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12 Apps For An Easier 2017

And a very Happy New Year to you all! There was a fleeting moment when I thought my first post of the year would be my resolutions/goals for 2017. However, not being self deprecating – I discarded it pretty quickly as thought it wouldn’t particularly benefit you (less sugar, more walking – yawn yawn yawn) and my ultimate goal is to inform you, not bore you! Instead, I thought a list of my favourite apps would be a great way to kick start the year!!

Cozi

This app ‘made me’ say goodbye to my trusted Filofax as I could no longer read what I had written. Husband to Diddi Dance and (2yr old) in Japan. Just no. You get the picture.

With Cozi, everyone has the app (our au pair does too) and each person is assigned a colour. Anyone can enter an appointment or holiday and it updates on everyone else’s app. There is also an area for to do lists and shopping lists. I LOVE IT.

Task Rabbit

This is great if you have a one-off small job i.e looking for waitresses, someone to walk the dog or a patient person to build you your Ikea shelves. Book them in (they can come within the hour) and per them per hour. Super duper.

Amazon Alexa

We have just kindly been given the Amazon Dot which is ‘dot’ that you have in the kitchen – connected to your phone and the wifi – and you can ask it questions, play music and rather dangerously order things (you have to have an Amazon Prime account) It is such fun too and a great way to bribe the kids. ‘The first one to finish your broccoli gets to ask Alexa a question…’ (They love ‘Alexa – tell us a joke!’)

Touchnote

One of my friends asked me jokingly the other day ‘have you forgotten how to write?’ as she received another thank you letter from me using Touchnote. Basically, you buy credits, upload a photo, enter the recipients address, write your blurb and press send. I do think it is as personal as a hand written thank you as you get a personalised photo! (Justify justify…)

Photobox

I have lost my phone and the subsequent photos one too many times to make the misatke of not printing out my photos.

With Photobox, you upload your photos from your phone directly onto the Photobox app, order them and they will arrive within 48hrs. You can also order personalised presents.

Waze

Why was I using a separate Sat Nav for so long when this beauty was around? Move over Google maps (and trad maps for that matter). Simply put in your destination postcode and it will navigate you to the place you are going to, whilst avoiding any heavy traffic along the way. (You can even choose Sue Perkins as the voice!)

Uber

If you haven’t downloaded Uber yet, what have you been doing? No, seriously, it is a fantastic way to get from a – b for a reasonable price. I have a discount code to give you £15 off your first ride TLMUBER if you are a newbie (My pleasure)

Deliveroo

Perhaps I shouldn’t mention this at the start of the year when most people have healthy intentions BUT you really should have this app if you like a variety of takeaways (Carluccio’s take away? win!) With a minimum order of something ridiculous like £10 it is a great option if you are home alone too. #snoutfest

My Fitness Pal

Leading on from the above, if you want to watch what you eat, My Fitness Pal is a great calorie counter. Enter your goal weight, how much you exercise and it will give you your calorie limit for the day. Then simply enter your food – they even have specific meals from restaurants – drink and exercise each time something passes your mouth and you will see how many calorie allowance you have left (for that glass of wine at the end of the say!)

Hoop

I have written about the fantastic Hoop before here. If you are ever at a loose end with your kids, enter your postcode and it will show you what’s on around you. Genius.

Mush

If you have just had a baby or moved to a new area and are looking for some like-minded mum pals, Mush ‘the tinder for Mum’s’ has made this app a perfectly acceptable and practical way for meeting other mums in your area.

Zipjet

Schedule your washing to be collected and dropped off at a specific time. Can also do your dry cleaning! I have only used this when our washing machine packed in but could easily get used to it!

I hope you have found this useful. For more Apps & Services, please have a look at The Ultimate Directory. I always love to hear what makes your life easier (and if I am missing a trick!) so drop me an email hello@thelondonmummy and say hi (or if you receive my emails, simply reply!) xx

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Family Life Services

How To Host A Kids Party At Home

At the end of August, I had 48 kids to a party. In our house. Sometimes I can’t even handle a playdate with a couple of kids, so what possessed me? I thought it was time that my sons, less than two years apart, both summer boys – should have a joint party. They like the same things and have ALOT of pairs of other sibling friends, so it seemed ludicrous to have 2 similar parties within a month of eachother.

Why so many? I like to be inclusive! Ok, if I am truthful, I thought as it was summer alot of people would be away, but you know what – people aren’t on holiday ALL THE TIME and so they around. (I am very happy everyone could come btw.)

So, here’s my advice to make it as smooth as possible, also without breaking the bank.

Email the invitation. Go to Canva and design a funky one yourself. It’s free too.

The party should be two 2 hours max. Don’t want any meltdowns. From you.

Get a good entertainer. A great one should be able to keep the children happy & engaged and take the pressure of you by organising them for tea and the cake etc. We have used Mr Marvel 3 years in a row as he does precisely this. He has become a family tradition!

Another recommendation is The Bubble Lady who gives an interractive bubble display.

Check out Hot Hire if you have a fire engine lover. They park outside the party, let the kids explore the engine and then give them a drive around the block!

Kids don’t eat much do they? Especially when they are excited. I spent a lot of time constructing a lunch box in previous parties only to see so much waste. Now I just do a plates to hand round. It is slightly chaotic and survival of the fittest but if children are old enough to walk and talk, they can express to an adult that they are famished and the food has passed them by!

What I would serve –

Jam on brown bread or cream cheese on white bread seems to be popular.
Fruit shoots (take all the plastic lids of first so you aren’t treading on them for the rest of the party – ouch)
Bowl of hula hoops. Old school.
Bowl of mini sausages.
Half a pineapple with pineapple (from a tin – you don’t want to mess around with the actual pineapple) and cheese chunks on cocktail sticks (my attempt at a hedgehog!) and a tomato and cucumber crocodile!

Then pudding is the cake… I ordered and collected these football boots from M and S

For something more bespoke and special, try Victoria Defty Couture Cakes.

If you want to make one yourself… Try Craft & Crumb. They will send you everything you need to make your own celebration cake!

If you don’t have time to do the food – M and S also do kids party platters

Children's Jigsaw Platter - 24 Pieces

If you have tables and chairs for your little darlings, you really should get Lottie from Crate a Party to kit you out with plates, napkins and cutlery all to your chosen theme.

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She delivered a huge box filled of Star Wars themed goodies – including balloons, confetti, personalised Happy Birthday bunting AND two giant helium darth vadars. Now that is service! All we had to do was blow up the balloons!

Lottie is offering 20% off her HALLOWEEN package if you mention The London Mummy.

Below is a photo of the personalised Halloween bunting! (The numbers were from when we took the boys to Lords!)

If your kids want a pinata, get a pull one, not a whack one. That means everyone gets to hold a piece of the string and pull at once. It saves time and a few broken noses too. We actually had two – one for the 4 year olds and one for 6 year olds. It was amazing how ordered it was.

As a bit of fun, I bought a helium Storm Trooper from Card Factory. The only problem was getting it home in the car….

With regards to party bags, Jasmine Guinesses honeyjam do great party bags and fillers if you want to do them yourself. Personally I go to poundland and buy 50 toys. If you can, wrap them!

If a party at home doesn’t appeal, here are some great London venues.

I hope this post has helped. The most important aspect to remember when you are having a party at home is to make sure you have a chilled bottle of vino in the fridge for you afterwards!!!

For more recommendations, check out TLM Directory.

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Services

Urban Massage : Massage Service Delivered On Demand

You should have seen the look I received from my other half this morning as I answered his ‘So, what are you up to today?’ question (as he knows I don’t work to a routine!) ‘ummm a bit of work…. like reviewing Urban Massage… it’s like a masseuse that comes to your home… yes, they are coming here this morning… ‘

You get the picture. It seemed unbelievably indulgent, but hey, everyone needs a massage sometimes and if you can’t get to a salon, they can come to you!

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Urban Massage is a website (or download the app) to book a massage to take place at your home, office or hotel within 60 minutes. All individual therapists available to book on the platform have completed an on-boarding process where their qualifications and insurance are checked.

They have also passed a trade test to ensure users can expect the highest standard of treatment and exceptional aftercare advice. To ensure a convenient service, Urban Massage gives users the ability to choose their preferred treatment, therapist and appointment date, time and location. All therapists using the Urban Massage platform provide the oils and a professional massage table for their bookings. All you have to do is supply two towels.

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My lovely therapist, who works full time for Urban Massage, arrived at 1025 and was set up by 1030. I chose deep tissue (it was a toss up between that and a sports massage but seeing as I don’t do any sport…) The hour went so quickly and I feel like she took away the worries of the world – and every knot in my whole body!

It was super easy to book – you get to choose your therapist – and they can arrive within the hour! This was my set up…

Claire Nash, head of marketing explains –

Not everyone has the time or the inclination to plan their health and beauty schedule in advance. The Urban Massage technology uses live data to match the closest and most suitable therapist for each treatment, ensuring travel time is reduced and that a convenient service is delivered.

Treatments can also be booked for a later time in the day or on a different day if the want is less immediate.

The company, which operates in five UK cities – London (within the M25), Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow – and has over 500 therapists.

Download the app from App Store or Android or head to their website urbanmassage.com

Use Code RLUCIND1 for £10 off your first booking!

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Services Spotlight

Harriet Rowlands : Family Home Property Finder

If this gorgeous spike in temperature is making you feel a bit restless in your current home and you’re thinking you might need a bit more space or even want to up sticks to the countryside – todays post is for you!

Harriet Rowlands offers a bespoke property search service, No Place Like Home, for clients looking to buy property in West London and surrounding counties. Her specialism and passion, is finding the perfect home for families, especially those relocating from London to the country. Her successful searches have taken her to Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berskshire, Sussex and Dorset.

As a buying agent, she has a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and subtleties of all that is involved in property search and acquisition. This extensive knowledge has been built up over a 16 year period of buying and selling property. She uses her expert knowledge of the local property markets, extensive network of contacts and highly effective negotiating skills to find the right property for her clients, and most importantly – at the right price! With her previous teaching background she is able to direct parents to excellent schools too.

She was lucky enough to buy her first flat in West London in her mid twenties and enjoyed every minute of her property search. She felt rather bereft after her own property search had come to an end, but over the following months and years she was lucky enough to be asked by many friends and family members to find the perfect property for them. At this time, she was a teacher in leading London independent schools so she carried out property searches as a hobby in her spare time. However, she knew that she would, one day, make her hobby into her profession.

So after her children were born, whilst they napped, she started to teach herself the ins and outs of social media and to write the content for her website. And so No Place Like Home Property Search was born.

Harriet is friendly and welcoming yet professional and of course discreet! She enjoys meeting new clients and understands their requirements quickly to enable her to find their perfect property.

My previous clients often remark about how I am able to cover my fees by shrewdly negotiating the final purchase price of their chosen property. This is obviously a real plus point when the buying process is already costly.

Harriet is currently running a Summer Offer of 10% off her fees, so even more reason to get in touch with her.

In a similar vein, if you have already purchased a property, wondering which area to move to or are making a move into unknown territory, you must register on Life After London. Bee, a London mum, set the website up to help you move out of London and connect with people in the same boat.

Harriet’s Favourites

Hotel: La Residencia, Majorca

Website: The White Company

Restaurant: Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton

Shop: Jigsaw, Westbourne Grove

Holiday Destination : Vancouver & Vancouver Island

Parenting Tip : ‘Don’t panic, it’s just a phase!’

nplhome.co.uk

See Harriet on TLM Ultimate Directory alongside many more fantastic businesses!

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Services

Creative Childcare From Bea & Co

There is usually is a heavy influence of women in a young childs early life. Mothers, female childcare & teachers make up a team of primary carers. So other than Dad & wider family, where do young boys in particular glean from other good male role models?

When I heard about Bea & Co who offer creative sitters, both men and women – I opted to try a manny. As try as I might to have pushed for a male au pair in the past, it has always been a big fat no from my other half. Fair enough, but a few hours childcare – who can say no to that?

Jamie breezed into our house on Wednesday afternoon and after politely introducing himself and taking his shoes off, immediately cracked a gag with the boys and the rest is… a very quiet afternoon for me! All I heard were squeals of delight from upstairs as they did a treasure hunt around the house, an assault course and some imaginative play.

This is the benefit of having an actor to look after your children. Their senses were engaged from the off and Jamie’s magnetism had them all enraptured and engaged. They finished off the afternoon in the garden throwing a ball about, bounced on the trampoline and had an archery competition, before he sat with them at supper and distracted them through to completion of their burgers. Result! (Yes, mine actually have to be coaxed into eating BURGERS!)

Bea & Co offers babysitting (but note – these guys & gals don’t sit!) both day and evening, chaperoning, days out, International travel assistance and if you think your child has it in them – coaching (singing, acting, dancing). Both team members and clients are personally recommended (if you phone Bea & Co, you can say you heard from me!) so all the creatives are CRB checked and experienced.

Once you sign up for the yearly membership fee, there is the same very reasonable hourly fee, day or night. After Amy, the lovely founder meets you and your brood she will introduce you to a few creatives, who you will have access to use at short notice & who know your routine and family, so no awkward familiarisation process as with a traditional babysitting agency.

Try them and you won’t look back!

beaandco.com

Have you seen TLM Ultimate Directory?

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Products Services Spotlight

Rebecca Gordon : Rise Art

Rise Art is an online gallery here to help connect great, talented contemporary artists with their network of collectors who range from private customers, trade clients, Interior Designers and corporate clients. They want to make great quality artwork accessible to everyone regardless of their knowledge, taste or budget without the fear of being intimidated, ripped off or stuck with something they don’t like!

Rebecca is the Curator at Rise Art. She is responsible for recruiting talented emerging artists to the site and manages Rise Art’s board of Insiders. She also advises corporate companies and private individuals on their art collections.

Having taken a career break from the Art World (she previously worked for a Modern British/Contemporary private art dealer) of almost 3 years due to some pretty tricky babies (horrendous reflux – no need to explain further!) she was beginning to get itchy feet when fate intervened and a friend of hers in the art world told her about a start-up called Rise Art, who were looking for a curator.

“Rise Art was a complete change for me, instead of dealing with art based around the £500,000 – £1 million mark, I was suddenly surrounded by really affordable, yet brilliant artworks. As a result, my relationship with art changed and I became excited again because for once, I could actually afford to own some of the work that I was selling! It was new, exciting and rewarding dealing with these emerging artists as well as the more established ones.”

Rebecca with her two children.

With Rise Art, you can buy or rent from thousands of works by some of the most exciting up-and-coming and established contemporary artists practising today – every one of them hand-picked by their expert team of art insiders. That’s a lot of choice, of course, which is why they’ve made sure you can quickly search for exactly the sort of thing you’re looking for, whether you’re décor-matching, starting a collection or just trying to stick to a budget.

You can even create your own tailor-made shortlist of recommendations by taking their art quiz. As you explore Rise Art, and start to follow their artists and favourite the pieces that you like, they’ll update your list with recommendations that match your tastes. (And if you don’t trust the computer to do it, they have real-life human advisors just a phone call or email away.)

One of my friends Harriet Hoult is one of Rise Art’s artists. I love her abstract colourful designs.

Along The River, by Harriet Hoult

When you find an artwork you like, you can buy it – and frame it – quickly and easily in their online store (or, if you want to try it out first and see it first hand, why not rent it?). And if it turns up and you hate it? No worries; just send it back, for free.

I have asked her to select a few pieces for a family living room and a kids bedroom. (All descriptions her own).

Art For Family Living Room

Simon Smith

His work combines intricate elements of collage with finely painted details to create a unique visual language.

Tommy Clarke

This work may at first look like a painting, but it is actually an aerial photograph taken from a very low flying helicopter over Utah salt flats.

Laura Jordan

She is a brilliant draughtsman, with an international reputation, who works in pencil, pen, watercolour and mixed media to produce wonderfully, delicate cityscapes which capture Metropolitan existence to the full.

Claire Halifax

Her intricately drawn cityscapes immediately capture our attention through her distinctive use of design, pattern and colour.

Astrid Harrisson

Astrid is an international equine photographer. She captures the very essence and proud spirit of the horse. Her works printed on aluminium are especially impressive and create a striking effect.

Art for Kids Bedroom

Samsofy

A French photographer whose works are witty and playful. He cleverly uses elements from our everyday environment – pavements, flowers, mobile phones and turns them on their head in an unexpected, funny and often touching ways.

Kristjana Williams

She is an award winning artist whose vibrant illustrations have gained widespread critical acclaim and won her commissions from Liberty, Fortnum & Mason and the Connaught Hotel to name but a few.

Ellie Vandoorne

She is actually my neighbour and I recently bought this work as couldn’t resist it and so affordable Flower Girl but her animals and pixies are more kid friendly.

Antonia Barclay

Fantastic portrait artist but she has done these fun, quirky animal drawings.

Carl Moore

Colourful and very kid friendly.

Barry Goodman

Fun London based prints.

Rebecca’s Favourites

Website : ASOS (White Collection)

Shop : Katie & Jo, Parsons Green, London

Restaurant : Medlar, Kings Road, London

Hotel : Coco Point Lodge, Barbuda, Carribean

Holiday destination : Tangier, Morocco

Parenting Tip : “Hair Spray is a miracle for getting felt tip, biro, crayons etc off any wall, cabinet, woodwork, leather furniture. Simply spray on and wipe off with Kitchen paper! Saved me on numerous occasions.”

riseart.com

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Activities Days Out Places Services

London Cultural Trips For Kids

Clarendon Tutors offer a bespoke tutoring service in London. However, it isn’t another tutoring agency that matches child to tutor and leaves you on your way. They understand a parents need for continuous feedback and they also maintain open communication with whichever schools the children attend, ensuring that they are working in co-operation rather than conflict.

‘The thing I loved about Clarendon was the constant support. The agencies I have used in the past have just sent us anonymous tutors and that’s been the end of it. Clarendon helped us through every step of getting ‘M’ into his school.’

The charming and knowledgeable founders, Henry and Orlando, are excellent at matching their highly experienced Oxbridge tutors with a pupil, being tutors themselves, and have a 100% track record of getting your child into the school of your choice.

What makes Clarendon Tutors really unique is their Cultural Trips. Consisting of 1 tutor to 1-2 children, the day out combines traditional learning with experiences such as visiting a museum and also a more active pursuit such as a tennis lesson or a round of crazy golf, for example. Whatever you require, they will endeavor to tailor the day for you and your child including picking them up and taking them home. The tutor also visit a few days before so that you are comfortable with who will be looking after your children for the day.

What’s Included

9am pick up from home (or the train if your child is old enough to come into London for the day)
1 hour of tutoring in the morning
An exhibition or museum such as Imperial, Natural or Design Museum
A healthy lunch
An Afternoon activity such as tennis, football, Go Ape, Putt In The Park
1 hour tutoring
5pm finish

Outside the Ai Wei Wei Exhibition at the RA

Ready for tennis at The Hurlingham Club

For international parents and children that are new to London, they are able to help you by showing them the British culture and system. Whatever your requirements are, these are your guys. With the gaping summer holiday looming, they will be able to take the children off your hands knowing they are being well looked after and educated in a fair few things too!

Tuition rates start at £50/hr. Day trips start from £200/day.

Drop them an email for more information and to ask any questions – henry@clarendontutors.com / orlando@clarendontutors.com or give them a call anytime on 020 7206 2569

clarendontutors.com

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People Services Spotlight

Dr Tamsin Hayward : The Wrinkle Dr

London Mummy of 2 little boys, Dr Tamsin Hayward, is the lady to know if you’re considering cosmetic injectables. Tamsin set up her business The Wrinkle Dr after recognising the need for affordable treatments by an accessible local Doctor. In addition to cosmetic work, Tamsin is an NHS GP in a surgery in Parsons Green, teaches pediatric first aid courses for Lulubaby.

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Tamsin specialises in wrinkle-reducing injections i.e. Botox^® and Dermal fillers. She also performs thread vein and blemish removal and consultations for eyelash growth treatments – Lumigan. It was an absolute eye opener how many different treatments she could perform. I was like a kid in a sweet shop reading through the list of treatments (although I still vow injectibles aren’t for me quite yet!)

My friend who I went with to meet Tamsin, was keen to try Botox on her forehead and get her crows feet ‘done’. Tamsin was so informative and patient answering all her questions and queries. She (who herself is a walking advert for her own services – she looks stunning) immediately put my friend at ease. Tamsin is renowned for her gentle injection technique, honest approach and ethos to achieve a natural look. There won’t be any ‘trout pout’ disasters if you see The Wrinkle Doctor.

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The results were subtle yet made my friend look and feel a million dollars. She has lots of before and afters on here website, for you to see for yourself.

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