Ready Parenting Tip of the day #2: If your children have soft toys (have an identical spare one)

Last night when Cuchi went to bed, she realised her Makka Pakka cuddly was not on her bed. She sleeps with that Makka Pakka since we got it for her over two years ago. We take it with us everywhere we travel.

It seems that Boo-boo was playing with it in the morning. Daddy put it in the stairs and closed the gate to avoid Boo-boo losing it somewhere in the house.

We looked for Makka Pakka everywhere! In every room, under beds, behind furniture, in the toilet, in cupboards. Cuchi was in her bedroom waiting for us. So, Daddy decided to ask Cuchi for her help. She helped us looking for Makka Pakka... and suddenly she remembered she had put it away to avoid Boo-boo taking it. She put it inside one of the kitchen drawers...

If we had another one, we could have replaced it quickly and avoid that half an hour of anguish looking for that toy!

Ready Parenting tip of the day #1 - Buy wrapping paper and greeting cards in bulk

I'm starting the Ready Parenting tip of the day as there are hundreds of useful tips I would like to share.

Today we have a party to go. I avoid buying paper bags for kids presents, I wrap them up with wrapping paper as it is cheaper.

What is cheaper than wrapping paper? Wrapping paper bought in bulk!

If you buy them in bulk, you won't just save some money, you will have wrapping paper ready. One thing less to think about! I do the same with greeting cards.

UK readers can buy 10 SHEETS OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY WRAPPING PAPER and 50 mixed selection pack of birthday / greeting cards at Amazon UK.

US readers can buy a Bulk Pack of 25 - Animal print Happy Birthday flat wrapping paper (Each) By Bulk Buys and an Assorted Children's Birthday Greeting Cards 30 Pack

Or you can make your own!!

Note: this tip doesn't work if you live in a very humid place where wrapping paper can get humid and smelly.

April showers intensify allergies

First of all, let's define allergy:

"An allergy is the response of the body's immune system to a normally harmless substance such as pollen, food, house dust mite" (source: Allergy UK).

April showers is the common term that refers to the rain occurring in the month of April or spring time.


It is widely known that during spring time, pollen or grass allergy sufferers simply agonise. I am an example of this! Teary eyes, dripping and itchy nose are body reactions to a threat or allergen. The allergen is the pollen or grass. Therefore, in spring time, when the pollen index is at its maximum, the allergies rise.


Now, what happens when it rains during the spring? Do April showers intensify allergies? Although rain clears the air (so, in theory, reduces the pollen in the air), when rain stops, it makes plants and grass grow. Therefore, it helps pollen to spread, so allergic people tend to suffer more.


Any solutions? As we cannot stop rain, we can keep an arsenal of antihistamines at home or in the office. Some examples below:

Antihistamines will help you cope with the day to day activities at home or in the office. Don't suffer, do something about it!

What to do on a rainy day?

Reservoirs in England must be filling up very quickly now. At least, that is what we expect and hope. It's been raining for two weeks non stop and the rain  promises to stay.

So what to do on a rainy day if we have kids?

Cuchi goes to Ballet, indoor tennis and swimming. What else? We have playdates with her pre-school friends and we do activities like:

• Playing with her tunnel toy. Both girls go through it and enjoy a lot!!

• Paint and colouring. I go to the Pound store (dollar store) to buy stickers and colouring pads that are used on a rainy day.
• Dress up! Kids love to dress up. Try getting some dress up clothes second hand in charity shops boot sales. They become handy on a rainy day!
• Read books
• Watch a movie or go to the movies. Although my girls are little, some older kids could go to matinee sessions.
• There are plenty of rainy day activities for free. 

When you go out and about on a rainy day, bring an extra pair of clothes. Cuchi got wet today, fortunately I'm always prepared and she got changed!

Good luck and don't get wet!

Pre-School admissions outcome

We received the outcome of pre-school admissions on the evening of Wednesday 18th April. Fortunately for us, it was a good result. We got our first choice of pre-school for Cuchi.

We had to apply for schools by 15th January and then wait 3 long months for the result. Many people is not happy as they didn't get their first or second choice.

A friend of my husband said that he got the 3rd choice and it is an hour away from home. That sounds ridiculous!

My first choice of school is a two-form, it has two classes of thirty students each. Out of the sixty places, thirty four were siblings. More than half, that means more than one class!

Next steps:
We have to accept or reject the offer within 2 weeks. Then the council will inform the school and the school will get in touch with the accepted families.

What to do if you don't like the outcome:
You don't accept and can request to be in the waiting list for your first choice. It is a good idea to do this as many people decline their previous option.

You can appeal, but the probability to get a positive outcome is slim.

Good luck!

Cuchi and Boo boo

Since this is my first post, I decided to introduce my two girls by their nicknames:

Cuchi:

Cuchi (pronounced as "coochi") is my eldest daughter. She is a three and a half lovely girly girl that seems to go through puberty sometimes. I gave her this nickname because Cuchi is the Spanish slang for cute.

Her favourite colours are pink and purple. Her favourite cuddly is Makka Pakka from "In the Night Garden" although she already outgrown the show. Her single flowered duvet cover is from Cath Kidston and she has a Disney Princesses banner which includes Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Snow White. However, her favourite princess is Cinderella.

Cuchi loves to read books, or pretend to read books. Some of her favourite are from Julia Donaldson, Dora the Explorer, Spot and Dr. Seuss.

Her favourite activities are watching TV, going to the park and shopping... Her favourite TV programs are Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom, Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse, Jack and the Neverland Pirates, Max and Ruby, The Hive and Humf.

Cuchi goes to pre-school and attends a few classes like swimming, tennis and occasionally gymnastics. She loves playdates!


Boo-boo:
Boo-boo my thirteen months old baby. Still my little baby, she is growing and growing, walking and almost running.  Boo-boo is becoming a toddler.

I gave her this nickname because I used to say Cuchi was like Yogi Bear, the one who knows the tricks and the baby was Boo-boo because she follows Yogi.

Although little, Boo-boo likes to watch some of Cuchi's favourite programs. She loves walking, opening cupboards and drawers, Cuchi's toy piano, remote controls and phones. Not a surprise as she is starting to discover the big world out there.

Boo-boo goes swimming classes since she was six month old, she goes to nursery four mornings a week to socialise with other babies and adults. I think this is very important for her and for me.


My mornings are dedicated to do occasional freelance work, house chores, project planning and writing.

I will post my adventures and misadventures with my two jewels. We have great moments and great lines to share.