Friday 16 November 2012

Friday Finds

So here's the first ever Young Mummy's Friday Finds post!

1. I love love love these headphones! Aren't the deer just so cute?

2. As we're doing up the Dolls House for Willow, here's an item that I'd love to put in it!
Unfortunately I can't use the image from the website, but if you click here you can see it!

3. iWood is such a cool idea, but a little pricey for my liking! :/ Can be found here, on Amazon.
iWood, My First Laptop, Notebook Made out of Wood with Blackboard and Chalk






Tuesday 13 November 2012

Vlog!

When I get back from my eye test I will embed the video, but for now I just wanted to get this up!


First EVERRRR vlog guys! Watch it ;)



Young Mummy xxxxxxx

Monday 12 November 2012

Dolls House Restoration.

Tyler and I have decided that for Christmas we are going to restore my old Dolls House for Willow!

I got the Dolls House for Christmas 12 years ago, and I absolutely LOVED playing with it. unfortunately the house has ended up looking a bit poorly after passing it down to my sister. I don't think I'll ever forgive her for pulling the windows out!

Memories of playing with the Dolls House are endless! I used to spend hours imagining exciting occasions with my dolly family! Now I would like to give Willow this endless enjoyment, and keep this lovely toy going for another generation - maybe it will even be something that Willow passes on to her children, I do hope so.

Tyler, of course, is very pleased to be in charge of the techy side of restoration. MY Dolls House never had any lights, but obviously Willow's version is going to be as techy as Tyler can get away with. 


Daddy and Little One enjoyed ripping the old wallpaper off. 
Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the restoration process, as I would like to document it on here, especially so that in the future Willow can see the long process. In the mean time, if anybody has any tips or ideas for us then I would be very pleased! Just leave me a comment, even if it is what you had in your dolls house, that one little piece that you loved. :D 

Much Love, 

Young Mummy xxxxx

Sunday 4 November 2012

Biscuits - Mostly Custard Creams

I think I have a biscuit addiction. I'm genuinely serious. I can open a packet of Custard Creams and if I didn't have the willpower to stop, or a Mother around somewhere to tell me not to, I would eat them all. That is bad. AND it's unhealthy.

Biscuits will be my let down in life, big time.

Custard Cream Cushions
NikkiMcWilliams - yum! 
Oh wow, these cushions are amazing. I need them. Nikki also does phone cases...

Perhaps I should start doing a Good Finds page, as I seem to frequently be posting cool things! Maybe I'll do that... watch this space!

Young Mummy xxx

Friday 19 October 2012

Cute Picture

I saw this picture on NotSuperMum's Twitter yesterday and I just had to retweet it. However I don't think that was quite enough, so now I I am putting it on here so that all of you guys can appreciate it too! :) 

Embedded image permalink
Well duhh?

Thursday 18 October 2012

One step for me, huge strides for her.

Tonight Willow and I went on an adventure! Half an hour before bedtime we set off for the Post Box. "Huh?" I hear you think... "Why does that matter?". But it was dark! We have never walked further than from our house to Daddy's or visa versa or from the car to the house, but tonight was different. We walked all the way round the block to the Post Box, and posted the letters.


Letters for special friends <3
These letters will be arriving with some special people within the next few days. We had so much fun decorating the envelopes - who knew stickers and stampers were so much fun for a 1 year old? Something to take on the flight next week I think!

Bye for now,
Young Mummy xxx

Wednesday 17 October 2012

What I Wore Wednesday

Just a quick post for Transatlantic Blonde's What I Wore Wednesday.
Excuse the bad quality of the image, it's not actually the photo! It is my slightly smeary mirror... whoops! :)

Dress - H&M
Cardi - Newlook
Vest - Peacocks
Tights - M and Co
Belt - H&M
Boots - Newlook



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Sunday 7 October 2012

Ive not forgotten.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I havent forgotten about blogging! It has just been toward the back of my mind, but I promise I'll be back on the ball soon and Tales of a Young Mummy will be bigger and better than ever before!
Also, if anyone has any stories that they want to tell about their experiences just email them to me on elle@talesofayoungmummy.com as I will be doing a feature in the near future!
Much love,
Young Mummy xxx

Tuesday 17 July 2012

50 Shades of Grey

No, I don't mean the book.
I was just checking my feeds when I saw a post from MMM and thought I just had to share this picture with you guys. I absolutely adore Interior Design, and how amazing would it be to have a playroom/bedroom for the little ones? I really do adore the play beds that you can get, with the slides and tents, but they are just so expensive! One day Willow will have one!



That's all for now, I will post properly later, I promise!

Much love,
Young Mummy xxxx

Sunday 1 July 2012

#youngmumschat

This Wednesday is another live Twitter chat thanks to Prymface, at 8.30 GMT. For the chat we will be using the hashtag #youngmumschat. Last week was a brilliant chat, and this week I am asking some of the questions along with Giggles and Tickles.

I wrote a post for Giggles and Tickles, it's again about my life over the past year and discovering I was pregnant. It can be found here Giggles and Tickles .

Love Young Mummy xxx

Thursday 21 June 2012

Scary!

University is a scary prospect, especially when you're a parent - how will you manage to put all the hours of study in while still looking after your little monkey? As many of you may know, I want to make it work; life won't get the better of me and I will get through a degree.

However, before I am able to do so, I need to actually get onto a uni course. I am looking at Interior Design courses, as I have always had a great interest in 'designing' rooms - I say it like that as when I was younger my idea of designing was scouring the Argos catalouge for pictures of furniture and decorations that I liked. I have to admit, I do still do this now! When my parents were ever wanting anything from Argos they would just ask me and I would find it in the catalouge in a flash, I was the Argos Queen!

Before I had Willow, I used to dream about going to the University of Massachusets, and in my head it was a reality but unfortunately becoming a parent changes your plans. Now, I am limited to the choice of 3 unis: Portsmouth, Southampton and Southampton Solent, just because of the fact that I don't want to move away from home and the brilliant support network I have here, not just yet.

If I could, I would love to go to Richmond University, I don't know why. I think I just love the idea of a degree that is acceptable both here, and in the US, 'cause you never know, I might just move to the US one day...

Open days are fast approaching for the uni's that I want to look at, which is very scary. I'm so far planned to go to three open days, so I will report back on how those go.

Much Love,
Young Mummy xxx

Monday 11 June 2012

What I Never Expected When Expecting

As regular readers will know, I didn't have the longest of pregnancies, in fact it was only three week long. No, my chile was not a miracle baby and didn't survive being born as a fetus. Nope, that wasn't it - I didn't find out that I was pregnant until six weeks before baby was due.

Three weeks down the line I found myself laid in a hospital bed looking at my gorgeous little doll - it didn't seem real. It's incredible how life-changing giving birth can be. One minute you're thinking about babies and nothing seems like a reality, the next moment you are a parent.

Here's the four things I didn't expect when I was expecting:


  1. Under the ribs pains
  2. Stretch marks - my poor beautiful bod!
  3. Sleepless nights - <3 my V pillow!
  4. Increased and unexpected bowel movements in labour...
It's incredible how most pregnancies experience the first 3 on the list, and the day I found out I was pregnant I was experiencing all of these! Most parents probably expect these things, but not knowing anything about pregnancy I knew nothing! How my body wasn't experiencing these for the first 33 weeks of being pregnant is a mystery, 'cause the day I found out I then experienced all of these.

I will never forget my Mum's wise wordsd: "When you need a poo and you need it now then the baby is on it's way." Anyway, I won't go into detail on that point as I'm sure not many of you are interested in reading much more about my excrement...

Much love beauties,
Young Mummy xxx

Saturday 9 June 2012

The Name She Nearly Was

Willow wasn't always going to be called Willow you know! Nope, at some point in my incredibly long pregnancy (if you don't know my story you can read it here) Tyler and I decided on the name Rosa. And that was that, we started calling my belly Rosa instead of 'Bump' and I guess it sounded right.

However that didn't stick. For some incredibly strange reason, once I held my gorgeous girl in my arms I called her Willow. Poor Tyler, he was a little confused about this! I didn't consult him on the choice, which I suppose was a little mean, but hey it's happened now. The poor guy was calling her RoWillow for days - I didn't mean to confuse anyone, honest!

Anyway, once Willow Smith's song 'Whip your hair' came on, instantly I knew why I had chosen the name. Willow had an incredible amount of hair!

Would love to hear your 'The name they nearly were' stories! If I were a boy, I wouldn't have had a name, guess it's a good job I am actually a girl and could be called Elle...

Comment away!

Much Love
xxx


Mama’s Losin’ It


Thanks to Mama Kat for the lovely writing prompts. I have been subscribed for a while to her weekly prompts email, but this is the first post I have ever written after being inspired. :)

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Young Mums Rule

I came across a new blog today - it's lovely.

This post specifically really made me think - is this why I seem so much more motivated about school than some people?

This picture is from my GCSE results day, the day I found out actually how well I had done! I got 4 A's and 5 B's, I was sooo proud of myself, and it seemed that Willow and everyone else was too!

Much love guys xxxx

From now on, I promise I will be posting more frequently!


http://www.theyoungmommylife.com/2012/05/30/student-mama-young-moms-have-the-advantage-in-the-classroom/

Can Kids Walk Dogs Alone?

Mine can! And she's only a year old, really clever she is. Well ok, she might have been sat in the pushchair that I was pushing and keeping a very watchful eye on both her and the dog, but she did it! All the way to the wreck and back (which is only about 10 minutes walk in total..) Willow held the dogs lead. And we had a very well behaved dog aswell, she didn't pull the slightest. So here are some pictures from our lovely walkies:

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Fellow Mummy Blogger

Hi all,

Sorry I have been absolutely useless and haven't posted for ages, but life has been a little hectic! Exam season is nearly over, and my god I can't wait until I've finished my final exam (this afternoon) :D

I have been keeping up to date on everyone elses blogs, just a bit useless when it comes to actually posting on my own.. how peculiar.

Anyhow, the reason for this post is I have just come across a fellow Young Mummy blogger, who lives about 20 minutes away from me! She is 16, and sounds like she is going through all I've been through, so show this lovely lady some support and visit her. She's called Shannon, and you can find her blog here. It's called 'We Don't Remember Days, We Remember Moments'. 

Much Love,
Young Mummy xxx

http://remembermoments-shannonpearce.blogspot.co.uk/

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Camper Comp

www.volksisle.com
If you are a regular reader, then you will know that I've just began a new business with my Mummy. We are running a competition, one lucky family will get money off their holiday! Volksisle is a funky new firm that are hiring out Volkswagen camper vans for your pleasure. The use of our vans is unfortunately limited to the beautiful Isle of Wight due to insurance purposes, however this is not a problem. There are plenty of gorgeous places to visit, and is there really a better place to holiday when we have 60 miles of coastline - think of all the hours on the beach that means.

Carisbrooke Castle



There's plenty of history on this little island. How about visiting Carisbrooke Castle where Charles I was kept prisoner, or Queen Victoria's holiday home, Osbourne House? Both of these beautiful places are both English Heritige sites. Carisbrooke Castle is the home of the islands first set of traffic lights, well there's an interesting fact for you!


So, we are offering one lucky family a chance to get 25% off the cost of their holiday. To enter, simply email elle@volksisle.com  with the answer to this question: "How old was I when I gave birth to my little girly?" Also give me two reasons why your family deserves a holiday. The competition is open from now until midnight on Friday 27th April.  Edit: Competition is now open until midnight on Sunday 29th April. 


Find us on Twitter @VolksIsle and tweet #campercomp 

Go on, enter!

Saturday 21 April 2012

My Bed!

Someone doesn't like hospital food!
So we are home from the hospital now, and boy am I excited to have a sleep in my own bed. However I can't, I don't know why, seeing as I am shattered from this weeks hospital stay!

Willow was finally diagnosed with Pneumonia which is a good explanation for all the coughing and the wheezing. It doesn't quite explain the state that she was in on Wednesday though, so I suppose we'll stick with the first explanation for that - a febrile fit/convulsion.

The past few days have been scary! But for now I better get some sleep, we've got a busy weekend ahead. Firstly we have the first of a series of Caterpillar Music classes in the morning, and then I have all of my work toward my photography exam to complete! I do so hope I get it all finished!

Good Night :) xx

Tuesday 17 April 2012

More Hospital Stays

So, the first week that I actually make a blogging schedule due to the amount of school work I have to do, I have to go an break it. And, I've not got any work done either. This is all due to the fact that Willow has been ill. 

We spent 24 hours up in the Childrens ward at our local hospital Sunday and Monday. Yesterday we got home at half 7, by 8.30 we were on our way back up there with our poorly bubby.

Can you imagine how hard it is to keep this on her face?
HARD!
She's had a cold and caught some kind of infection which has caused her airways to become inflammed. This, combined with the horrible cough that she gets due to the fact that she had Whooping Cough nearly a year ago meant that she was really struggling for breath. It's amazing how quickly the struggling can come across though, one minute she is alright, then BAM, the next she is really struggling. 

When we got up to the hospital, the first thing that they did was check her oxygen sats and her heart rate. The poor bubba had only 90% oxygen sats, but that is nothing compared to what she had when she was tiddly. The low oxygen levels meant her heart was racing to pump oxygenated blood around her body, hence the high heart rate. 

Of course, all of this is scary. But one thing is for sure, it's nowhere near as scary as it was the first time round. Now we're getting used to it! Willow is recovering, and is dosed up on steroids, anti-biotics, calpol, ibuprofen and with her inhaler!

That's all for now, I need some sleep!
Young Mummy xx






Photo credit - Rakuten
.

Friday 13 April 2012

Guest Post over at Slummy Single Mummy

Hop over to Slummy Single Mummy to check out the guest post that I wrote for her.

It contains a full story from when I found that I was pregnant, to now! Jo wanted a story that would challenge the view on teen mums, and I hope my post has done!

You can find the post here.

Enjoy!

Young Mummy xx

Thursday 12 April 2012

Examples of my Photography

 Here are a couple of examples of my work, as I have had people requesting them. I've just started up doing paid photoshoots for others, and trying to build up my portfolio!



























Making Money from Home

So, there are so many opportunities out there that reckon they help you make money from home. But do they work?

Previously I have signed up to many of them, but to no avail. Doing surverys is all well and good, but when you see no money coming from it is it really worth it? I think however, I have found something that may well be worthwhile! Cashcrate is a site which has things to participate in all the time, you can even earn money back on buying things, such as downloading MP3s from Amazon.

Hop over and give it a go!Cash Crate

Young Mummy xx

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Week 1 - Motivation on Wednesday

So, I guess I wrote this post a little late for loads of people to be linking up today! And also, if anyone can tell me how to get the nice little app or whatever it is to actually allow people to 'link up' as such would be brilliant! But for now guys you're gonna have to use the comments!

Ladybug
I love this shot! I took it this morning whilst out on a walk. I used a method called free lensing, which as it sounds is where the lens is 'free' from the camera, so not attached. I took about 50 shots in all, it took a lot of steady handed-ness to capture this one! I love how the thistle looks like a prickly road. It could have been a better shot had the lady birds head been in it.

That's all for now xxx

Adoption - It really is incredible

I'm sat writing this whilst watching One Born Every Minute USA. One girl called Sam is just going in for a C-Section to deliver her twins, but she's only their birth mother. The twin's adoptive parents are in the family waiting room, praying that Sam doesn't change her mind about the adoption. A biological mother actually has 72 hours after the birth to change her mind and request that she have her child/children back.

The twins are successfully delivered, and meeting their adoptive parents within a short time of their delivery. There is such a joyous atmosphere, a couple that have waited 13 years for their family to begin, now no longer a couple but a family of four. I know that many people have different reasoning behind adoption, but personally, I don't think that I would be mentally strong enough to go through with it. I couldn't give birth to my child, and then just pass it over. The birth mother, Sam, was just speaking about love, and how there is no greater love than that between a mother and her child. When she first held the twins she told them "I love you." How can you love a child and let it go?
Catelynn Lowell Tyler Baltierra and Carly prior to the filming of Teen Mom
Baby Carly with her birth parents

I know that for many young girls that find they are pregnant adoption could be the best choice for them and the baby. They are young and want to get on with their life. As Catelynn  from 16 and Pregnant* said on the Adoption Special "There's not a day go by that Carly (her baby) doesn't cross my mind." If that is the case, then how can she mentally endure that kind of pain, having that gap forever in your heart.

What if you give up your baby for adoption when you think you're too young to care for it, and then regret it for the rest of your life? Later on in life if you're unable to have kids you would become even more heartbroken, know that once you did create life, but now you're unable to do so. You once had the child that you're now wishing so much for...

I do have a strong view on adoption. It's not even something that crossed my mind when I found out I was pregnant with Willow. I don't think I would be strong enough to have had an abortion had I been able to. The fact that I didn't find out I was pregnant until 33 weeks into the pregnancy. If I had, then I would have gone for an abortion as that is what everyone else wanted. I would forever regret it and hate myself for going through with it. 

*I don't have an obsession with US baby shows, honest! Okay, maybe a little...

Much Love xxxx

Saturday 7 April 2012

Our New Adventure


birthday girly
April seems to have become quite a packed month... There's been Willow's first birthday, and she loved every moment of it! My photography exam is at the end of the month, so lots of stress and preparation for that.

So, aswell as looking after my gorgeous little girly and my exam season coming up, it's also the launch of our new business - Volks Isle.


Volks Isle is hiring out lovely, classic Volkswagen campervans. Why not hop over to our site and take a look for yourselves? Just click here!

Much love guys,
Young Mummy xxx

Thursday 1 March 2012

Stressing!




I've had a long month! February seemed to go on forever! I've had so much school work to do, I thought that maybe I would get a chance to chill out after having my Maths exam and Photography deadline... nope! Ahwell, I guess being in school with a baby was never going to be easy!
GUMIGEM - Lightning Pendant - Nimbus
This Gumi Gem is apparently
very good for molars aswell
as those pesky front teeth.

Willow is now in a better bedtime routine, she is in bed asleep by half 8 at the latest most nights but that for sure does not mean that she stays asleep all night! Poor baby, she's going through lots of pain at the moment!

We are currently trying out a new product from Grandma's shop, a Gumi Gems necklace. It is good, but it appears that most of pain is during the night so it's not really helping at the moment... However, on the subject of Grandma's shop, Precious Cargo should be opening in Ryde town in a few months! Check out the shops' Facebook page here for more info! You might as well 'like' the page while you're there ;)

Other teething products that we are using are Bonjela and Dentinox teething gels which do work, but not for long! And also Nelson's Teetha powder, that seems to do a bit of a better job than Bonjela but still poor little bubba is in pain. :( Of course she loves using her toothbrush too, that does help for a while! I'm looking at getting Willow an amber necklace as these are supposed to help with teething pains but I'm not sure about her wearing a necklace all the time...

If you can help me out by saying what products you have used, or just re-assuring me about the necklace thing hop over to my Facebook profile and have a chat :)

Bye for now though guys xx

Thursday 2 February 2012

Bad Nights and Baby Games!

One thing that I do miss about not being a mummy is being able to sleep un-interrupted all night!

Currently, at nearly midnight I am actually sat in the hallway tuning out from the screaming baby in the next room - I've already been in bed once tonight!

I've onlygot to be up in six hours, not that bad! It's not even like I can have a nap once I'm at school - I have triple maths tomorrow morning! Ehoh!

_________________________________________________________________________


On the topic of screaming babies, I've got a question for everyone.

How do you stop screaming fits?


My favourite way is to allow Willow to use the computer and go on her games. She also plays with the baby app that I have on my mobile! She's a techno baby fo' sho'


Her favourite game is here.

Share what you do below in the comments section!


Anyway, for now I'm off to look for some work experience placements, then bed bed bed!
xxxx


Friday 27 January 2012

Motivation issues!

This is how I feel right now! x
Hi guys,
Just a quick post. I need some help with motivation. I have a deadline on Monday for all of my photography coursework and I have no motivation what so ever at the moment..... HELP!!!

How do you make sure that you're focused and motivated? Any ideas would be great!

I just found this picture - isn't it great?

Thank you,
Love Young Mummy xxxx

Thursday 26 January 2012

25 Things to Make Your Life Easier

I found this just now, and some of the stuff is pretty cool! So I thought I'd re-post so that you guys had a chance to check it out too. I found it here at The Daily Buzz

Clever ideas: hull strawberries with a straw
Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com
Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Clever ideas: use a walnut to heal furniture scratches
Via: apartmenttherapy.com
Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Clever ideas: WD40 for cleaning crayon off TV screens
Via: unplggd.com
Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV, computer screen or wall with WD40.

Clever ideas: keep a cut apple from going brown
Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com
Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Clever ideas: store bedlinen sets inside their pillowcases
Via: marthastewart.com
Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
Clever ideas: bowl as iPhone sound amplifier
Via: realsimple.com
Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.

Cleaver ideas: wet wipe dispenser as plastic bag storage
Via: savvyhousekeeping.com
Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Clever ideas: baby powder to remove sand from feet
Via: iheartnaptime.net
Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!

Clever ideas: velcro strip on wall to hold soft toys
Via: realsimple.com
Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Clever ideas: gift wrap storage on cupboard ceiling
Via: flickr.com
Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

Clever idea: stocking over vacuum to pick up lost items
Via: instructables.com
Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Clever idea: box lid cupcake holder
Via: realsimple.com
Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

Clever idea: how to fold a fitted sheet
Via: stephmodo.com
For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Clever idea: magnetic bobbypin storage
Via: sprwmn.blogspot.com
Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door.

Clever idea: use shower caps to hold shoes when packing
Via: realsimple.com
A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!
Clever idea: muffin pan craft storage
Via: familyfun.go.com
A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.
Clever idea: bread tags as cable labels
Via: unplggd.com
Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

Clever idea: cook cupcakes in ice cream cones
Via: kiboomu.com
Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.
Clever idea: microwave your own popcorn in a plain paper bag
Via: squawkfox.com
Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
Clever idea: use a tension rod to hang spray bottles
Via: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com
Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!

Clever idea: how to make heart-shaped eggs
Via: 9gag.com
Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!
Clever idea: use upside-down muffic pan to make cookie bowls
Via: wilton.com
Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.
Clever idea: freeze aloe vera lotion for soothing burns
Via: realsimple.com
Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Clever idea: gutter veggie garden
Via: lifehacker.com.au
Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

Clever idea: egg cartons for Christmas ornament storage
Via: re-nest.com
Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

Why not re-post it aswell, share these tips around!
Much love,
Elle xx