A see from a famous good friend

Last week, my lovely friend, the amazing actor Leonard Fenton came to see infant Alexander. We ate at my parent’s wonderful Greek restaurant The Olive Tree as well as Len entertained my toddler, Oliver with his animal impressions as well as imaginative stories. It was such a fun filled day, I want to bottle it up as well as treasure it forever.

Len is most famous for his function as Dr Legg in Eastenders as well as we were lucky sufficient to work together on a series of moving short films I directed a few years back, for Social care TV/ The department of health and wellness that are offered online.

The series was produced with other well understood actors as well as good friends of mine including Michelle Collins, John Altman as well as Rupert hill amongst others, who got included since they wished to assist medical practitioners as well as front of line health and wellness workers to comprehend the complexities of the mental capability Act in relation to dementia as well as disability.

It was truly rewarding to direct these social dramas, influenced by the truth they would ideally equip carers as well as extremely impact the people under their care.

In Len’s film ‘Raymond’ he plays a guy in his 80s who is just recently diagnosed with early dementia however is keen to stay as independent as possible as well as spend £50 on lottery tickets.

The context of the drama is whether Raymond has the capability to make this decision as well as exactly how finest his care worker Wendy (played by Angela Dixon, above) offers with it. It ideally helps others in that setting to make the right decision.  An emotional film, so powerfully written by screenwriter Phil Hughes, Len is mesmerising in it. You can watch the film here.

I have always been drawn to social drama as well as documentary, wanting my work to assist make a difference so I’m truly proud of these films,especially as I was 4 months expecting with Oliver, shooting them.

Please do show anyone you believe may discover the film of interest. would like to hear your thoughts.

Len will soon be on The Matt Lucas’ awards TV Show.

Photographs ©Vicki Psarias-Broadbent.

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THINGS TO do in ANCHORAGE WITH A toddler

thanks to Lia Keller for sharing her favorite fun activities for babies and toddlers in Anchorage, Alaska. Lia was born and raised in Alaska, leaving only for school and marriage, and vows to never leave again (except for holidays that is). She has two little boys, duke (1) and Huck (2). She runs the Alaskan mommy approved website, with sincere harsh-weather product reviews, and Skedaddle kids, an all-weather playgroup that meets year-round on Tuesday mornings. She is also working to start an outdoor family non-profit.

MondayIndoors – Head to the Cuddlers group at Providence healthcare facility to meet with other parents of kiddos 0-2. This complimentary group is a great way to meet other new mothers while your babe lays on a blanket checking out other babies. There also are other Cuddlers days, double cuddlers, groups for dads and also cruisers for babes on the move.

Outside – The summer brings complimentary music in the park and Mondays are for the kids. A great band plays child friendly songs, blows bubbles and leads dances. The lawn fills with kids dancing and parents chat when not pulling kids off the stage or out of the trees.

Grab lunch at middle way cafe where you and your little one can eat a sandwich and get a smoothie.

TuesdayIndoors – children of all ages have fun at the Anchorage Museum’s Imaginarium. Older children take pleasure in the hands on exhibits and the younger set enjoys playing on the slide, jumping on the water bed and exploring the toys and puzzles. There are always parents to talk with and a relaxing little nook for breastfeeding. The toilets in this area are child sized!

Little man at the Imaginarium

Outside – Play outside with the Skedaddle all weather playgroup where the kids can run off some energy and you can chat with other parents. This group meets at a different park each week so you can find new play spaces as well.

Grab some of your new friends and eat at the Moose’s Tooth for pizza or a salad. They open at 10:30 so you can arrive then and have a bit of space before eating. They have a coloring menu and kids can buy just a slice of pizza.

WednesdayIndoors – A great place to meet other parents is at H2Oasis for toddler time when school is in session. The child area with pirate ship and small slide are open for the kids. With two kids under two, I could have one in the sling and one run around. There also were lots of parents ready to lend a hand!

Outside – The Alaska Zoo is all outdoors and they have a great story time on Wednesday complete with animal encounter. While some kids sit and listen to the story, others (like mine) often wander around the greenhouse until the animal arrives or we leave to see one.

Call on your way to Snow City cafe to have them hold a bench for your crew. They are welcoming to children and have a menu to please them and you. breakfast is fantastic!

ThursdayIndoors – another great place if you have two young children is the Spenard Rec center for toddler time. For $5, your kids can be contained in an area with playmate, balls, ride on toys, ropes, hull a hoops and other play equipment. I loved being able to speak to other parents without being anxious about run away kids!

Outside – join the Taiga Trekkers for a family friendly hike. This group hikes each Thursday allowing you to get out, hike and talk with adults. It is casual with all manners of kids, stamina and rests!

Brrr. All-weather hiking with the Taiga Trekkers

After some fitness, regain those calories at road Runner. They have an outstanding outdoor eating location on Campbell Creek. They have salmon burgers and a great grilled cheese. The kids can be messy and run around between bites. Duck often wander in and you can see fish during the summer!

FridayIndoors – arrive a little early for story time at the Loussac Library. While they offer story time on other days, Friday is a lot of popular. You can do some puzzles and look at books before it starts. A woman leads finger songs, reads stories and sings songs. children run around and some don’t stay the whole time, but that is fine.

Outside – get hold of a picnic lunch and head to Valley of the Moon Park. You are guaranteed to see other families and the play equipment is top of the line (remodeled in 2010) with areas for all ages of children.

SaturdayIndoors – Alaska natural history museum is genuinely a hands on museum where you can touch anything (except for Mr. Lion). You can pick up shells, dinosaur bones, claws, pet a bear and try on furs. There is a great kid area with puzzles, books, dinosaur digging pit, play dough and lots of other activities. It is complimentary for kids under 6 as well!

Outside – A great place to let an older child run is the Botanical Garden. There are stroller friendly paths for pushing a younger sibling, clearly marked plants and little concern of losing a child!

Holding onto two kids at the Botanical Garden

SundayMake a date with one of theparents you met during the week and drive out to Girdwood. The drive takes about 45 minutes and you can often stop to see whales, sheep and salmon depending on the time of year. The Girdwood Playground is outstanding and lots of families from Anchorage make the drive. plan to take a picnic or get some pizza at Chair 5 (very family-friendly) or the Bake shop for a cinnamon roll or soup.

+++Thanks again to Lia Keller for sharing her favorite spots in Anchorage. If you want a lot more of Lia, see Alaskan mommy approved and Skedaddle kids.

THE DOCKATOT GRAND REVIEW: IS IT A sleep miracle WORKER?

When you journey into motherhood, from the moment you get pregnant you’re plunged into the world of pillows. From the Snoogles that you need to get any sleep while pregnant to the nursing pillows once your baby is born, pillows of every form are seemingly a necessity in your day to day life as a mother. So why not continue this trend into toddlerhood? I’m sure you’ve heard of the DockATot Deluxe, the hot new baby item all new parents are putting on their registry. but there’s another DockATot product out there, one that you can use once your little one grows out of The Deluxe: The Dockatot Grand.

What is a DockATot Grand?

The DockATot Grand is for babies and toddlers ages 9 months to 36 months. It’s the same familiar shape as the Deluxe, but larger. It was created and crafted with safety and comfort in mind. The fabric they use is breathable and, (a big one for me), eco-friendly. I try to keep a “green home” especially when it concerns sheets and mattresses, so that’s an essential box that DockATot checks off for me. And, very bonus: it’s easily washable, because”¦kids, am I right?

How I use the DockATot Grand: Co-Sleeping with a toddler

People talk about the dangers of co-sleeping with an infant, but we typically don’t hear about the dangers of co-sleeping with a toddler. A two-year-old heel in your eye socket at 3 in the morning, a headbutt in the middle of your REM cycle, and even a swift jab of a tiny knee, leaving you on the floor for the rest of the night. Parents: take caution.

If only there was a pillow that constrained an active co-sleeping toddler. Boom. DockATot Grand. I had seen the Deluxe for newborns and infants, but I had no idea that there was a DockATot for toddlers up to 36 months. It was discovered at a time of sleep deprivation because my two year old apparently practices his WWE stunts in his dreams. All that to say the discovery of the DockATot Grand came at the best time.

Keep in mind that it’s a pillow, not a miracle maker. but with that said, sleeping (a important part of being a human and what I have been deprived of for 2 years) has been so much better because using the DockATot. So, I call it a borderline miracle worker. sleep has improved for everyone and that is priceless.

Other uses for the DockATot Grand

If you’re like me, you want to get the most out of your money.

We got the DockATot when our child was 2 years old, but I can see utilizing it from the time he was even 6 months old. I remember when my child was this age and learning how to sit up on his own (and then dive bombing head first into the floor). I would put pillows around his body to cushion the fall, but the DockATot would have come in very useful during this time.

Additionally, mimicking the mother’s womb doesn’t necessarily end when your child grows out of newborn-dom. Your little one still wants to feel protected and snug when they sleep. The DockATot offers cushion around a toddler’s body to give a comfortable hug to your baby when they’re sleeping, known to decrease wake-ups throughout the night. though it’s not recommended to go inside your child’s crib, it’s a terrific way to transition your child into a big-kid bed by giving it a much more comfortable feel.

Is the DockATot Grand portable and good for travel?

This is my wheelhouse, and I should preface this by saying that I am an absolute minimalist when it concerns traveling. I take only the necessities and saying that I pack light is an understatement.

With that said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend flying with the DockATot Grand. though it comes with a travel bag with handles, it is just very big. It would cost a lot to bring on a plane. If the destination is driving distance, it would really depend on if you have the room in your car. Parent’s with a little much more space to spare in their automobile would happily toss this in to give their child familiarity sleeping away from home. It beats an unpleasant hotel crib for sure.

So what I’m trying to say is that before you purchase the DockATot with the intent of it being a travel item, grasp it’s size (48in x 24in) and make a decision from there.

Around the House

Though it’s not a very travel friendly item, it is portable around your house. kids typically take there DockATot out to the family room while they view a movie, or lie in it to read books, along with it’s primary use in the bed. It’s lightweight for your little one to drag from room to room (and thankfully device washable for when that happens), so it’s portability for the home is great.

Final conclusion about the DockATot

When it concerns sleep and promises of improving it for me and my toddler, my first reaction is, “take all my money!!!” It has helped with our sleep, but the price label (at around $300) is pretty steep. It’s certainly not in everyone’s budget, but if it is, this will help with sleep and comfort for your little one. If you get it early onin your child’s toddlerhood, you can really get good use out of it to guarantee you get your money’s worth. all in all, I’m very pleased with it and my child loves his “special bed”.

Check current prices on DockaTot Here!

About the Author

Have much more questions about the Dockatot Grand?

Please leave a question in the comments

Or ask a question in our Rookie mothers Facebook Group, it’s a terrific group of mothers where you can share your experiences, ask for guidance and even help out another mom!

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HOW TO in shape a lot more youngsters IN ONE space

Dear Rookie mommies readers,

Hey, you guys! We requirement some assist with this letter. Actually, it was a comment on our publish 2 in a space (or not). Please checked out as well as share your finest recommendations for squeezing three bit youngsters in one space (or not!) in the comments. We say thanks to you as well as Amanda thanks you!

solution to lots of youngsters in one space when mama is architect, Melissa Schollum

We online in a 2 bedroom home as well as my 2 kids, 3 year old child as well as 15 month old kid have always shared a room. He was 2 months old as well as sleeping with the night so we made a decision to try as well as have him sleep in the exact same space as his sister. I couldn’t believe exactly how well my child adjusted! She is a extremely noise sleeper as well as still sleeps with his crying. The strange night he still wakes up.

Our issue now is we are expecting the unplanned 3rd child. LOL. We are not sure if we must set up a crib in our space or try to make space in the kids’ room. My 2 youngsters get along fantastic as well as play a great deal in their room. If I were to put a crib in there, they would lose a great deal of space.

We are firm believers on the youngsters sleeping in their own space when they sleep with the night, however because of lack of area we are not sure what to do. We have believed about a bunk bed however I am anxious that my child is to young for the top bunk. She will be 4 months timid of 4 years old when the infant arrives. She likewise has a great twin bed with drawers under it so I didn’t have to take up space with a big dresser.

Not as well sure what to do as well as would like some input!

~ Amanda

Christine from the Aums blog shared these photos of squeezing her four bit ones (age 1 to 6) in a single space with space to play in the loft. She states they utilized “custom made Japanese futons for our 4 kids. We’ve tried beds as well as mattresses before… however this is what works for now. They chosen their own colors, blankets, pillows…They are 6, 5, 3, as well as 1”!

Christine’s real-life solution, the futons

The children’s lofted playspace

The always magnificent dwell makes it look oh-so-easy as well as stylish to capture four in a space this minimalist option (shown up top). desire I had the wall area to entertain that idea!

Do you in shape three or a lot more bit youngsters in one room? If so, how?

QUESTION FOR YOU: WHAT DID YOU look ahead TO DOING AS AN adult WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

before I ended up being a thirtysomething mom whose eyes fill with tears at any type of mention of youth hunger or loss of a spouse, I maintained what I now acknowledge as a gratitude practice. No, I was not costs a moment every day to be mindful of exactly how lucky I was to be safe, healthy, as well as loved; rather, I would marvel to myself, “I am a grown up! I can stay up as late as I want as well as have Snickers bars for dinner! I can view limitless hours of television. nobody will stop me!”

Last weekend I went to a curated reading called Voices of the Year at the BlogHer conference. The emcee introduced each author by sharing one thing that the author had stated she looked ahead to in adult life when she was a child. I wished to present the concern to everybody at my table immediately.

I never ever eat a Snickers bar for dinner. My mother’s lessons are as well ingrained in my head. however I would quickly eat one after dinner — if I had believed to purchase one.

How about you? What did you look ahead to doing as an adult? Do you do it?

WHAT ARE “CURIOSITY killed THE CAT” and A YELLOW SHIRT?

They are the best and worst presents my husband ever got me.

For my birthday, while we were still new at the dating thing, Alec remembered an off-handed comment I made about a cool art piece in a cafe and chased down the artist on his own time to surprise me with it. I was so surprised and touched that it hardly matters that I also love it and think it’s hilarious. He scored big points for that birthday.

It proudly hangs on the wall near our front door. I smile inside whenever I see it.

And that yellow shirt? Well, my husband tends to hate shopping and gift-giving so much that I pretended to like it. Oh sure, it’s cute on the hanger or the drawer, but it’s yellow and looks really gross next to my skin. It also didn’t help matters that I had to be super duper pregnant to even fit in it, so I wasn’t exactly looking my best. Did I mention its sleeveless? and how my triceps could be in the best shape of my life from hefting myself in and out of bed while my upper arms managed to still look so doughy is one of life’s great mysteries.

So, when I read about GetInHerHead [via the ParentBloggers], I thought we could give it a try. It’s a handy website for people whose husbands, like mine, hate giving gifts (but still love their wives and are wonderful people). I forwarded the link to him yesterday morning and before lunch, he had already set us both up with accounts and filled in his own vital statistics (shoe size, trousers, shirt, etc.). If he likes it, I like it. I’ll report back after our anniversary or Christmas to see if it made any difference at all in his level of anguish for gift-giving.

Alec, if you’re still reading. I love the gps map toy and the mailboxtees you got me this year — you’re the best!