The other week I was (kindly) invited to a debate. I put the ‘kindly’ in brackets because it was courtesy of a site that is aimed at people just slightly older than I am at forty!!!! The website High50 hosted a debate asking ‘are the needle and the scalpel a step too far?’ at the Royal College of Surgeons and I went along to listen to Dr Sister, being an avid supporter of his anti-ageing techniques.
Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited along to the UK launch of Mothercare’s long-awaited App and what a pleasure it was. Hosted, by the too-yummy-for-mummy Myeleene Klass at the swanky Charlotte Street Hotel. I would have been foolish to turn down the invite. That said, me being one of the 74% of mums who ‘agree that they would be lost without their smartphones’, I am always interested in the technology arena, especially if it’s more than a simple shopping opportunity!
Now as some of you may know, Alexander turned one recently. Being a boy, he’s decided to do a lot of cruising and a lot of crawling but not so much of the walking (yet)! I’m not moaning about that, no, not me, I’m not competitive at all. I don’t feel just that little bit better when others his age can’t walk either ( I daren’t say that I’m disappointed when I hear others his age are. That would be plain wrong!! Anyway, I just tell myself that he talks a lot and I choose talking over walking any day!
Anyway, I’m wandering off subject now slightly because this post is about foot protection. I was happy to let Alexander potter around in socks with non-slip soles in the beginning, when it wasn’t winter but slowly but surely as we are very much used to in the UK, those reasonably warm temperatures outside plummeted to very cold temperatures sometime back in October. I don’t have a pram foot muff yet, oh bad mother that I am and I didn’t want to venture into shoes just yet as most advice states that before babies are really walking it is not good to start putting their feet into harder structures than needed whilst they develop. You can get cruising shoes too which are softer than normal shoes but still hard and I’m yet to be convinced.
So, doing a little research I came across Moccis; Swedish moccasins and now I can’t live without them. Hand sewn in Sweden, these absolutely beautiful things are like hybrid sock/shoes! They are basically exactly what every toddler needs. They come in thirty-five fun designs we have Fly Me To The Moon and Just Give Me A Kiss but Alexander also has his eye on Croc Me Up and That’s It:Navy! They are thicker and more elasticated than socks so that they stay on and the sole is made of skid proof leather so he is safe on our wooden floors. Also, his feet are more protected when we go outside, thus warmer. On a practical note, they are machine washable, made of breathable cotton as poor Alexander does get hot feet sometimes and lastly they are made from natural Ecotex certified yarns. If you are thinking of Christmas gifts they come in nifty little eco-friendly bags too and also to mention that they are for adults too; I love my pair as I don’t like wearing slippers and socks just don’t cut it!
You would think that something like this would be easy to find and that most shoe shops would stock them but they don’t. They insist on pushing our toddlers into shoes before they need them or are ready for them and if you have a toddler who isn’t quite walking (or even who is!) over winter then get yourselves a matching pair of these. The adult’s come in wool too. You will thank me!
I’m on a bit of a health drive at the moment. Badly timed I know but nevertheless, much-needed. So, it was my good fortune that a box of tea landed on my doorstep yesterday courtesy of Bloom. Their teas have won awards and grace the shelves of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols-exactly where they belong in my opinion because not only are they excellent teas but they look good too!
In this day and age, everything has a status even the once humble ‘cuppa’. There have been many speciality teas over the years but Bloom look like they are supercharging the market. Their teas look good, taste good of course (none of that overpowering nonsense either, just ‘subtle and delicious’ as my sister put it having tried the lemon verbena and ginger root) and then they come in to their own; each masterfully blended 100% natural tea is packed full of anti-oxidants which boosts the immune system and protects against free radicals. So, you can sip away happy in the knowledge that you are giving you body a healthy boost.
They offer a ‘5 Step Tea Treatment plan’ which to you and me is basically a tea to accompany breakfast to energize and kick-start metabolism, a mid-morning tea to de-stress whilst you work, packed with jasmine, echinacea, green tea and rose petals, a delicious digestion tea with peppermint, fennel and aniseed for a post lunch cleanse, a Concentration tea to stave off that mid-afternoon lull we often feel and lastly, one of my favourites, the Relaxation tea made with rooibos, elderflowers, vanilla and liquorice.
Without sounding like an out-and-out advert for Bloom ( I wasn’t paid by the way but I only write about things that I truly like!) I just have to mention that they do a range of speciality teas; rare blends from their premium collection that can be found in Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and also a beautifully packaged range of other functional teas; the Calming Chamomile ‘Ideal for Evening’ or the Zesty Hibiscus for breakfast. It’s always good to multi-task. Who has the time these days to add another element to their busy lives in a so-called hope of improving something? That’s what I like about Bloom. Their teas give me one less thing to worry about. When I sip my cup of tea and can feel just that little bit smug that I am doing something good!
Indulging a passion for perfection. Researching and reviewing luxury, family lifestyle.
Huffington Post blogger and freelance journalist.
