So a couple of weeks ago Lil H & I spent a FABULOUS morning with the team at Kellogg’s and lots of lovely bloggers. Check out this post  to see the beautiful bloggers with links to all their Snap, Crackle & Blog posts.

Mum bloggers were there because mums rock and make the world go round, well maybe that too, but mainly as the key household decision makers and primary feeders of the family.

Salt and sugar levels in cereal was discussed early on with the overriding perception being that they were high. My take is that breakfast cereals are one of, if not the, largest food categories. This makes them one of the largest and highest profile media targets to raise awareness of healthy dietary advice to reduce salt and sugar intakes. The reality at Kellogg’s is that enormous reductions in salt and sugar levels, over 50% in some products, have been made and Kellogg’s has a committed and ongoing programme to focus on continued reductions without compromising taste.

Sara one of the team of nutritionists shocked the room with the stats that 1 in 6 children skip breakfast and that £646million (of parents hard earned NET income, makes me want to weep!) is spent on sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks on the way to school. OMG! Sometimes time is short at Lancaster Towers on a pre-school morning and that’s where cereal bars are particularly useful – an alfresco breakfast on the school run. Lil H regards this as a special treat which is interesting given an alfresco breakfast to means we are seriously running late which is not a treat in my book!

I checked on the milk recommendations as I’ve just moved Baby G from formula to whole milk and shall switch over to semi-skimmed when she turns two. Changing from full fat to semi-skimmed is a lesser known fact, I talked about this before here. Just one more year of more milk types than fridge space for us then, what are you pouring on your Cornflakes? We ate and took home lots of cereal and cereal bars, Kellogg’s new Coco Pops Choc ‘n’ Roll is crunchier and less sweet than Coco Pops now Mr L’s favourite with milk and Baby G has them dry as a snack. Lil H does Cornflakes but likes to stick Choc ‘n’ Roll as wheels on his artistic efforts.

Of all the information shared during the morning when Greg Pearson, Managing Director of Kellogg’s in the UK told us “doing whats right for the population is right Kellogg’s” was the key thought for me. Kellogg’s are focussed on doing the right thing for families and are very much on our side.

Kellogg’s hosted the best blog event I have yet to have the pleasure of attending, Lil H had a blast in the crèche – thanks so much to everyone involved in organising the day – it really was great.

Now why not check out the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club here which links to all the Snap, Crackle & Blog posts.

On Friday Lil H and I were invited to join Kelloggs for their Snap, Crackle and Blog event for Mum Bloggers.  We had a really great morning, a really great morning, but before I tell you more about that I’d like to introduce you the bloggers snap, crackle & popping:

Left to right, starting on the front row we have:  The Coffee Lady, Time Management Mum, Mum The Mad House and Second Time Mum

Along the middle:  Not Such a Yummy Mummy, And 1 More Means 4 (+1 =5!),  The Five F’s Blog, Not Super Mum, Typecast, Small Hand in Mine and Sandy Calico.

Balancing on chairs at the back:  Sqidgyboo and yours truly, Cheshire Mum!

Below is a McLinky to all their fabulous Snap, Crackle and Blog posts so do please head over to theirs and hear about their experience at Kelloggs whilst I get busy downloading my photo’s and writing my thoughts to share with you.

We were very pleased to be invited to experience a morning at Build-a-Bear Workshop at The Trafford Centre. I’d seen the stores and always past by. I was aware of friends with older children who had built-a-bear. I’d seen ads on TV but had never been inside a store. In my head it was something which Lil’ H (3.5yrs) was probably approaching the zone for but Baby G (13mths) I thought would be too young – I was really very wrong with that assumption. Both my two thoroughly enjoyed the experience and each chose the bears they built and we had a really great morning.

We went to Build-a-Bear at The Trafford Centre in Manchester. It is a big place so if you are heading there parking at The Orient or Debenhams areas and you will reach the store easily. We met up with Amy (@and1moremeans5) with the youngest three of her brood which is always great fun, having allowed an unnecessary amount of extra time for the snow I had time to browse the Disney store, which is opposite Build-A-Bear, to see what grabbed Lil H and Baby G’s attention for a return solo Christmas shopping trip. 

The Build-a-Bear Workshop is teddy-tastic you name it there is a teddy and/or an outfit, with coordinating shoes, natch!  Cats, dogs, reindeer, frogs and bears, of course, pink ones, blues, black ones, sparkly ones, curly ones I was creating a long list and trying to narrow it down in my head thinking future heirloom (hold on to that heirloom thought!)  I forgot I wasn’t actually building-a-bear, Lil’ H and Baby G were, but really I’d be doing G’s right?  Wrong!  I picked up a traditional brown teddy bear to discover Baby G clutching a bunny rabbit she’d chosen, aw bunny was sweet, of course she could build a bunny. 

Lil’ H was still standing near the door pointing “I want this one mummy” I was speechless, I did not know bears like this one existed.  I cannot bring myself to show it to you yet, brace yourself though!  Amy hadn’t arrived yet so I thought I’d have time to *ahem* work on this decision.  I tried.  However this bear was THE ONE.  Jackie was great with the littlies having chosen their teddies, off to choose a sound for them to make, again G picked hers out herself, she listened to about three and got all giddy for the laughing one – aw a bunny that giggles, so cute.  H absolutely adamant on his choice of sound too *sigh* the theme tune to star wars, why? I ask you, why?!

Then its off to give these bears a good stuffing!  All the children were involved in stepping on the pedal, choosing their hearts, warming their hearts, whispering wishes – they are totally engaged in the process of bringing these guys to life and off for a brush and a pamper before its time to get dressed.  What a choice – I wish I had that many options that would all fit me, Baby G’s with a little bit of help picked out some Hello Kitty knickers (who knew bears wore knickers?) but no bear leaves the store without its undies, a Hello Kitty T-shirt, denim skirt teamed with Ugg boots.  Oh and some ear bows, natch!  Her name is Bo and she’s cute, yes? 

H finished his freaky eclectic teddy bear, I may have screamed just a little bit when I saw the fully dressed teddy.  Its didn’t stop there, when H was creating the birth certificate for his Teddy Amy and I could not contain ourselves … I mean this ain’t no HEIRLOOM!  What would you call a bear that plays the theme tune to Star Wars and looks like this? 

So a little competition, just for fun, can you guess what my Lil’ H named his bear?  Answers in the comments box below, I’ll pop back next Sunday night & reveal if its not been guessed by then.

Build-a-bear, in summary, it was so much better than I imagined, not just a shop we had a genuine experience there.  Baby G really got a lot out of it at just 1 year old and Lil’ H at 3.5years adored everything about it.  I will definitely be gifting the gift vouchers this Christmas and for Birthday’s next year and will be buying Lil H a new outfit for his bear – come January that outfit is going to be so 2010!  I have no doubt a birthday party there would be a whole lot of fun too. 

A big thank you to Build-a-Bear Workshop and to Helen and especially Jackie for looking after us so well.  The new additions to our family, they will be very well cared for.

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

This is an open invite to all and any mummy, daddy, blogging, twitterers…

Having met up with many bloggers across the last year or so, without exception this has been with my lovely kids.  Myself and Amy felt it was about time we made a plan to get out without the children and with some wine instead!  This we are calling a #twineup we’ll grab a bite to eat, drink some wine and put the world to rights for a couple of hours! 

Date & Time:  Thursday 30th September 2010, 8pm

Where:  Sweet Mandarin 19 Copperas Street, Manchester, M4 1HS

RSVP:  Please do let me know so I can confirm numbers
By comment below, email lancaster.claire@gmail.com or DM to @Cheshire_Claire