HOMum

Very very helpful - I have set up a meal plan and a budget for next week, planning to buy all the food on sunday (or as much as possible) and see how we go, thank you for all the tips. P.s. I am sorry Grotty if I have taken away from you orginial post in anyway

Would love advice on what kind of meals I could cook weekly on a budget of roughly ?60 p/w for a couple and a 2 year old (she eats what we eat) We shop daily (ish) as whenever we shop weekly we tend to spend too much and/or have a lot of wastage that we cant afford.

Anyway, I am looking forward to trying Miguel out too, I have been watching this thread with interestand he only seems to get praise.

I wish I could click 'like' no 'live' your post Otta. I am a mum to a 2.5 year old and so far I have succeeded in the no barbie dolls! She is very rarely in pink, as I am loathe to buy it. I hate the whole stereotype and she is pretty rounded so far. Her favourite thing in the whold world at the moment is her mini micro scooter!

Wrong thread.

Hello EDF, I just wanted to take the time to recommend Leanne. She has been my personal trainer since the end of August. My main goal was to fit in to my wedding dress which I ordered 2 sizes too small, as I wanted to lose my long overdue baby weight! My wedding day is 5th April and on Saturday I went for my first dress fitting and my dress fits! and needs to be taken in a little! Leanne knew I would fit in to my dress and has been absolutely brilliant. She is really motivating and we have done all kinds of exercise to keep it interesting! (Boxing at a boxing gym/circuit training/aerobics... etc etc) It is/was hard work but it has been so worthwhile and I know that without her I may never have put in as much hard work as I have done. But in saying that, I started with two sessions a week and then dropped down to one and this suited me, so you can do whatever you feel manageable with any restraints you may have. Of course you need to be sensible with food too, and Leanne would analyse my food diaries for me, to make sure I was on track. I had my last session with Leanne in the middle of January as financially things were getting a bit tight with all the final wedding bills! I paid Leanne to create me my own personal exercise plan that I could do at home and that has been invaluable too. If you are thinking or losing a few pounds or just wanting to feel fitter or happier give Leanne a call. It is so easy to think you will do it by yourself, or start next month, but working with Leanne made my goal real, and I have lost over 3 inches everywhere and from only the 1st January I have lost 18lbs! It is ?30 a class for 1 hour and can be shared with another person. Details are below: Leanne Spencer Bodyshot Personal Training W: www.bodyshot-pt.co.uk T: 07401 441 818 E: [email protected]

I am not on the fast diet, but have tried them noodles once before - they were disgusting!! I definitely think i would rather eat nothing!

We regularly use M&S for parties, including all the sandwich platters, desserts and most of there other party nibbles too! After you have bought all the bits in yourself and then spent all your time making the sandwiches etc they never look the same or taste as good as we think the M&S ones do. You may as well save yourself some time (and perhaps spend a little more money - although we always think it works out to be quite cost effective as long as you are careful not to over order) and enjoy what M&S have to offer! They usually only need 5 working days for an order, and in some cases for basic sandwiches just 2 days. Would definitely recommend.

Starting this week I am back down to 4 days a week at work with a Friday off which I am very pleased about! I wondered if the people of this lovely forum could recommend/give details of classes and events thats happen specifically on a Friday that we could start attending? My little girl is 2.5 years old.

Is there a fee to get in?

Can I also ask - If my daughter will be going in to reception in September 2014 - when do I apply? Not until Sept 2013? And when do I go and have a look - as soon as I want? so as to avoid not getting to see it closer to the time? I am quite confused by the whole process! Our first choice is St Anthony's (where I also went) and my mum tells me we were on the lists form very early on (much before we were 2!) Any advice on this?

katgod - I think that this is my concern and just which way is the 'norm' I guess everyone finds their own 'normal' according to their set-up.

When my daughter was 9 months old she got hold of and bit in to a liqui-tab for the washing machine. It happened in the space of maybe 20 seconds and almost immediately she was gagging. She was not left on her own, we were both in the kitchen and we were putting away the shopping. The cupboard (they all had locks on) was open whilst I was putting away items from the shopping bags. In the time to put something in the fridge and turning around again her mouth was around a liqui-tab. I am not a bad parent. I have/had taken every precaution in my house to prevent such a scenario buy it still happened. My daughter was being violently sick, and I rushed her to hospital. She was very listless and sleepy and sick. We stayed late in to the night, didnt actually receive any medication but she was tested and x-rayed around the throat area as they feared the liquid may have burned her. She was lucky, only a tiny bit of the liquid actually made it in to her mouth. She went on to be very hoarse for a few days but had no long term injuries at all. However, the experience I had at the hospital was absolutely horrific. The doctor (a woman - I dont know if that makes a difference?!) actually told me that I have to be more aware of my surroundings and was I aware that having a child meant having responsibilities... I was already heartbroken that this had happened and to be spoken to like that just left me speechless and even more upset. When my fiance arrived he couldnt believe the state I was in, and was just very angry about the whole situation! Anyway, the moral of my story is accidents happen. Never be so quick to judge. And I certianly have never bought a liqui-tab again!

At the moment my 2 year old attends a nursery that will offer the 15 hours free schooling and it can be used for 'full' days. She currently only attends one day a week and the nursery is open 51 weeks of the year. (I am aware that the 'free' schooling will be pro rated as it is only offered 38 weeks of the year) Do I leave her here until applying for school (as we can get full days and wont need to find cover in any school holidays) OR do we get her in to a school nursery we would like her to go to where she will be offered 5 mornings/afternoons a weeks and will still have to pay for childcare every day to pick up and look after until one of us is home? And it is only 38 weeks a year so would need cover every school holiday? I really dont know what is the better option, Grandma looks after her 2 days a week so in terms of cost leaving her where she is is probably the better option, and I know that being in a school nursery holds no bearing as to whether she will get in to a school - but what is better for her...? Sorry for rambling...I am just so unsure..what have other people decided to do? Edited to add: as of 1st October I will be working full time - so my daughter will be attending an extra 2 days at nursery.

I love the older names (some coming back 'in')... particularly like: Ruby Pearl Olive Darcy Elsie Gracie Beatrice (Bea) Lois Ida Nancy

Hi there, Am wondering if EDF can help me again! My daughter just turned 2 (August 2nd) and am fully aware that I need to apply for School Nursery for her this year in order to get a place next year... When do application forms need to be in by? Where do I get these application forms - the council or the school? or does it differ? We are on Landcroft Road - what are our chances with the local schools bearing in mind this is our first child? Am struggling to find any relevant info on many schools or the council websites and now the schools have broken up for the holidays! The only school I am fully aware about and how the process works is St. Anthony's. Thanks

WOW! Only just checled back at the post, lots of ideas. We have a budget of around ?2,000-?2,500, going for just 7 days as we dont want to leave our then 2.5 year old any longer, and we are getting married in April 2013 - I want a hot (in temperature!) honeymoon - so we are thinking maybe somewhere along the indian ocean...

why? how long for? we cant decide?!

http://www.stanthonys.southwark.sch.uk/admissions/index.php

I phoned them last week RE: nursery admissions for Sept 2013. They said you just fill in the online addmissions form and either post or email no earlier than Sept 2012 and no later than Jan 2013. I imagine there will be firm dates posted nearer the time but the lady I spoke to said please do not send over the summer as there are extensive renovations and it isnt worth the risk of it being misplaced. Hope this helps.

Ditto what KatsuQueen said! I am a working mum, I get no help whatsoever with childcare. or anything else for that matter.

So is it the consensus that whatever your daily points are definitely use them all up and feel free to use weekly's too - as this is when people have lost the lb's? Week 2 weigh in yesterday and have lost 6lbs so far, I havent touched the weekly allowances though - although I wouldnt mind a glass of vino now and again! :-)

We haven't - in fact these are the only ones we have used since she was 3 months old (now 20 months) - each baby is different though and there so many other contributing factors - this weather and wet nappies will make bubba uncomfortable a lot quicker than normal anyway...

I have taken up WW again after reading this thread! so thank you. I had my baby 20 months ago now and I am getting married next April so there are no excuses! I need to get on with it! I want to lose about three stone by my wedding and I have lost 2.5 stone since I had my daughter (I put on an awful lot of weight whilst pregnant!) I am on 29 points and it has changed a little since I was last on it - any top tips to stay on daily allowance? Amydown - I say go for a short run each morning and then treat yourself within reason - you are on holiday after all. But just stop when you are feeling full and say no to desserts! :) We are on holiday in 4 weeks and I want to give myself a kickstart before we go. Thank you for giving me back my motivation!

We have a 16.5 month old little girl who is very knowing and very interested in the 'adult' loo too. She is aware when she is about to poo and also when she has done a poo. (pulling at nappy, putting down there and also pulling out changing mat and wipes) I often have nappy off time at home, she has the little girl potty book and so far we have successfully had many wees in potty and 1 poo. She seems happy to do this and claps herself. Nanny bought her a clever little potty that spits stars out, if she has done anything! - this potty couldn't practically come everywhere with us though, too big and doesn't break down easily. She goes to nap time with a fresh nappy and often has a clean nappy after her 1/2 hour sleep. We haven't braved leaving the house without a nappy on. Any ideas on what I should do next?