It’s about now when you see adverts everywhere for aftershave or speciality razors for the men in your life, your Dad, your partner ( your children’s dad) your partners Dad. I mean I’m sure I’m not the only woman who buys a Father’s Day presents from her children to their dad, then a present for her own Dad and then another present for their partners Dad.

They don’t want ties and socks really do they?

For my Dad it’s pretty easy as I generally give him money and to my mum on Mother’s Day towards a holiday for them. As I’m part of such a large family it’s impossible to keep buying presents for my parents as they have everything! This year I’m giving Dad some euros towards his holiday to France in a few weeks. They will be away for Fathers Day and I will miss seeing him. I’ve always been really close to my Dad and I think I’m lucky.

For my OH I will choose him something I know he needs from Chloe and Izzy. In past years he has had waterproof pouches for his keys etc when he goes surfing, in car connectors to connect his iPhone to the stereo and other such things which he has liked. We normally get him some kind if novelty gift too and Izzy will make him a card. Last year we made him special biscuits and Izzy enjoyed making a huge mess. This year it’s his first year as a Dad of two so to make it a bit special we are going to the theatre to see Peppa Pig. Oops. I do feel a bit bad but it ads booked ages ago and I didn’t realise what day it was. Afterwards we will go for a nice meal and I will make sure he gets a lie in and brekkie in bed too. He does deserve it. He’s a great Dad and really supportive partner.

For my OH’s Dad we will look for something to do with food, such as a new cookery book or some special ingredients. He loves food and cooking so it’s quite fun for me to shop for him. We are off to the BBC Good Food show a few days before so that’s sorted 😉

What do you get for your men?

We like to make our own cards as well as usually buying one. We were asked to write about Fathers Day by Dom and Geri who make really cool personalised cards I really like this one:

Cute!

There is a really lovely range of Father’s Day card so definitely worth a visit to their site.

* this is a PR collaboration.

Another great competition for you with FIVE pairs of tickets to giveaway and even a 2-4-1 code for those not lucky enough to win for The Foodies Festival which will be held in Bristols harbourside from 11th-13th July 2014.

I do spoil you.

Some info about Foodies Festivals:

Foodies Festivals began with a single event at an Edinburgh hotel venue in 2007 as part of the festivals season in August. This successful inaugural event attracted 5,000 people and in 2009 Foodies expanded to Brighton and Hampton Court, with Oxford added in 2010. In 2011 a further 3 locations were included at Tatton Park, Bristol and Battersea Park, London, bringing the total number of annual events to 8 in 2012, including the Christmas Foodies Festival in Edinburgh. 2013 saw the introduction of Clapham Common and the launch of a new Battersea Park event Foodies Feast – a unique eating and drinking experience including London’s most talked about restaurants. 2014 welcomes a partnership with English Heritage and two new Foodies Festivals at two of the most prestigious English Heritage properties: Kenwood House and Marble Hill. To date, over 600,000 food-lovers have visited the events, making Foodies the biggest food festival in the UK. Show sponsors include Jamie Magazine, Aga Rangemaster, AEG, Electrolux, Nyetimber, Nairns, Colgate, Palmolive, Wines of Germany and Wholefoods Markets.

I’m lucky enough to have been invited to review this festival and I’m really excited. It’s a new festival to me but it’s in its fourth consecutive year and tens of thousands of people attend each year.

Here is a quick list of some of the things I want to see/eat/take part in when I attend:

Chocolate, bake and preserves Theatre and Village

This needs no explanation really. Chocolate. Check. Cake. Check.

Chefs Theatre

I’m a big fan of watching cooking demos and there is an exciting line up which includes Glyn Purnell ( Great British Menu and Purnells) as well as Masterchef winner Mat Follas and finalists Larkin Cen and Andrew Kojima.

BBQ Arena

I love all things B-B-Qqqqqq from ribs to sauce and burgers. Yes. This is right up my alley.

And of course The Producers Market where I will inevitable walk away with far more goodies than I should buy but it’s research hey?

Tickets are reasonably priced:

1-day adult ticket £12.00 (£10.00 concession)
3-day adult ticket £18.00 (£15.00 concession)
1-day VIP ticket £38.00 (Friday VIP ticket £35)

And children under 12 go free.

2014 Foodies Festivals tickets are now available from www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111. You can get two tickets for the price of one by quoting FOODIES241 when purchasing online or by phone.

To be in with a chance of winning 1 of 5 pairs of tickets enter via the rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This morning I read a blog post from Mummy Barrow it made me sit and ponder for a little while.

So much of my life as with everyone else I imagine is bemoaning all the things I don’t have. Moaning about the time that I don’t get to spend relaxing. About all the minor ailments which can aggravate my tired, hormonal body.

Today I tried to spend the day thinking of positives. It’s now 10.30pm and considering I’ve had what could be described as a rather crappy day with a very poorly baby I feel ok. Not bouncing around happy but ok. After all it’s been a bad day but I know tomorrow will more than likely be a bit better.

I’m not rich but I’m not living on the streets either.

I don’t have the job of my dreams but I’m not in the worst job I could be in.

Last year was a bit hard, a bit rubbish but it isn’t last year anymore. Does that make any sense?

I think of myself as being a nice person. I care about others. I give to charity ..and if someone I know is feeling low I try to make them feel better. I don’t do enough. Do any of us really do enough?

I should. We should. And I will.

Maybe I won’t change the world but maybe doing lots of little things will change my world.

Sometimes you just need a kick up the backside to make you think.

This is a word I hate to utter but here it is. I’m on a diet. Not a silly diet or faddy diet but a straightforward eat less fat, eat more good stuff diet.

I’m not a fan of diets generally. I mean diets such as The Cabbage Soup or Atkins. I always think it’s better to just change the way you look at food and eat well and maybe do some kind of exercise jiggery thang.

I’ve been putting it off and putting it off.

But… I feel rubbish about the way I look right now. I know I’m not huge. Not at all. I know that I’ve had two babies in just over 2 years and it doesn’t disappear overnight but I do find it hard when I look at friends or family members who have babies and literally seem to snap back into shape. Yes breastfeeding helped my uterus shrink and to lose the initial pounds but just as it did with Izzy my body seems to want to hold on to the last stone or so until I finish. Yes this happens to about half of breastfeeding women..we don’t all lose every pound ( and more) when feeding.

I know this weight loss will be hard but I know that I will feel happier because of it. I’m not the type of person who will ever be stick thin and I’m ok with that. I like having some curves but I also like to feel comfortable in myself and for me that’s a stone or two lighter.

What I’m finding hardest is that I really want to bake. Baking soothes me. Cakes aren’t really that good for losing weight. I baked chocolate cupcakes with Izzy today and I somehow managed to exercise some restraint but woah it was hard.

Would dieting be easier if I didn’t love to cook so much? Maybe.

I’m going to increase my daily exercise level too although I don’t sit down for more than about 30 minutes on any given day so not sure how much more I can squeeze in but I’m certainly going to try the 30 day shred as it worked so well for me last time.

Above all I’m not going to put any pressure on myself. Weight loss/weight gain and the way we look at ourselves post baby is one of the hardest things to deal with as a woman and it can affect your emotional well being. I know what’s more important.

My wonderful daughters are certainly worth a wobbly belly.

I just wanted to share that breastfeeding isn’t always this magical weight loss trick. Not for everyone.

How did you feel about your weight 6 months post partum? Did breastfeeding zap your pounds away?