We Have Moved

Hi everyone

Sorry I’ve been quiet, it’s been a combination of back to school madness for the boys and tonsillitis for me.

But, I’m back and my big news is that justbecause has a new home!

From today you will find the same great stories, fab reviews, revealing interviews, ‘mums on the run’, exciting competitions and so much more, just at a new address http://justbecauseilove.co.uk

Please drop by and say hello and if you can follow me once again (it is really easy) that would be great, you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks for all your support and hope to see you over at http://justbecauseilove.co.uk very soon.

Nat x

So, You Think You Can Be a Model?

I’m many things, but a model I’m not. However I have some gorgeous friends and family who I think should enter a new competition to be the face of ‘Dress Me A List’ (http://www.dressmealist.com/).

Dress Me a List is a brilliant website that allows you to follow the style of your favourite celebs without breaking the bank. As well as fab clothes and accessories, video tutorials show you how to do your hair and make-up making this a one stop ‘A list’ shop.

Dress Me a List is the brainchild of model and dancer, Naomi Millbank-Smith, who for a super smart, stunning, career minded mum of 1, is really down to earth and totally likeable (damn it).  

So, Naomi is on the Sunday Spotlight today to tell us about her search for the new face of ‘Dress Me A List’.

Tell me a bit about the competition.

The competition launched on Monday 3rd September, with http://www.singderella.com, and
will run for 3 weeks. There are 4 judges from across the fashion industry including myself, who will choose 4 – 6 finalists and then there is a public vote to decide the new face of ‘Dress Me A List’.

Full details can be seen at http://www.singderella.com/Competition/dmal

Why run a competition rather than pick a model from an agency?

I wanted to run this competition to find a real gem that may not be your general stereo type model. They may not be tall enough to be signed to an agency but they have beauty within and this will shine through their pictures.

Where did the idea come from?

The idea came from me and Singderella and we thought it would be great to give someone from the general public the chance to become the face of the company and win some fantastic prizes.

What is your ideal “face”?

There is no ideal face; I want people of all looks, races, sizes to enter. Someone who thinks they would be a good brand ambassador for my company.

You started modelling at just 4, what’s the secret of success?

The secret to my success has been ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again’. I was told ‘no’ many times but if you’re confident within yourself and know that is what you want to do you
will make it, just as I did.

What’s your opinion on size zero models and do you really need to be that thin to make it?

Absolutely not, beauty should not be classed through size. The very first model I used for my 1st ever campaign was a size 12 and she was gorgeous. I wanted to show from the start that our clothes are for normal women with curves.

What was your most memorable modelling experience?

I’ve had some great experiences throughout my career but maybe one that stands out is shooting in Paris under the Eifel Tower.

Shipwreck – good or bad experience?

Shipwrecked was a great experience and I wouldn’t be where I was now if it wasn’t for that show. I didn’t make the most of it whilst I was there but to have had that experience and to have shared that with some people who are still now close friends was amazing. I can’t wait to tell my son all about how mummy lived on a beach for 3 months!

Dress me a List is a great concept – how does it differ from other sites out there?

Dress Me A List differs from other sites as we are the first site to offer a ‘finish the look’ section where customers can find the outfit they want to purchase and then follow a link to find out how to get their hair or make up like that particular celeb. I will soon be offered a made to measure dress service and we always make sure we have affordable celeb style dresses.

Who are you style icons?

If I’m ever stuck for something to wear, I look up Lauren Conrad and Audrina Partridge from the hills.
I love Audrina’s style; she’s cool and casual but always looks perfect!

What is your everyday style and how do you “keep it real”?

I have a 20 month old but I still always find time to make sure I look good; I like to be causal during the day and tend to go for a more rock chick vibe as it’s easy to throw together. I love studding and spiking things to make them unique and will always almost have some kind or skull or cross on me somewhere!

What looks are hot for A/W 2012?

Our hot looks are bright and bold prints and also a lot of animal print is coming through this A/W we
also love our Goth/rock chick vibe and will be expanding this.

If you can’t afford a whole new wardrobe but want to look on trend, what is your advice?

My advice is to visit http://www.dressmealist.com and select the celeb you want the style of, select one of the items then learn how to finish the look and feel like an A list star on your own budget!

We will be coming back to speak to Naomi again in a few weeks to see how the competition is progressing and find out about some of the applicants and finalists!

If you want ideas of who to look like your favourite celeb, or simply get some new style ideas take a look at http://www.dressmealist.com/ and to enter the competition head over to http://www.singderella.com/Competition

Nat x

Saturday Spotlight – Arabian Nights

Say ‘tent’ and I immediately think Millets, rain and mud, but today’s Saturday Spotlight is a world away from such connotations.

Katherine Hudson is the Founder & Director of The Arabian Tent Company (http://www.arabiantents.com/) and only run this fantastic, successful business but has fun whilst doing it. From doing deals with Davina McCall to throwing super parties in the Nevada Desert, this lady knows how to throw a party and I am guessing having a friend who is a tequila connoisseur helps keep things entertaining!

What made you set up your first tent company?

At age 19 I was inspired by outdoor parties and decided I wanted to throw my own. I knew this would be a test run to see if I could do it, and searched
everywhere for a unique and beautiful marquee to hire… I couldn’t find anything suitable so I had to buy one!  

I managed to find an Arabian tent through a friend of a friend who’d brought it back from Pakistan, it was old and a bit worn but it was more interesting than anything available to hire at the time, so I took it.

From then on my passion for tented events grew; I used all my holiday from my PA job and took to the festival circuit as a cafe. I realized my strengths and weaknesses as time went on and realised I wanted to focus more on creating a magical atmosphere, which is what I’ve spent my time doing with Arabian Tents, I’m extremely proud of the collection of interiors and furniture we now have.

How have you grown the company and how do you attract new clients?

The Arabian Tent Company has grown really organically over the years; I’ve always focused on doing the very best job humanly possible and being helpful and friendly at all times. When your customer service is excellent, recommendations come thick and fast.

Now we have two sister companies to think about too (The Pearl tent Company and The Complete Chillout Company) we are spending a lot
more time on getting PR, we’ve found that social media works really well for us and editorial on blogs!

I heard you had some pretty impressive clients, can you tell me more?

We do a lot of parties for ‘famous’ people although usually don’t find out who they are until we do the set-up as it’s usually done through event organisers. The one exception was Davina McCall who called me directly (it’s quite funny when you’re called by such a familiar voice!) and was very savvy to deal with – I think she even managed to wangle a discount!

What is the key to throwing an amazing party?

The real key to throwing the best party you possibly can is to relax your guests so they feel fully themselves. This is done through a combination of creating a beautiful environment (beauty is inspiring), comfortable looking seating (very important – I believe people don’t feel relaxed unless they know they have somewhere they can rest!), interesting and interactive entertainment (walkabout characters/entertainment is great for this), a DJ/ band that can feed the energy of a crowd and of course delicious food and drink (although sometimes too much of the latter can mean that your guests won’t necessarily remember the details of how brilliant it was!).

I have seen some gorgeous photos of you travelling – what is your favourite part of the world and why?

I’m not very good at favourites so I’d amalgamate the fresh, natural beauty of New Zealand, the night-life and steak houses of Argentina with the inspirational people and culture of India. Let’s call it New Zegendia – it’s an intriguing paradise!

I know you had some set backs but have kept fighting, what makes you keep giving to your business and growing it?

Because the more you give, the more you get! My business has taught me so much that I’m totally indebted to it! It’s been my complete university of life, taught me to use my instincts and helped me mould my own morality. I love the creativity it allows me to have and it’s so satisfying knowing that you’ve built something from an idea…I believe I can do anything I put my mind to now. I’ve put so much time, effort and passion into Arabian Tents, it’s my baby!

Where do you source your tents and supplies?

I design all of the tents and interiors and source the materials from all over the world; much of the fabric comes from India where the tents are made. I go every year to design a new interior and to be part of the process.

The ornaments and accessories have been picked up along the way on my travels; some from India, Morocco, Argentina and Thailand and the combination of the tents, furniture and ornaments is an explosion of culture.

Who would you say is your business guru and who inspires you?

I don’t have a neatly packaged business guru, but I will admit to being a sucker for Richard Branson! I love his straight-talking open-ness – he’s certainly not afraid of a challenge and I am in awe of what he has achieved.

What plans do you have for the future?

So many! We’ve just taken on a brand new kind of tent for 2012, the Stretch Tent is fabulous, it can be put up anywhere, stretched over anything (water features, trees and steps to name a few ideas) and bolted onto buildings! It’s a great way to have a garden party without getting wet!

I’m sure we’re going to have lots of fun with these this year; they’re already proving very popular.

With Summer drawing to a close I’ve been thinking a lot about winter projects, we are going to launch some really unique and exciting Christmas parties in the next year or so.. it takes a lot of planning to put on something like this and we’re still in the early stages but I’m really excited about it.

This year we will be unveiling our new showroom in East Sussex, we will have each interior on display so you can feel what it’s like to be inside each one, we’ll also have a draping section where The Complete Chillout Company will show off what they can do to transform your party venue.

What is the best party you have helped create?

Oooh, so many to choose from! However, one of the highlights was being part of a group of friends who brought The Untied Embassy to the Burning Man Festival a few years ago…situated in the Nevada Desert in America and prone to dust-storms and extreme heat, Burning Man isn’t for the faint hearted but attracts extremely creative people who build installations and art-cars to share with everyone else, and is undoubtedly the best party you can possibly go to!

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting up in the party business today, esp. given the current economic climate?

Recessions are often seen as cutting out the ‘dead wood’ and although I certainly don’t think this is the case of all failing companies over the last few years I do believe they have a way of weeding out the mediocre.

I’d recommend to anyone starting any business now to try to be as different to their competition as possible and very importantly always try to exceed your customer’s expectations.

What is the key to your success?

Being a complete workaholic (a few years ago I used to do almost 2 day’s work in 1!) Being passionate about my customers experience with me and lastly as a control-freak – wanting the tents and spaces I create to be as beautiful and practical as they possibly can be!

You obviously work hard – how do you chill out?

I’m a really active person and don’t tent to ‘relax’ all that much, so you won’t catch me sitting in front of the TV! A good long walk or even better – a cycle, somewhere beautiful is perfect for me to be able to relax as I believe that in order to release your mind, your body has to be active.

I recently went on holiday to France with my partner and our daughter and I had a brilliant time doing all the children’s activities – Go-karting, high wire walking, and wild swimming! In the evenings we cooked with friends and did some serious sampling of the local wine.

I love festivals and I’m lucky enough to be in the right industry to attend many! I go to a lot with friends over the summer and they are my favourite place to be as I believe they bring out the best in people’s natures; my favourites this year were Wilderness and Camp Bestival.

If you were holding a party what theme would you go with and who would you invite?

I’m actually throwing a party for my best friend when she visits from Argentina in December. We’re holding it on the end of the Mayan year and having a ‘Come as you Are’ party with lots of our mutual friends involving a banquet which will be catered for by a dear friend of mine who is just off to train at Ballymaloe cookery school (her brief for this party is ‘the weirder the better’). And no doubt after feasting there will be lots of dressing up and dancing.

Another of our friends is a tequila connoisseur so will no doubt come as a Mexican with a tray of different tequila to try – my favourite way of doing shots is with a slice of orange sprinkled with cinnamon!

A great party theme I’ve come across recently is ‘Lost Toys’ which they came up with for Playgroup Festival in September which will be a fantastic end of the summer party.

If your best friend described you in 5 words, what would they be?

I asked her! And she said; Creative, stylish, Efficient, Hardworking and Entrepreneurial!

What is your life motto??

Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be practical or believe to be beautiful.

To be inspired, find out more at www.arabiantents.com and Facebook.com/ArabianTentCo

Nat x

Getting to Know You!

This September, walking into the school gates was lovely and felt a bit like going home – did I really say that? We were back amongst friends and smiling faces, everything was familiar and comfortable and I felt a bit like an old hand.

I didn’t feel like that a year ago when Eddie started in reception and everything was new and strange and at times intimidating.

Increasingly ‘the gates’ are becoming more and more competitive and it’s not just SATS results and reading scores that are under scrutiny. I’m lucky that Eddie has fitted in well at his school and has made some gorgeous friends and just loves going in every morning. I’m also lucky that I’ve made some fab friends and we go for coffee, share lifts with and every half term head out for cocktails.

The hardest bit for all of us at the start was breaking the ice and being brave enough to smile. In reality, unless the other person is really mean or having a shocking day, they’re more than likely going to be glad you made the effort and will be feeling as nervous as you.

For little ones we send them into school with the same feelings but maybe not the same inhibitions we have. They do however have to brave as they get their first real taste of independence which might be fun but I’m sure it’s also whelming and nerve-wracking. We hope they will either go into reception with nursery friends, or they’ll be brave enough to get on with it and find their feet without too much trouble.

I’m sure they have lots of tools for getting things going in reception (red smarties and orange squash) but I recently came across Popagami (www.popagami.com) which is a sweet origami activity aimed at primary school children that is intended to be used as an ice-breaker that I think is fab.

The animal-themed fun, craft activity can also be used for story telling using the cute Pop-Ette finger puppets including Amur the Leopard, Paws the Bear and Cleo the Cat. It also teaches children to make, share and swap with their class mates as well as being something new and fun.

Today, I have 3 copies of ‘The book The World of Popagami’ that come complete with
12 great activities plus party ideas and games.

You simply have to follow justbecauseilove.wordpress.com and send me an email to tell me where origami originates from? The competition is open until 21st September and is open to UK residents only (sorry).

Good luck.

Nat x

It’s All About the Lunch Box

I learnt early on what not to put in Eddie’s lunchbox after he shouted in front of everyone at the end of one day ‘DO NOT PUT CHOCOLATE IN MY LUNCH IT ISN’T ALLOWED! It was a tiny chocolate coin to make him smile but I won’t be doing that again and I don’t expect anyone else will either.

So, if school dinners aren’t an option, what do we put in their lunch boxes that is healthy, will keep them full and that they will actually eat rather than take one bite and then running off to look for mini beasts and test that my washing powder really does get out the toughest stains!

Well, as a basic lunch needs to be healthy and balanced which means:

• Carbs: bread, rice,  potatoes and pasta
• Protein: meat, fish,  eggs, beans etc.
• Dairy: cheese or yoghurt.
• Vegetables, salad plus a portion of fruit.

This doesn’t have to just mean a cheese sarnie and apple however, there’s lots of stuff you can do!

When you think carbs, don’t let things get boring. Instead of just sending them with sandwiches give kids bagels, pitta bread, cold pizza, wraps and baguettes. I love the little pockets Warburtons sell as they are sliced and perfect 5-year-old sized hands; they also do a great White Plus Wholegrain loaf so you know they are getting the good stuff.

Kids like food they can eat with their fingers, so chop up raw veggies and give them humus or cottage cheese to dip the veggies in. Breadsticks and whole meal crackers are great finger foods and they can be sent in with cubes of cheese and cucumber sticks.

Replace chocolate bars and cakes with fresh fruit, dried fruit or unsalted nuts – don’t forget to check the allergy policy at your school. Vary the fruit each day and get them to try new things, like kiwi or melon and even pop them on little cocktail sticks to make it fun.

For a ‘treat’ we love Nakd bars and 9bars and of course a little box of raisins always go down well! You can also make homemade cookies with dried fruit or have a look at the new Free From range at www.ocado.com

Of course plenty of water is needed and I usually put in a smoothie just to bump up that famous ‘5 a day’.

I asked some friends what they do when it comes to pack-ups and they told me:

Gary: We avoid sandwiches…chicken breast, fresh veg and sliced baguette, faster and healthier!

Kerri: When mine started school I tried all sorts to make it more interesting for them – and me – but they asked me to please not to make it so different from everyone else. Please may we have ham sandwiches, cut into triangles?

Zoe: A thermos with either baked beans and soup with a roll – perfect temperature by lunchtime.

Naomi: Chunks of cold frittata, tuna pasta salad, small pot of humus and things to dip into it, flask of soup plus a roll or chicken drumsticks.

Chloe (www.beyourbestyou.co.uk): Cold pasta and pesto salads with feta or other protein like chicken or tuna. Little sticks with cheese, salami and pineapple or melon. Fruit salad. Little pot of Marmite rice cakes and some protein like a chicken drumstick. A wrap with humus, raisins and grated carrot.

And for something nice at the end of the day (that you won’t be told off about) a nice drink and an Oreo make the day complete.

Nat x

 

 

Keep it Clean

I am not a clean freak but when it comes to kitchens and kids you have to be careful and smart especially if you don’t want to add to the 190 million days a year parents have to take as a result of little ones being sick!

New research, backed by Dettol, from the Global Hygiene Council has revealed that 90% of surfaces touched during the preparation of a simple meal, such as a child’s school lunch, can become contaminated with bacteria from food, which in turn can cause food borne illness.

Findings showed a lack of simple hygiene measures that I was pretty amazed at, such as:

• Only 26% of mums know that raw vegetables can also be a source of food poisoning bacteria.
• Only 49% of mothers say that their kids are made to wash their hands before lunch!
• More than half (55%) don’t wash the fruit and vegetables; such as carrot sticks before putting them into their child’s lunchbox and almost three-quarters (73%) don’t refrigerate it once prepared.
• Less than half (44%) of mums clean and disinfect their child’s lunchbox daily, providing the opportunity for any bacteria to multiply – now that is gross, how can you not clean their lunchbox as soon as you get home?

The Hygiene Council’s top five tips for a hygienic packed lunch:

• Clean and disinfect the kitchen work surfaces with antibacterial sprays and wipes, wipes can be disposed of immediately after use to limit potential cross-contamination of surfaces
• Wash fruit, salad and vegetables thoroughly – especially if they will be eaten raw
• Freshly prepare food each day where possible but if you have to store packed lunches overnight, check labels to ensure you store foods at the right temperature
• Check that your      child can store their food somewhere cool until lunchtime or consider using a freezer pack or cool bag to help keep your child’s lunch chilled
• Try to get your child into the habit of washing their hands regularly with antibacterial soap, particularly after visiting the toilet and before eating, both at home and at school

I know that the food I give the boys is washed and their lunch boxes are clean – I can only hope they wash their grubby mits before eating!

Nat x

ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO SCHOOL?

One of my earliest memories of school were the dinky bottles of milk they would hand out, god I am showing my age, each morning break time that would make me gag! I hated milk and it gave me eczema so my mum wrote a note and asked for me to have water and that was that. Only ‘in those days’ I was probably seen as an oddity and a prima-donna; ‘really how can you be allergic to milk child it makes you grow’????

Funny thing is, 30 years on and allergies and intolerances are almost normal and ‘all the rage’. Infact, a recent report released by the EAACI – European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has shown in the last ten years life threatening allergic reactions in children, such as anaphylaxis, increased 7-fold and a third of all allergic shocks in children occur for the first time at school.

Exposure to foods ranging from egg to peanuts can cause an allergic reaction in some children, such as eczema, swelling around the eyes and lips, stomach pain and digestive problems, along with more severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis, which can be potentially fatal. According to EAACI, school teachers are largely unprepared on how to handle food allergies and reactions and so they have launched a campaign to increase awareness of food allergies in general, including triggers and treatment.

The lovely Dr Hilary Jones, from the telly, is working with the EAACI and said: “Food allergies can undermine quality of life especially for your children at school where they may be exempt from school dinners, left out of birthday celebrations or the simple pleasure of sharing snacks with friends in the playground.  The threat of an allergy can have a detrimental effect on good nutrition and healthy eating, since parents will often limit certain food groups. A simple blood test can help you and your doctor become certain if your child actually has an allergy and equally important, what kind of allergy it is.”

According to NICE guidelines, food allergies are often incorrectly self-diagnosed with only 25-40% of assumed food allergies clinically confirmed as true. If not properly diagnosed, a ’food intolerance’ is often mistaken for a ‘food allergy,’ which is potentially life threatening, and makes a big difference when it comes to managing symptoms.

Dr Hilary, added; “An accurate diagnosis of food allergy is important because if confirmed it allows avoidance of the food allergen and effective management of the allergy. Equally important, if food allergy is ruled out it allows the child to eat a more normal diet, resulting in a better quality of life and better nutrition overall, not to mention far less anxiety for parents”.

I don’t want to go all Daily Mail / Nanny State about this but I guess that if you have a suspicion that your child might have a food allergy then taking the simple blood test might be a good idea. The results can provide information on up to 600 different allergy triggers and can assist in giving you, and your doctor, the necessary information needed to potentially save a child’s life.

If you find that allergies are in your house, or you fancy being a bit more healthy, then you might be interested to know there is a new ‘Free From’ web shop at Ocado. It is brilliant and the largest stockist in the UK. It has over 270 products ranging from everyday essentials to indulgent treats lactose-free cheese, gluten-free pastas and wheat-free breads, plus treats like dairy-free chocolate, egg-free brownies and nut-free children’s cookie and will offer customers with intolerances or selective food preferences, allergen-free alternatives without compromising on taste or quality.

In our house we love the Organ gluten free Kids Outback Dinosaur pasta with tasty tomato sauce that has hidden veggies and then sugar free Dinosaur cookies as a treat – these are also great in lunch boxes. I LOVE the Eskal FreeNut Butter and Nakd bars, so we are all happy and healthy!

For more information about the Free From range visit Ocado.com and for details about allergies and blood testing go to:

http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/features/FightingFoodAllergiesAmongSchoolchildren.jsp

Tomorrow, with allergies identified and paranoia out of the way I will be looking at lunchboxes – what’s in and what’s out.

Nat x

 

Top Ten Back to School Essentials

We have had a great 7 weeks, lots of fun, two great holidays, lots of lovely days out, spent time with friends and family and loved not having to do the school run but for one little boy in particular, it’s time for a little structure and mental stimulation and playtime with new buddies.

Getting ready for the new term is project in itself but one I actually quite like. When I was young loved getting new uniform, shiny shoes and a matching bag (that’s not changed then) and I like doing that for the boys too.

Of course the ‘list’ is drawn up and I love ticking off each completed purchase on task so today my Top Tuesday is all about those ‘Back to School’ essentials:

• An alarm clock! This tends to be my phone but after 7 weeks of lazy morning this is real must – also helpful to set it for when you need to leave the house and with 2 schools to get to in the morning this term I may just need to do that!
• Uniform goes without saying really but this stuff soon adds up and there is a lot of it once you add in the PE kits, shoes and ties. We have to get some stuff from specific stores as they have logos or are regulation but otherwise M&S and John Lewis plus Clarkes for shoes that fit, are winners. I actually found the best cargo shorts for Eddie in BHS and am not adverse from using the second-hand uniform shops especially as Lucas’ blazer would set us back £75 new!
• Lunch boxes are another thing I love and we have been through a few to get it right. We got a fab Union Jack set from Sainsbury’s that has a water bottle holder and strap so Eddie is left with free hands for his book bag and show and tell goodies!
• Personalised metal water bottles are cute and I love www.dorothyandtheodore.com for these. For £13.50 you can choose a character that you then personalise with hair colour, hair style, eye colour, eyes shape, skin colour, add optional rosy cheeks, freckles and glasses and your name; cute.
• To make sure you aren’t constantly replacing the above items, labels are a must! You can go for the traditional sew on ones but I end up with tea strainer thumbs and using up valuable writing hours when I have two sets of clothes to mark up. Iron on are also a good option but for me I love Stikins from www.name-labels.com) as they stick in clothes, shoes, lunch boxes, drink bottles, sports items and stay stuck even through the washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.If you want something a little bit different then try www.snapfish.co.uk for fantastic labels that can be personalised with designs, photos and text and cost just £2.49 for a sheet of 24 – watch out for a great Freebie Friday prize from these guys soon.
• Pens and pencils might not be needed in their bags in the early years but I find nice ones at home in a bright pot with named exercise books encourage work after school. We love the Stabilo Woody 3 in 1 pencils. These fat, fun and funky coloured pencils / watercolours / wax crayons all in one are ideal for small hands and busy minds. http://www.stabilo.com/pages-uk
• As everyone re-unites in the playground, so will head lice and I’ll do pretty much anything to keep the mites out of our house – expect home school! So, every night we use Green People’s Organic Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner, which contains Tea Tree oil which naturally cleanses the hair and helps to prevent head lice from laying eggs on the scalp. It’s £7.75 for 200ml at www.GreenPeople.co.uk If any ‘super nits’ do manage to get in then we have a Nitty Gritty Comb from Boots, that was about £6 and is meant to be very effective – I hope we don’t have to prove the claims correct.
• As we’re going back to school as autumn starts to kick in and bugs come alive, as well as a healthy diet, I also go for vitamin supplements. There are a lot on the market but my favourites are:1.    Nordic Naturals brain boosting Omega 3 chewy supplements that are naturally fruit flavoured and free from any fishy taste so a daily dose of Omgea 3, that can help to improve IQ, mood, memory, learning and focus, is almost like a treat! www.nordicnaturals.com/uk

  2.   NEW Seven Seas Haliborange Kids Multivitamin Plus Omega-3 Softies are chewable and contain  vitamins A, B3, B6, B12, C, D and E, pantothenic acid and omega-3 nutrients, so offer all round nutritional support for children aged 3 and above and can be found in more chemists and supermarkets for around £5.50 and more details are at http://www.seven-seas.com/haliborange

  3.  Nature’s Plus do a great multi-vitamin called Animal Parade. These are packed with goodness and are like a fizzy, cherry sweet but are sugar and gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and hypo allergenic; see http://www.victoriahealth.com

• An umbrella, raincoat and wellies are a must given our English weather and the bog like state of our school car park. I am set with my Hunter’s and Stella McCartney Team GB coat but for the boys I love this smart Union Jack umbrella from Funbrella for just £12.
• A smile and wave from mummy as they go in! Even if you feel teary, showing them will simply unnerve them and make them wobble – come on you know you can do it and if you need to shed a tear then hip, skip and jump to Starbucks and have a coffee with your mummy friends and you’ll soon feel better.

So, are you ready to go back to school?

Nat x

The Launch of ‘Mums on the Run’ with Rachel Evans

Today is the start of a week-long series of ‘back to school’ features, those holiday have gone very fast, haven’t they?

Today also sees the start of a brand new feature on justbecauseilove.com called ‘Mums on the Run’. This pretty much does what is says on tin; each week one mum will be interviewed about her school run style, how she juggles a busy life as well as hints and tips from experts and gurus on looking and feeling confident at the gates.

Love them or loathe them, if you’re a parent the school gates are an intricate part of everyday life. I’m lucky that at my eldest son’s school I’ve made some fantastic friends and can now relax a bit more as we turn up in the mornings, but it can be tough when it feels like it’s not only your little one that’s starting school and needs to prove themselves.  You simply want to fit in, look right, dodgy the cat glances, feel good and not look like a Billy; am I right?

So, I’m delighted that the super-talented Stylist and Fitness Celebrity, Rachel Evans (www.makeoveressex.com) will be giving us tips on how to dress for the school run so look good but more importantly feel confident at the gates. Rachel looks fantastic and practises what she preaches but as you will see in her interview, other mums weren’t always welcoming or friendly simply because of the way she looks.

Up until April I often did the school run dressed up and ready to face the world of media and requests of clients and I sometimes miss those days, so today Rachel is talking about her life as a working mum as well as what to wear that will take you from the breakfast table to the school car park and onto the office.

You have a great business head, how did you break into the fashion world?

I got into fashion in my early twenties after a friend suggested I ‘got a life’ and broke free from the dusty court documents I pored over as a junior reporter! Something she said rang true, so I took a chance and went into a Knightsbridge boutique and asked for a job. I admitted I had no experience but was willing to learn and I was hired on the spot.

From that moment I fell in love with fashion and at one point went to live in Florence to learn Italian which was great as many of my future bosses were from Italy. I worked for a range of high-end boutiques and would find the perfect clothes, shoes and accessories for my impressive ‘black book’ of clients – it’s been a dream and all very Devil Wears Prada.

How do I feel at the school gates?

At the school gates I feel body confident and happier than a several years ago when my son was between 2 and half to 6. He attended nursery from the age of 2 and a half and has attended private schools where the mums were competitive and used to be bit stand-offish. I put it down to them feeling somewhat insecure as I was a younger mum and they were cliquey, whereas I always stood on my own two feet not clinging to them for validation.

I’m independent and sometimes I think it made the mums at the gates a bit envious but in the long run that spirit in me paid off and they now come to me for advice. I’m friendly and they ask me for fitness fashion and make up tips, especially since I set up http://www.makeoveressex.com

Which celebrity mum would you most like to style?

I’d have to say Madonna as she is an inspiring, mature, fit, sexy mum who always makes a statement with her style and clothes. We know she dazzles in the lime light but on the school run I’d go for a toned down look that is feminine but with a rocky edge. I think she’d look great in a simple, fitted white tee and boucle tailored jacket, or a nude blush chiffon blouse with either a V neck or pussy bow teamed with skinny leather trousers or leather look leggings with either knee-high boots or ballerina pumps. A statement bag and pink MAC lip-gloss would set it all off brilliantly.

So Rachel, you are business women who looks look good; what are your top tips for working mums doing the school run and then dashing straight for the office?

As well as owning www.makeoveressex.com, I also work as PA to my partner and have 2 children but I always manage to look groomed and stylish when I head to school. One thing that helps do this is to lay your clothes out the night before so you are organised and prepared – do it with the kid’s uniform too.

A real winner for working mums is a simple, sharp pencil skirt, H & M and Marks and Spencer do great ones that look amazing but won’t break the bank. Wear with a crisp white shirt, colourful top or plain capped sleeve tee and finish with a jacket and you will shout smart, professional rather than messy mummy.

Alternatively, go for a stunning shift dress in a block colour (nude, beige or black) for instant style kudos. I have three simple shifts from Karen Millen that look elegant and smart meetings that I match with a jacket, gorgeous handbag and great shoes.

If opting for trousers, make sure they are the right length and fit well. Again add a coloured basic top or tee and finally pop on a slim fitting jacket and you will instantly have a great, professional office look.

Accessories instantly brighten and change the look of any outfit and also allow you to change your style or look without spending loads of money or changing your entire wardrobe. From print scarves to classic earrings, a fantastic bag or statement necklace, you can be as smart as anyone non-working mum and just as sophisticated.

Shoes should be elegant and clean but comfortable. Uggs and trainers are a no-no but if you don’t want to wear heels, go for flat ballerinas. These are an elegant but practical option that look chic but also mean you can run for the train and get back to the school car park on time. Again M&S do great, on-trend heels and classic courts that have cushioned soles and wide fittings as well as pretty pumps all at great prices.

I know only too well that the mornings are a rush, but even if you do it on the train or in the car park, please wear make-up;
I promise you it will make you feel more confident and groomed all day long. Apply a foundation base then bronzer or blusher for
some added warmth, a slick of mascara does wonders for eye-opening freshness and with a coat of lip-gloss you’re good to go.

Next week Rachel will look at how to dress to kill for stay at home mums that don’t want to drown in baggy cardies and leggings and look like they just can’t be bothered.

For more information about Rachel check out www.makeoveressex.com and get in touch if you have any questions.

Nat x

Our Day at the Paralympics

Now, I could write a long post the train, our picnic, the views, the sports and the athletes but instead I think these words and pictures sum up
our trip to the Paralympics:

Proud to be British

Amazing to be up close and personal with Zoe Newson as she signed autographs in the shop

Respect for EVERYONE who made this a success

Atmosphere that was out of this world

London rocks

YES!

Marvellous events

Positive vibes

Incredible people

Celebrate people

Success for all

Nat x