Tesco Festive Food

There really isn't any better time of the year for a foodie than Christmas. I start dreaming about all the food possibilities I can be eating from about October onward. So when I received an email from Tesco inviting me to their Christmas showcase in June, I didn't have to think very hard before hitting the reply button. The thought of being able to see all their Christmas food offerings early and share them with mini FoodieForce was an exciting proposition. 

Noah had a wonderful day seeing his first Christmas tree, snow and presents. 

So here's a round up of the event and the best food offerings. 

The Night Before Christmas:

Having something to snack on for Christmas Eve is a must, but it has to be low effort. Tesco's Finest have taken the stress out of the foodie feast this year with mini Venison pies, £6. 

Filled with rich venison, mulled wine ragu and a crispy parsnip, potato rosti star, they are the perfect addition to any table (more specifically mine). 

Another perfect appetiser mini pulled beef toasties with Red Leicester cheese, £5.  

The beef brisket was cooked in a smoky sauce and the tangy Red Leicester cheese was the perfect accompaniment. 

Wow your guests with the Tesco Finest three tiered seafood platter, £32.50. The first thing to say is I'm not sure how Tesco achieved such a great price here. 

Three tiers of seafood heaven, presented on a slate bed. The platter comes with a whole lobster, dressed crab, king prawns, smoked salmon and mackerel pâté. A real showstopper.

Christmas Dinner: 

I personally love a succulent British free range turkey for my Christmas dinner. The meat is full of flavour, garnishing it with bacon means that the breast stays nice and moist, serve with traditional stuffing balls, sausages and vegetables.

Tesco Finest British Free Range Bronze Basted Turkey Crown, £14/kg (1.5-2.25kg).

Top tips:

For evenly cooked sausages, score down the middle before frying or grilling.

Using stuffing in your bird, only stuff the neck, stuffing the main cavity prevents it cooking evenly. 

Dessert offerings:

The Reveal Dessert, £12. Camera at the ready, swirl the warm toffee sauce across the Belgian chocolate dome to create a show stopping dessert.

For the children amongst us, Tesco have some really fabulous novelty cakes this year. 

Tesco snowman cake, £10 with a delicious vanilla sponge topped with buttercream. Santa cheese cake, bursting with strawberry and marshmallow topping. The perfect cakes to delight and cheer up any Christmas table. 

A cheese board at Christmas is a must, with some lovely chutney's, grapes, figs and crackers. 

Tea Time Treats:

Decorate your own Gingerbread house, £5.

I love family baking with Noah and a Gingerbread house means the children can let their imaginations run riot and create a masterpiece of pure yummy indulgence. 

Create your very own cute penguin cupcakes.  

I am one of those strange beings that likes sprouts, I have done since I was very little. Often I can be found clearing sprouts off the plates of those who detest them. 

Don't like sprouts, don't worry Tesco's have come up with the perfect antidote. Chocolate truffle sprouts £3, Belgium chocolate that will have you fighting over the last one. 

Still not convinced, well Tesco has lots of other yummy offerings. The peppermint snowflakes, £3.50 and Belgian milk chocolate honeycomb, £3.50 get my vote.

Festive Drinks:

Christmas calls for a lovely bottle of fizzy and Tesco Finest Prosecco, £10 is a great price. 

With wonderful flavours of apple, grapefruit and citrus its a great accompaniment with any roast. 

Not a fan of the fizz, why not rustle up some Christmas cocktails? 

Need some inspiration? Have a look here. 

What are your favourite Christmas food and drink treats? Share in the comments below. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year. 

Baby essentials

As a first time parent it can be really difficult knowing the difference between what are essential need to have items and ones that are very much considered nice to have. 

One thing I have learnt through being a parent is lots of items you think are essential, have proved to be nothing of the sort! 

Everyone will offer you advice and their personal pearls of parenting wisdom, but whilst nicely meant it can sometimes be overwhelming. 

In my case this meant I sat and procrastinated about what to buy so much so, that our baby was in danger of being born with nothing ready. 

I am pleased to say however that I did eventually get my act together well almost together before Noah's birth. 

Quite a few people have asked me to do this post, so it's dedicated to the items we have purchased and found really useful. This is in the hope that it will help other soon to be parents distinguish between useful products and those that are a gimmick or non-essential. I've left it eleven months so that I can genuinely say and feel confident in the recommendations I am making. 

The important thing to point out before I say anything else is that a new born baby in fact needs very little in the way of products and goods. They need love, food and somewhere cosy to sleep. 

Clothing:

You will have romantic views of outfits you will dress your little one in: tops, trousers, dresses, tights, waistcoats, coats etc. The reality is they will live in baby grows (all-in-one suits) no one has time to be faffing with separate items, well not till they are about six months old. 

Stock up on at least fourteen baby grows and twelve baby vests. Make sure the baby grows and vests have poppers and that you can quickly access nappies and easily remove/put them on.

Buy those which are appropriate for the season in which your baby will be born, long sleeves for Winter and cap sleeves for Summer. This also applies to cardigans (minimum of two), Jackets and hats. 

Refrain from buying loads of things yourself, you will have loads of new born clothes that will be gifted to you, so many so you could put your baby in a different outfit everyday. If you want to purchase bits yourself go for the outfit that your baby will come home in from the hospital, a coat, or purchase baby clothes that are older, six to nine months. 

Sleeping: 
There are numerous options for sleeping, Moses basket, crib, cot and many products on the market promising you and your new baby a good nights sleep.

We decided not to use a Moses basket for many reasons, friends had advised us that they were a total waste of money, that their little ones would not sleep in them and for those that would they only last a few months. 

Instead of a Moses basket we opted for a Stokke Sleepi Mini (£445), beautiful in design, the wheels make moving it really easy, the size is amazingly efficient and it meant that Noah happily fitted in our room for the first six months. 

It also meant that we didn't then have the issue of transferring Noah from Moses basket to a cot. This also has the benefit of being able to be extended to a full size cot and bed.

I also highly recommend our Chicco Next2Me Bedside Crib (£165). Perfect for being close to your baby, feeding and from my experience getting back to sleep quicker as involves less getting up and down in the night. 

Remember if you're going for a cot you will also need a fitted sheet I opted for The Little Green Sheep organic fitted sheet and a mattress protector (but can also recommend DK Glovesheets), cellular blanket and a baby sleeping bag.

But our best product definitely had to be the Sleepyhead Delux Portable Baby Pod (£110). 

What might seem like a very expensive pillow, was an absolute godsend. This is the pillow just keeps on giving, I found so many uses for this pillow, tummy time, play mat, perfect for travelling, changing station and a lovely bed that little Noah was wonderfully snuggled in.  

You only need to read the wonderful reviews for this product to see that it is money well spent. The only downside is that the Sleepyhead is outgrown well before eight months. At six months we moved Noah into the Sleepyhead Grand.

I found finding the right baby monitor incredibly stressful. I knew that it was an important purchase and so did plenty of research. But seriously there is just too much choice. Do you go for audio only, one with video, what about a sound and movement sensors. One word STRESS!

For me personally I wanted a monitor with a sound and movement sensor, sudden infant death syndrome frighted the life out of me. So we opted for the Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor AC401 (£74.99).  

This has been a great monitor, it has relaxed me knowing that the alarm will go off if movement and sound is not detected. 

It was easy to set up but you want to make sure that you have done it right, especially if you have chosen a movement pressure pad. Setting this up after birth having had little sleep and under pressure is not advisable. 

In the early days white noise is also a great way to settle a baby. I found the following apps great for at home and on the go. Sleepy Sounds and Sound Sleeper. If you're looking for a teddy Ewan the dream sheep combines soothing music and lights babies seem to love him. 

Bath and changing:
Some people will tell you that a baby bath is not essential but to be honest I really think it is. Whilst it takes up space and you probably won't use it beyond three months, the alternative is a top and toe baby bowl or holding your baby desperately trying not to drown them and breaking your back over a bath at the same time. 

I still remember bathing Noah for the first time they feel tiny and like you might break them. A baby bath means that your baby is securely supported and gives you the ability to use your hands to wash them. 

I chose the Tippitoes Mini Bath (£13) which was a great buy, deep enough to wet the entire baby but allows them to sit comfortably, supported with anti-slip pads. 

Another wonderful bath is the Angelcare Soft Touch Bath (£18.99) with support. 

You will also need towels and toiletries as well as a thermometer for the bath to check the water temperature. Finding towels with hoods for a baby is a challenge, shops to look in are Mothercare, Dunelm and Mamas and Papas. 

Stockpile a supply of nappies, wipes and cotton wool. Go easy though on purchasing too many first stage nappies; babies grow quickly and they will out grow this size quickly.  

One thing I didn't register for ages, is that most newborn baby nappies have a marker on the front which changes colour when your baby needs changing.

A great purchase for disposing of nappies has to be the Tommee Tippee nappy disposal bin (£24.95). Ours has been well used and I would absolutely repurchase it. 

In the UK rubbish is collected weekly and in some areas general waste fortnightly. Nappies absolutely stink but this bin means that they are hygienically locked away and can conveniently be disposed of in your weekly rubbish.  

Feeding:
I have written a whole post on breastfeeding here. 

Breastfeeding is a lot harder that it looks it can be one of the most stressful things about being a new mummy but I promise if you stick with it that it does get easier. In the early days it's painful and very tiring to have a little person constantly feeding (cluster feeding). 

A feeding essential that I found useful; have at least two tubes of Lansinoh cream, use it regularly after each feed, even if you don't have pain to start with. Make sure you pack a tube in you hospital bag. 

It's tempting to express milk early on, don't resist the urge at least till you are in a routine with your feeding and milk supply. I would say at last six weeks. Buy the best breast pump you can, trust me it will be money well spent. I went for Medela Swing Breast Pump (£134.99).

Its worth sharing that most breast pumps you can purchase different size teats. 

Regardless of how you decide to feed your baby you will need breastfeeding pads. They are as much for keeping milk in, as they are for protecting your nipples rubbing on clothing and getting sore. I loved the Johnson's nursing pads. 

With a baby under one you will need to sterilise everything. I loved my Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steriliser (£19.99).

Within four minutes I could sterilise bottles, breast pump attachments and other feeding utensils. 

Travel:
Buying a pram and pushchair is a big investment, think wisely about your needs and lifestyle. I've known loads of friends who have regretted their pushchair purchase six months in. 

Big is not always better, consider your needs, are you living in a busy city? Will you be getting on and off busses? Huge off terrain wheels then are probably not the easiest to navigate around shopping isles and on a bus. Also think about the weight of your pushchair, if a lift is out could you carry the pushchair and your baby. 

We did absolutely tons of research to find a pushchair that met our needs, our Babyzen Yoyo plus 0+ (£485) is definitely the best purchase we made and still is eleven months on.

This is a brilliant everyday pushchair, it is lightweight, easy to collapse, works on a variety of terrains and can travel in the overhead locker in the cabin of an aeroplane. I have used this pushchair everyday, taking it over cobbles, gravel, thick grass, down and up steps, run with it, folded it and un-folded it hundreds of times as well as taking it abroad.

A perfect addition to your pushchair purchase will be a Snooze Sleep Shade (£19.99), protection from the sun, wind and black out for such much needed sleep.

If you intend to travel in a car with your baby you will need a car seat, in fact most hospitals won't let you leave without one. Like prams there is so much choice and it can be overwhelming. Car seats come in different groups which are specific to a child's age, weight and height.   

We went for the Cybex Cloud Q Group 0+ in Autumn Gold (£220). 

As a family we do a considerable amount of driving so we wanted a car seat that passed all the latest safety standards and checks. I also wanted a seat that was comfortable to ride in for Noah. We have been really happy with the car seat, with detachable covers for easy washing.

Travelling in a car with a new baby can be stressful if you can't physically view them. One of my best purchases was the Streetwize extra large super view mirror (£11.95).

The mirror was easy to fit, is large in size and as its plastic you have no worries of it shattering. Having this mirror has meant I could see Noah and an added benefit he could see us.

A baby needs changing lots so when out and about on your travels you will want a bag that holds everything you need for your little one. I am going to do a what's in my changing bag post in a few weeks but until then here is a sneaky peek at mine.

I was keen to have a bag that was practical but also looked nice, PacaPod changing bags are just that. 
I loved the Jura (£59) in beautiful Cranberry, which comes with a 3-in 1 bag, changer pod, feeding pod and changing mat. 

Play: 
Babies don't require many toys, Noah wasn't really interested in any until around four months. There are however some parent essentials that mean you can place your baby down whilst doing every day tasks.

For me our best purchases have to be baby activity gyms and a swing seat.

Mine and Noah's favourite activity gyms have to be the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym (£69.95) and Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Baby Play Gym (£36)

Our baby swing for me was a god send, Noah hated being put down which made showering or really doing anything impossible. The Fisher Price Rainforest swing and seat (£59.99) meant that Noah would happily swing away to soothing nature sounds whilst I got on. 

So there you have it all my baby essentials and products that I have really valued buying. Do you have any recommendations or things I have missed off? 

There are also some essentials for you too, now I can't really say I thought about this before the birth of Noah and I wish I had. You will need a minimum of two good nursing bras, getting ones that un-clips at the strap and have modesty cotton inside are fab. You will also need nursing tops, failing having any of these a vest top under a jumper or top will suffice. Easy to open nightwear to feed is also needed if you are breastfeeding.  

Lastly a good bit of advice from a mummy friend is that with Amazon Prime anything you need or have forgotten can be with you either within 2 hours or the next day, so there is no need to stockpile. As an added bonus, you can while away a few hours whilst the baby is cluster feeding, Internet shopping sneaking in treats for yourself amongst the essentials!

Other pregnancy and parenting posts to read:

• A new chapter
• Pregnancy Beauty Tips
• Morning sickness the survival guide
• Baby nursery ideas
• What's in my hospital bag 
• Birth Story
• Having a baby the first few weeks
• Being a new parent tips
• Six month baby update
• I need my baby to sleep 

Will Pixi transform your skincare regime

Do you ever wake up look in the mirror and think I look rough? If you don't well done your doing something right, keep up the good work. Well since I've had a baby and been starved of sleep I frequently look in the mirror and think just that; black bags that you could take to Waitrose to save 5p on your weekly shop and unkempt locks that Medusa would be proud of, which is appropriate as at present I could turn anyone looking at me to stone. 

But with a return to work coming up in the not so distant future I thought it was about time that I pulled myself together and at the very least tried to go some way to remedy the situation so as not to look like a Halloween extra. 

Now we all know that my beauty regime is hit and miss. Those of you shouting in the back row that I don't have a beauty regime, pipe down. As a parent I don't have hours to beautify myself, it has to be quick and more importantly worth my expense. 

As you know I've been loving the Sunday Riley Good Genes, if you haven't read my review pop over here and take a look. 

I generally steer clear of products that are over hyped, often being disappointed by the over inflated claims that don't live out to be true in real life. Trialling the Sunday Riley Good Genes however reminded me that sometimes the hype is worth all the glowing reports.

I will most definitely be repurchasing this product. 

So with this in mind and having learnt a lesson; when I saw that Beth from ToastyWrites had tried some of the Pixi products which I have been lusting after for a good while, I thought to myself I would give some of their moisturising products a go. 

Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum (£26)

The first thing I noticed on opening this delight was the wonderful smelling Jojoba and Geranium. The serum is superbly absorbent and sinks in effortlessly. It did a great job in only a short amount of use to moisturise and revitalise my skin so that it looked dewy and healthy again. The product however is thick and I found the pipette absolutely useless in dispensing the product. In fact it is not designed for the purpose and use intended. 

I ended up using the product straight from the rather cheap appearing container and in turn used far more than was needed. But that said I enjoyed the product and would happily repurchase as my main moisturiser.

Beauty Sleep Cream (£24) 

I am not great at moisturising my skin so a product that I can leave over night to work its magic is really appealing. I have really dry skin so the addition of mango butter and lavender made my skin silky and as the consistency is not to thick, goes a long way and is easily absorbed.

The Pixie skintreat products I tried I'm not sure would transform your skincare routine, however, they were nice to use and I would recommend having a try of them or start hinting to your other half/friend/family to add them to your Christmas wish list as a rather nice stocking filler. Using them has got me intrigued to try the other Pixi products on offer. 

Have you used Pixi and do you have any recommendations for me to try next?