave, be you’.

We were given the opportunity of attending a fashion launch of new girls wear company BabyKoKos.Founder Nuray has created some gorgeous, gorgeous tutus and dresses for girls fro 0-6 months right upto 8-10 years old. Each item is handmade to order and is created with the utmost care and attention.We have a gorgeous tutu to give away and hope Baby Buzz Readers continue to support this fantastic newcompany.

http://babykokos.com

http://www.lottie.com/

A thank you again to the wonderful Inch-Blue who have supported our competitions and requests many times of the last yearand have taken part again in our Advent Calendar Special by giving us the gorgeous Cheeky Monkey Gift Set (babygrow andshoes). A world of fun and adorable soft leather baby shoes. In a world of mass produced goods INCH BLUE is an oasis forlovers of originality, quality and fun design. Inch-Blue understand your baby’s feet aren’t just smaller versions of your own,they’re a completely different shape. They’re softer and plumper with hardly any hard bone in them at all. Inch Blue shoeshave been designed to give total comfort for little growing feet. They are made exclusively from soft natural leather allowingyour baby’s feet to breathe.

And they’re not just for babies, Inch Blue make shoes for toddlers and children aged up to 6 years, which make them idealfor use in nurseries.

www.inch-blue.com

As a young woman growing up in Australia, our founder Raegan Moya-Jones was introduced to many traditional practices ofmotherhood. One of them in particular-- swaddling babies in generously sized, gentle muslin sheets-- amazed her. Even thefussiest babies seemed to sleep more peacefully in muslin. Despite the hot days and the cold nights, muslin swaddles helpedkeep babies comfortable. And, most importantly, the very act of swaddling seemed to build a bond between mothers andtheir babies. When she moved to the U.S. and started her own family, Raegan couldn’t find any swaddles like the ones sheremembered from home. The only swaddles available were too small. Or made of much-too-thick flannel. Or, simply,unattractive. And so, aden + anais was born. And within months of hitting the market, aden + anais swaddles starting poppingup in magazines, on blogs for new mothers, in virtually every celebrity gift registry, and in stores around the country.

Today, aden + anais, has brought the legacy of muslin together with fashion forward design to create a line of products thatare as stylish as they are useful; and as simple as they are beautiful. We believe in muslin-- the way it looks, the way it feels,the way it works-- to improve the lives of babies and their mothers no matter who they are or where they live.

The Cuddledry concept was founded by Helen Wooldridgeand Polly Marsh, two long term friends, now working mums.Their first product was the Cuddledry baby bath towel - nowa multiple award-winner and a 'must-have' for all new mumsand dads. Most baby towels are lightweight squares, whichparents have to hold awkwardly under their chin or betweenteeth in order to have two hands free to lift baby. Helen andPolly came up with Cuddledry to make the bath exit a bondingtime, not a stress!

The Cuddledry baby towel attaches to the parent like anapron, so both hands are free. Lifting baby up out of the bathis easy and safe, and you cuddle and dry your baby in yourarms naturally, strengthening the bond between you whenbaby feels most vulnerable. You don't have to think aboutholding a towel at all. This is the major safety advantage of

the Cuddledry, but there are plenty more features to itsunique design. The towel is super soft - made with bambooand cotton, so it stays soft even after washing. The towelensures the parent stays nice and dry, and the towel isattached to you which prevents the risk of having to moveaway from your baby for even a second. The single-handedeasy release poppers allow you to simply remove the towelfrom yourself and lay baby down on their changing mat stillsnugly wrapped. In addition, the towel is double-layered, notonly giving it a luxurious thick texture, but absorbing waterfaster and keeping it away from baby's skin.

We have one amazing Cuddledeer to give away as part of ourbumper Christmas Day prize - enter for your chance to win…

www.adenandanais.co.uk

We are extraordinarily lucky to be featuring the wonderful Babes with Babies in both the Gifts Section of this issue but alsoto be given one of the cutest littlest reindeer teddies as part of our Advent Calendar Special issue. I can’t wait to hand himover the lucky winner!

Becoming a mother is an incredible experience. It is amazing, awe-inspiring. But the undeniable truth is that it’s not terriblyglamorous. And yet... maybe it can be, at least some of the time. We founded Babes with Babies London because we believethat pregnant women and new mothers deserve a touch of luxury; that this new phase of your life should be filled with enoughmoments of gorgeousness to get you through the stresses, strains and the sleepless nights. We’re not talking aboutunachievable extravagances. Our aim at Bb London is to hunt out those little luxury pieces that can go some way towardshelping you feel fabulous when your body and life is changing dramatically. Everything we source for Bb London is carefullydesigned to flatter, pamper and be a pretty, practical treat. We strive to deliver excellent customer service, to make dealingwith us as easy and quick as possible - check our customer comments and see how we're doing.

Our name? It’s a bit tongue in cheek - we know new mothers & heavily pregnant women might not be feeling particularlybabe-like. But with something fabulous to wear we hope we can help you feel a tiny bit more like yourself.

www.babeswithbabies.com

http://cuddledry.com

Each month we review an amazing selection of new and innovativeproducts and clothing and this month is no different. This monthwe have some amazing products all scented towards Christmas togive you that wonderful ambiance of Christmas throughout yourhome.

Would you like to join our Focus Group? Sign up now [email protected].

Hand Wash review:I keep a bottle of hand wash by every sink in the house as hygiene is a priority, as in mosthomes I suspect. Whereas I would normally choose something that’s citrus or lavendersmelling my sister would choose the opposite and have something antibacterial and notoverly perfumed as she isn’t too keen on artificial scents. So, on receiving three bottlesof Carex hand wash with two being chocolate orange and strawberry laces, I wasn’t toooptimistic on what she would think. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wrong and my sister reallydidn’t like the strong odour, to her they smelt sickly sweet and horribly artificial.Unsurprisingly, the children in the house and I loved them and as the hand wash is aimedat kids and encouraging them to wash their hands, in that sense it works very well. Thethird bottle was the odour defence wash (which had a strong pine-y scent) which claimedto be effective on food odours such as onion, fish and it did sort of work as long as youwashed your hands immediately after handling those foods and didn’t mind the strongscent. I have to say from my perspective that I preferred the Strawberry Laces scentand my sisters favourite was the Odour Defence. A nice play on scents though to keepchildren interested in health and hygiene around the home.

Hand Cream review:In contrast to the hand wash range, the hand creams (Hydrate & Protect and Nourish &Protect) are lightly scented, easily absorbed and most importantly, effective. I’ve beenusing the ‘Hydrate & Protect’ during the day and the ‘Nourish & Protect’ at night duringthe colder winter months when my skin really begins to suffer. I keep a tube in my bagand one by my bed and use them all the time. They are decent sized squeezy tubes thatcost a reasonable £2.50 each. I will definitely be adding these to my winter health andhygiene kit.

Watch Review:We got a chance to review to the fantastic, colourful, unisex watches from FlikFlak’s new Funny Hours collection (Sweet School and Back To Wildness) aimedspecifically at school children. The watches come attached to a ruler inpackaging that can be used as a pencil case and are colourful, shockproof andwaterproof and can even be popped in the washing machine if they get dirty.A little too pricey in my opinion for the really young (the watches are suitablefor 3+) at £23 each but perfect for children who are a little older. We were alsogiven the Flik Flak “Dangerously Fast” watch to review and this is a bigger,sportier and in my opinion more masculine looking watch that would be greatfor teens. It’s more expensive at £31.15 but is hardwearing and comes with a2 year guarantee. A hit with the reviewers at Baby Buzz and a fab idea forChristmas presents that should delight kids of all ages this year.

30 years ago two people decided to change their world. With the arrival of a new family,David & Luisa decided that the best out there wasn't good enough and an idea was born -Mamas & Papas. Part of raising a family means instilling principles and values and David &Luisa treated Mamas & Papas just like their children. They know how important it is to givechildren the best start in life and they have held onto that thought throughout everythingthey do, and as Mamas & Papas has grown, so has their family.

Having two children of my own, with such a large age difference, means I have followed thetrends, styles and new products that mamas and papas have brought to the market, and witha 99.9% accuracy I can honestly say I’ve loved everything that I’ve seen. It’s taken a lot ofattempts to contact this brand to review some of the products that they have on offer andso I was delighted to get one of their gorgeous rompers to review. After viewing the rest oftheir collection, I’ve decided I’m in love! They have some of the most beautiful romper designsI’ve seen to-date and it would be impossible to pick just one, you’d have to pick them all! Ifthat decision wasn’t hard enough you then look at the oldest girls (and boys) clothes and theyare just as exquisite and epitomise style and gorgeousness that you want to play dress upeach and every day. I can safely say that my daughters wardrobe will have a few more itemsadded to it before Christmas!

We attended the Baby Show this year and were astounded by the array of products available this year by the new companiescoming to the market. I have to say one of my favourites was the Peepo Pregnancy Countdown Calendar as it went back to thebasics and presented a way to keep all of the family involved in the pregnancy. The concept, style and diagrams are stunning andthe illustrations simply blow you away. If you register online now for your copy you can save a massive 50% of the RRP and getyours for just £9.99. This will be best £9.99 you spend!!

We converted to the Ecover brand a long time ago and were thrilled to be sent this new scent toencapsulate Christmas. They have combined scrumptious seasonal fragrance and stylish design, toadd limited edition Festive Cookie washing up liquid to their range of plant and mineral basedproducts. It is the perfect way to add some festive cheer to your kitchen and extra sparkle to yourdaily chores!

Smelling good enough to eat, this cinnamon, cranberry and gingerbread fragranced washing up liquidis made using plant and mineral based ingredients: no unnecessary nasties included. Like all otherEcover washing up liquids, it is 20 times less toxic than other brands, so you can enjoy sparkling cleancrockery this season and feel good about looking after your world.

We highly recommend this one to all those who want to support the eco friendly product and likethe festive smell! A definite must for us at Baby Buzz.

The Great Christmas Pudding Review

Lidl Snowy Lodge Deluxe Luxury Christmas Pudding, £2.99; 750gv.Heston from Waitrose hidden orange Christmas pudding, £14; 1.2kg

Lidl’s Christmas pudding had a boozy kick, lots of fruit and was studded with lots ofcrunchy nuts. Tasty and a decent size without being too big (there was enough for sixof us with some leftover for seconds). A traditional, rich but not heavy Christmaspudding that held its shape well and was even more delicious with a big dollop ofbrandy butter.

Waitrose/Heston’s Christmas pudding had a good balance of fruits and nuts and theorange added a zesty kick. It was very sweet and very moist although a little heavy.It was very soft and hard to cut neatly but as you cut into the orange, there was lotsof lovely thick orange syrup. It wasn’t very boozy but it did have a lovely depth offlavour. You don’t need more than a small slice to satisfy and it is a large pudding(serves at least 12), so perfect if you’re expecting lots of guests on Christmas day.

My personal preference is the more traditional Lidl pudding and at such a great price,it’s sure to be a family favourite this Christmas but if you’re looking for something a littledifferent and you’ve got a big party to cater for, then the Waitrose/Heston HiddenOrange Christmas Pudding is sure to impress!

The Three Bird Roast Review

Lidl Three Bird Roast, £9.99; 1.58kgv.Tesco Three Bird Road, £12; 1.5kg

What they say:Lidl’s ‘Three Bird Roast’“A basted skin on British chicken breast wrapped around British turkey and British duck breastwith layers of pork , apple and cranberry stuffing plus a sachet of cranberry and apricot glaze.”

What we say:Lidl’s Three Bird Roast was moist, well priced and not so large that we risked ending up withenough leftovers to last a lifetime. Other than popping it in the oven and basting it every nowand again, there was very little prep work to be done, leaving me with plenty of time to get onwith other cooking tasks. It was enjoyed by the whole family, including the fussiest eaters(aged 2 and 12).

What they say:Sainsbury’s ‘Three Bird Roast’“Succulent skin-on chicken breast wrapped around turkey and duck breast, filled with a delicious pork, apple & cranberry stuffing, finishedwith a cranberry & port glaze”.

What we say:Sainsbury’s ‘Three Bird Roast’ was as easy to prepare as Lidl’s and was also a moist roast. Very similar stuffing and glaze and again enjoyedby the whole family.

My preference once again was Lidl for a couple of reasons. Firstly the price. I couldn’t see a reason why the Sainsbury’s roast was twopounds dearer, and with money being a little tighter at this time of year, every penny counts. Secondly, the Lidl roast is marginally bigger(which is always good) and finally because I preferred the glaze on the lidl roast (not a big fan of port). They’re small reasons and reallythe only way to tell the roasts apart. In my opinion, either would make a great addition to lunch on Christmas day.

Festive Fun Baking forthe Family this Christmas

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.

2. Butter muffin tin.

3. Put the flour into a bowl, add the butter and rubin with your fingertips until the mix resemblesbreadcrumbs.

4. Stir in the icing sugar. Add the egg yolk and 2eggshells full of very cold water.Stir in with a knife then bring the dough togetherwith your hands.

5. Knead lightly, wrap in cling film and refrigeratefor about 30 minutes.

6. Roll out the pastry fairly thinly and stamp out 12x 7.5cm discs and 12 x 6cm stars.

7. Re-roll the pastry and stamp out more discs andstars until you’ve used up all the pastry.

8. Put the larger discs in the tins, fill with 1 heapedteaspoon mincemeat and then top with the stars.

9. Brush the top of each star lightly with milk.

10. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

11. Once out of the oven, let them cool beforeremoving from the tin.

12. Sprinkle the cooled mince pies lightly with icingsugar to decorate.

What you need to make Mince Pies

250g plain flour

150g cold butter, cubed, plus extra for greasing

2 level tsp icing sugar, plus extra for decorating

1 medium egg yolk

250g mincemeat

milk for glazing

· 12 hole shallow muffin/fairy cake tin (you might need 2)

According to recent figures more than one in five studentundergraduate’s now live at home with parents during term time- a move made by many to reduce the overall debt that followsa degree.

The latest figures from the National Union of Students show theaverage rent for a room in purpose-built student accommodationhas gone up by 25% over the past three years to just under£123.96 a week. This works out as a huge cost of £5,244 a year.

www.mondaytofriday.com recently launched a new StudentAccommodation section to the website. Students benefit froma comfortable home-from-home for the studying week beforereturning back home at weekends. Rooms to rent start from thevery low cost of £250 - £350 a month.

The average cost of a student room (£300) throughmondaytofriday.com for a 10 month term would add up to£3,000 a year - a saving of almost £2,244 over the course of ayear. This isn’t the only benefit for students:

- Free from worries about bills and a TV license.- The freedom of being away from home without the

distractions that come with living in a student property.

Judy Niner, founder of weekday specialist room rental websitemondaytofriday.com, says, “A university education is a hugeup-front investment, and renting a room from mondaytofridaycan reduce the money a student needs to find for their livingcosts. Another advantage is that students can more easily dipout of some of the distractions of student life and put theirenergies into getting the best results they can”.

In addition as many of these students leave home for Universitythey free up spare rooms around the country and these emptynesters can take advantage of the tax free income from the renta room scheme. I have the case study below for example whohas done just that:

At the start of the year Des Figueiredo, 51, converted the loft ofhis three-bedroom Victorian terrace house in London to createa self-contained flat. “We wanted the extension firstly to makeextra space should we need it but secondly to generate moreincome”. Des and his wife have three children, two of which areat University with the third also flying the nest this year. In Maythey decided to take in a lodger by placing an advert onwww.mondaytofriday.com.

“The website support was clear, reassuring and supportive andmade taking in a lodger manageable - it also helped me realisethat lodgers had expectations too when it came to renting.”

Unlike other lodging services www.mondaytofriday.com is aimedat the working week professional, so homeowners can rent outa spare bedroom from Monday to Friday and have it back readyfor weekend visitors.

After just one week they received their first reply - a couple fromManchester looking to save time and money from the dailycommute. “Previously they were booking last minute hotelrooms on Sunday night with which they soon became fed up.We were actually the first place they looked at but the situationwas perfect. They have a home from home on week days plussomewhere to leave a few belongings when they return homeon Friday nights - but we still have the space so the kids canspread out if they visit at weekends.”

Under the government 'Rent a Room Scheme' homeowners areable to earn up to £4250 tax free cash each year by letting afurnished room in their home. “We have used the extra incomein several ways - sometimes towards the capital on our interest-only mortgage but also to support the kids, repair the car or forthe occasional break”.

Student Rooms And An Empty Nest

christmas advent calendar issue

Documents

time of year

hard time

spending time

time ofbeing

frombaby buzz magazine

christmas shopping

fantastic advent calendar

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