A really useful gift

I received an offer recently that couldn't have come at a better time.  Trutex contacted me offering me uniform for the twins.  My boys are world champions when it comes to wearing out the knees in their school uniform trousers.  I swear they move around school on their knees not their feet.

The lovely people at Trutex sent us a pair of trousers and a polo shirt each for the boys. 

Jarvis was just not getting in the zone for this particular photo shoot !  Nothing says "I don't want my photo taken" than round shoulders.

Many thanks to Trutex for the uniform, the quality is so much better than the cheap supermarket uniform we have been buying.  I'll let you know if it stands up to the knee test.

*We were sent the uniform to review and keep, we were not paid for this post and the content is mine.

30 years ago today...

I remember exactly what I was doing.  Do you ?

I know, because I was lying in a Military hospital bed in Northern Ireland in a bed next to a beautiful 21 yr old girl who had been shot in the back and legs six times . 

We were told that Argentina had invaded the Falkland Islands.

Like many people at the time we were a bit confused.  The Falklands ? isn't that above Scotland somewhere ? why would the Argentinians invade there ?  We soon found out where it actually was. 

I don't want to get into the politics or history of the situation, all I know is the people side of why.

As a serving soldier I was involved in the Northern Ireland and the Falklands conflict. I served with the Intelligence corps in Northern Ireland and came into contact with the "ordinary" people.  In the Falklands I spent R & R with a family, I spent time in Port Stanley, I listened to their views, their hopes and dreams.

 For me at that time it was simple.  We were there to defend people who were British, who thought of themselves as British, who spoke English, who wanted to be part of Britain.  That simple, whatever your views or politics it really was that simple.

2nd Independents Day - Supporting Independent Businesses

BE AN INDIVIDUAL, SHOP INDEPENDENT

Today is the 29th of the Month so it must be #IndependentsDay.   We had a great response last month to our first ever Independents Day (it's deliberately spelt that way just in case you think I am spelling it wrong ) *smiles* .

 I really hope we can grow this to show support to all the hard working people out there who have been brave enough to go it alone and set up their own businesses. I truly believe Independent businesses will be a major factor in putting the GREAT back into this country.  But we have to get out there and promote ourselves.  It's no good just setting up a website, bricks and mortar shop/business, on line business and just sitting back expecting the customers to turn up.  I know from experience it doesn't work like that.  You have to work at it and by using Social Media (which is mostly FREE) you CAN make a massive difference to your business. 

Here's how it works :

If you have a blog, please write a short post mentioning and linking to three or so independent businesses that you follow, buy from or just plain admire. You can of course link to your own business if you want to. Its all about building up the links to help people find our businesses.

Leave a comment below with a link to your blog so we can all pop over and take a look. It would be really great if you would link back to this post and if you want grab the badge code.

and/or

Tweet about the independent businesses you are supporting and mentioning the hashtag #IndependentsDay

and/or

Link or share this or your own post on your Facebook page and encourage others to share

You don't have to be an independent business to get involved or have a blog. Comments, tweets and Facebook mentions will all help enormously.

Below are this months featured independent businesses.

  I will be featuring more each month so if you want to get involved please leave a comment below so I can find you.

http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/   Creating fingerprint Jewellery, hand, foot and pet castings and impressions.

http://minimagpie.com/   The coolest upcycled clothes you are likely to find anywhere

http://www.coombemill.com/   Family Farm Holidays in Cornwall

http://www.charliemoos.co.uk/   Award winning Party Bags

http://musicbus.com/about-us/   Pre-school music for babies and toddlers. Making music fun

http://www.attachatag.co.uk/   Clothes labelling made easy

http://byjada.com/collections    Fine Jewellery

Please leave your comments and Link up your blogs and businesses below

It's Easter so it must be Aldi

We were thrilled to receive this lovely selection of Aldi treats. Perfect for Easter and with 3 boys in the house always great value.

We are regular shoppers at Aldi where they offer high quality, brand like products at the best low prices I have found anywhere.  If you are yet to pop along to one of their shops you might like to know that they won 128 performance awards in 2011 including Grocer discounter of the Year and second place in the Which ? Annual Supermarket Satisfaction Market Survey, beating many of the top supermarket names.

Do you like my Easter bunny and basket ?  Found for just £1 in the charity shop and perfect for popping these Choceur Marzipan mini eggs in . £1.49 for 200g.

Think this one is for me *big smile* no really, has my name on it, saw it on the inside as I gobbled it all up.  Absolutely too die for Choceur Flame Egg just £2.99 it is so worth it.  Real luxury chocolate egg with milk and white chocolates inside. YUMMY !

Selection of chocolate treats perfect for the boys and their friends. A large selection of treats on sale just for Easter.  Range in price from just 79p for the chocolate bunny, 99p for the marshmallows if you want a non-chocolaty treat to £1.89 for the luxury filled mini eggs.

and if your children (or you ) Love Haribo then you will love this new range just launched at Aldi.  Haribo Jelly Jungle, Farmyard Friends and Fizzy Seaworld all at just 89p for a 225g bag !

*We were sent these items curtesy of Aldi.  All words are my own and I wrote the post because I wanted to : )

Whitestep cozy wrap giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

The winner as picked out of the hat by Jarvis is

MISSY

CONGRATULATIONS

Thank you to everybody who entered, more giveaways coming soon

************************************

Although I am long past the baby stage I was really pleased to be offered a cozy wrap to giveaway by the online baby shop Whitestep.

When no 1 son was a baby there wasn't anything similar on the market and I used to carry him around in a really uncomfortable sling that dug into my shoulders and really didn't give me any contact with my baby.  When the twins came along it really was impossible to try and carry two babies at the same time unless of course I had been an all in wrestler.

Whitestep say :

" We are passionate about products that are functional, practical and beautiful with a twist of innovation and lots of style. The Cozy baby wrap is no exception…

Having your baby close is comforting for you both, and promotes your baby’s well-being and development. Babies who are carried cry less, soothed by your warmth, closeness and the sound of your heartbeat. Comfortable and ergonomically designed, the Cozy wrap can be worn in one of four positions, so you can adapt to your baby’s needs as they grow.

Baby wrap frees you to do more, and puts your child right in the middle of the action. Whether shopping, travelling, or just doing the housework, your baby is with you at all times, listening to your conversations, and watching you go about day to day life.

Cozy wrap is made with just the right amount of elasticity to calm your baby with a soothing rocking effect, resembling womb-like movements. A handy small pocket in the wrap is perfect for keeping small items like keys handy, and the Cozy wrap comes in three stylish colour combinations, so you can show off your new baby in style! "

 The Cozy wrap is made from high quality materials – 95% cotton and 5% spandex for elasticity, and is fully machine washable.

To enter the giveaway all you need to do is to follow this blog and leave a comment below telling me why you would like a cozy wrap.

You will get one additional comment for each of the following (but not necessary)  :

If you want to follow me on twitter and leave a comment https://twitter.com/#!/allaboutheboys

Follow Whitestep on twitter and leave a comment https://twitter.com/#!/WhitestepUK

Giveaway ends on Monday 2nd April 2012 at 8.00pm

Winner will be picked at random

Prize will be despatched from the supplier

open to UK residents only (sorry)

GOOD LUCK