Over Christmas a lot of people I know have made the announcement that they're expecting, and in the last week two of my close friends have announced pregnancies, it seems Spring really has sprung early this year! My oldest child has now reached 22 years old, so it isn't just children that I'm seeing announced by my friends, it's grandchildren....

When I was pregnant with my older children the internet was new and exciting, but quite empty, and I was one of the first people I knew to order anything for my baby online. In 1998 I ordered a step to fasten to the back of my pram for my toddler to stand on. It was very basic, unlike anything anyone in Derby had ever seen, and came all the way from Sweden. I loved my step and it's no surprise they're so commonplace now. The world has changed and become smaller, and if you are looking for baby equipment now you really don't have to struggle to find everything you could ever need in one location.

My Little Pony: The Crystal Empire is the latest release in the Friendship Is Magic series and is available on DVD and Digital Download from today! A very Wintry tale it's perfect for January and is set in the frozen Arctic North of Equestria.


Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle uncover a whole new kingdom when the Crystal Empire reawakens. A curse that was placed over the kingdom has now lifted, and the ponies are able to explore the magical empire. The questions everyone are asking though, will it stay visible? And how long before it disappears again?

Unlike January last year, it really seems an incredibly long time since my last update, and that is a clear measure of how far we've come. December 15th now was such a long time ago, a world away from where we are now in January. Full of anticipation and if I'm brutally honest - dread. I needn't have worried though, Christmas was good.

Christmas meant 2 weeks off work and I didn't turn on my laptop or read a single email, which pleased my family and gave me a proper break. We played games and watched movies and all of my family spent proper time together. We even managed an overnight trip away at New Year to see friends.

There is a really simple answer to the question of what every woman wants for Valentine's Day, and to provide it can cost whatever budget you wish, from zero upwards... Every woman, bar none, (and probably every man too) wants ultimately one thing. They want to feel special.

Valentine's Day is only a month away, and hopefully everyone reading will be made to feel special by someone who loves them.


Another way to feel special is new undies. Trust me guys, any woman of any size and with any body shape will feel 3 inches taller knowing her bra and knickers not only match, but still have all their wire, lace and elastic in full working order. If they fit properly and look good, you are already a winner.

Are you determined to lose that Christmas weight? Do you have the willpower to shift those baby pounds? Will you be beach gorgeous by July? How long have you been on a diet anyway?

If you're like me then the answer to that last question could well be pretty much all of your adult life. One thing that connects most of us is diets. I know this because we mention it - all the time.

On a night out people people joke they'll be hitting the gym tomorrow. Over coffee they tell you how many pounds they've lost or gained and we all stick to a skinny latte. On Facebook there is post after post of the latest Slimming World recipe or organic seaweed breakfast wrap with caramelised roast root veg smoothie (only 75 calories *smile emoticon*). At toddler group we refuse a biscuit with our coffee. And if you take one, you feel a guilt. I'm overweight....I probably shouldn't....

And the weeks, months and years go by, and we continue to diet (on and off), chasing the perfect that we will rarely find, and keeping hold of it is the equivalent of someone other than Harry catching the golden snitch.

And our children watch and they listen, and they learn.

We spent a lot of time over Christmas reviewing some new games, and one of the favourites was UFO Alarm! from University Games. I knew my kids would be interested as soon as I read the description, and after playing I was proven right - it's terrific family fun.

Two evenings ago my partner and I went out on only our 3rd 'date' in 3 years. We were invited to attend a preview screening of Room the movie. We left emotionally drained and utterly exhausted, but thankful we'd accepted because it was really an amazing movie.

Released on 15th January, Studiocanal's latest movie, Room, is directed by Lenny Abrahamson and stars the young actors Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. It's so powerful and well-acted that it really does do justice to the best-selling novel from Emma Donoghue on which it is based.


Room tells the story of a young woman kidnapped and held in a single Room for several years. During that time she has a child, and when he gets older they realise they can't carry on forever, so plot to escape. They succeed, and unlike most stories which end at this point, we follow them and find out what happens next.

When you are emailed about a 'pillow selector' you have to try it, right? And it's only 4 questions, so it just takes a minute. But then when you get the results it's even more intriguing. Will I actually get pillows I love? Are those the right pillows for me?

Batman has always been a favourite of mine, and my 5 year old has loved him since the first time he clenched his little chubby fingers around a Batman LEGO Minifigure. He's been popular with most of my children, so over the years we've amassed quite a collection of Batman toys, videos, books and LEGO.

Minifigures from the Jokerland LEGO set

DC Super Friends Early Readers Books

ROOM will hit UK cinemas on January 15th. A very poignant movie from Studiocanal, which will no doubt require plenty of tissues, it tells the story of a young woman and her son, imprisoned in a 10ft x 10ft room for several years.


As her son gets older it becomes more obvious that they cannot continue forever and when he reaches 5 years old they hatch a plan to escape. The movie follows their attempt and what happens to them when they break free, and the little boy experiences the outside world for the first time.