I have had a brilliant 48 hours – I am shattered – but revitalised by some time without children. So off to London I went on Friday morning. First error was forgetting my trousers were in the washer and discovering them wet at 06:15 but that’s what tumble driers are for right? Well 40 mins later and with damp pockets and waistband, they will dry, I left the house. Hmm it was about 3 degrees outside and I literally steamed all the way to the station – like some sort of walking smoke machine. I didn’t care I was walking along with no pushchair, no scooter, no little people, no one else. My little adventure had begun!
Wilmslow – Crewe. Crewe – London Euston. Euston – Earls Court. I met up with so many people. First up the lovely Alaina from Manuka Baby we caught up on sales and marketing plans, walked the show together and bought our kids Trunki head rests. I had lunch with Sian and Nova. Then bumped into Emma, another Emma, Karin, Carly, Carol, Mummy Matters and Dandy Do Do.
Said Hi to the teams at Cosatto, SnoozeShade and Annabel Karmel who were all there too. My favourite discovery of the show was this beautiful wooden imagination play structure by Rokka – I was seriously very wowed – a boat, a see-saw, a table, a puppet theatre, a kitchen … all in beautiful wood, no plastic *squeals* I’ve never come across anything quite like it. I HEART ROKKA PLAY!
As the show drew to a close I headed over to my bessie mates to drink fizz eat Bento’s and put my social media marketing world domination plan into action – super exciting – more news soon! I also ate lots of Chocolate & Love nom nom nom! On the Saturday I continued South to Brighton for the Twine up… post to follow … for now lets just say it was FANTABULOUS! Claire x
Its back next week and this time down at Earls Court in London, I am going again and combining it was a but of Mummy R & R. I really feel the need to have some time off from my mummy duties. So I am heading to The Baby Show on Friday 22nd October meeting up with Manuka Baby who’s sleeping bags keep Baby G warm & cosy and saying Hi to Team Cosatto. A night of putting the world to rights over a bottle of wine with an old friend, a squeeze of a friends new baby and then I’m Brighton bound for The South Coast #Twineup! BRING IT ON!
The Baby Show itself is held at Earls Court from Friday 22nd October through to Sunday 24th October 2010 from 9:30 – 17:30 daily tickets can be purchase in advance here from £16.95, they are available on the door but more expensive from £22.00
I am then Brighton bound to meet Bec and the South Coast Mummy Crew to #Twineup in the evening on Saturday 23rd October full details are here
Do you know what? I think I might be a mummy blogger! Just a teeny tiny little bit of one! Shall I tell you why? Because it says so right here in the new Cosatto catalogue! Oh don’t try to read it from the photo you can order your own copy for free here!
So how did that happen? Well I “met” @Cosatto_Tweets on Twitter who were searching for product reviewers (I reviewed the You2 double stroller). You can take the girl out of marketing but you can’t take the marketing out of the girl, a great conversation with their creative director and I was back in the marketing consultancy saddle. The rest is almost history, I tried to get a few mummy bloggers to write a post on pushchair jargon, there was a decent budget on the table £150 to write it, some bloggers were on hols, some committed to other pushchair brands, some had families that had grown out of that lifestage, some were just a bit shy and modest about their own blogging talent. Unable to find someone, I did it myself. It never made it to the Cosatto blog instead it landed a double page spread (pages 8 & 9) in the Cosatto Catalogue.
My second favourite page, I have favourite pages its weird I know but I’m in marketing that’s how it is, are pages 22 and 23 all about Facebook and Twitter. I love these the most because this is all from real tweets sent by Twitter Mums when asked “Why is twitter great for mums” so a very big thank you to everyone on Twitter who replied for their input.
So that’s my news, I’m not very good at blowing my own trumpet but I do feel a bit proud that with a baby on my hip, a toddler at my ankles, a husband nowhere to be seen most of the time, I’ve manage to find and juggle a fantasic and very lovely client and be referred to as a mummy blogger. So what do you make of that then?
I now have more pushchairs than children – FACT!
I have a ratio of 2:1 pushchairs to children – FACT!
Why? Well let me explain my pushchair timeline and driving credentials:
2007 “my first pram” Bugaboo Chameleon (in sand & charcoal!)
Lil’ H was pretty much exactly 2.5 years old when Baby G arrived, my out and about pushchair plan with two had been:
Baby in pram, toddler on buggy board
Baby in carrier, toddler in pushchair
Baby in pram, toddler in pushchair and Mr/Grandparent!
Option 3 is clearly the preferred option at all times! Our first few Wintery months with a toddler and baby at the end of last year and we were getting along ok with this, then we decided to go for our first family trip abroad and booked to go to Egypt. Mmm so how are we going to manage a toddler and a baby overseas in a hotel, so they can both sleep whilst we drink soak up the local life during an evening?!
So with the holiday splashed out for I had kind of overlooked the whole buggy thing, budget allocation a big fat zero, then I spied @cosatto_tweets asking for blog reviewers for their products and I was on the keyboard in a flash and just before I jetted off received a Cosatto You2 Twin Pushchair to review – I fondly refer to it as my “bar buggy” because it allowed me to enjoy some fun time, some me time as Mr could take them both out and some quiet time as both my babies slept comfortably! Babies and toddlers alike had a great time in it … here’s Baby G on the right with her bessie mate Little Miss S, altogether now awwwwww!
So there are the facts and here’s my experience and thoughts on the pushchair
It looks GREAT – seriously GREAT – the biggest challenge is which funky design to choose – I went for eenie meenie although it was a toss up with Snap and the new Bro & Sis Too with its ditsy print is just gorgeous
I have a personal issue with handles on pushchairs, my Maclaren gives me blisters, the You 2 has lovely soft foam covered – ticking the box for Mrs Lancaster’s soft & kind hand policy!
The rain cover is the best ever – it covers the children and any items, like your handbag you have hanging on the back – although to be fair the under seat baskets are really big I’m just a travel heavy kind of girl! Here’s a pic of the rain cover in action when we got caught in a hail storm!
It’s a smooth push and a smooth ride. Both baby and toddler were more than comfortable and slept well in it
It’s tough! Six pushchair’s were put on our flight, four came off damaged and pretty severely damaged including a wheel snapped off the double buggy of our pals. The Cosatto You 2 Twin stroller was a bit dusty. That. Is. All!
It managed the weight difference between my toddler & baby no issue at all
The mechanism to extend the leg rest was super easy compared to others, squeeze & lift – loved this!
For a double buggy we felt it was light and easy to put and down
The cosy toes are cosy and a bit too cosy to zip up on H but in fairness he is right at the top of the age for use and the designs make up for that in cuteness.
But don’t just take my word for it I asked Lil’ H for his view:
Me: Do you like your new buggy?
H: Yes, can we go to the park?
Me: No, not now, later. What do you like about your new buggy?
H: Its really comfy and … and … and … I can hold bash Baby G’s hand and … and … and… bash her!
If you’re looking for a double pushchair I’d certainly recommend the You 2. Cosatto have a full range of pushchairs, Karin from Cafe Bebe has reviewed the i-Spin which I love because you can turn a full 360 with one hand with a latte or mobile in the other – FACT! Cosatto have a full range of nursery furniture, high chairs (the Yumi is in Baby G’s future!) and other nursery equipment, the 40 Winks travel cot is possibly the best sized travel cot I’ve seen, H had outgrown his at 2 years old but could still sleep in this one at 3 years old in my opinion.
P.s. It all started with a tweet … since then I have developed a great relationship with the team at Cosatto following this product trial. In the spirit of open, honest blogging I want you to know that I am now working with Cosatto on the new Cosatto blog (check it out!) and other fab products and initiatives coming soon!
I had a request last week from lovely mum of three, Baby Rambles, to empty my bag and share its contents.
Baby Rambles’s bag challenge is as follows: empty out your bag and select some things you found in it. The more obscure or embarrassing the better. You can list them or take a photo. Or you can take a photo of the entire contents if you like. Be honest, no editing of bag contents.
I am off to Centre Parcs in less than 48 hours so a handbag empty out and changeover is require but time being limited decided to enlist Mr L with the video camera, pre-holiday recharge so here for your delight is my first (possibly last depending on the comments!) Vlog!
Please note this post is NOT in anyway sponsored by anyone although having just watched it back I do manage to name drop Mulberry, Sainsbury’s, Cosatto, Moo cards, Ella’s Fruit Squeezies & Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream!
So does your handbag, or manbag, need a clear out?! Come on let’s see what you’re carrying around with you!
*Updated 28th April 2010* Emma over at Mummy Musings also tagged me for this – thank you and gave me the lovely Sunshine award you see on my sidebar – thank you lovely x
