The Dyson Hot Review

I am a big fan of Dyson, in fact I love them. 

We swear by our Two Dyson Vacuum Cleaners and with the extensive range ever growing, and the technology always improving it is great to see how the products develop. 

Not only do Dyson have the fabulous vacuum technology such as the Animal and the Digital Slim. They also have the Air Multiplier Fan and the Dyson Hot Heater. 

 Over the last couple of months I have had the pleasure of using the Dyson Hot, a heater like no other that I have ever come across. It stands in length just up to my knee and is smaller and more compact than I first expected. The Dyson Hot is finished off in a bright metallic Blue/Purple and iron Grey looking incredibly modern and stylish. 

 Looking at it you may wonder where all of the visible heating elements are, or where the blades are hiding? 

Quite simply there are no blades, and the heating elements are cleverly hidden away! 

Instead the Dyson Hot uses Air Multiplier technology in order to amplify the air in the room to generate long range heat protection, this in turn allows the heater to evenly heat the entirety of the room up to an even temperature. 

Dyson, how does it work? 

Air is accelerated through an aperture. This creates a jet of hot air that passes over an airfoil-shaped ramp, channelling its direction. Surrounding air is drawn into the airflow, amplifying it 6 times through processes known as inducement and entrainment.

Over the past couple of months what with the arctic temperatures that brought many a icy blizzards along in it's wake, it is safe to say that this clever heater has been given a real work through. Our dining room can be a pretty cold place even with the heating on, and being Leo's play room we need to keep it nice and warm so that he can play in there. I have taken to putting the fan on the table out of the way of Leo's play time and warming the room up to a much more desirable temperature. 

I have been so put off about going into the dining room to watch Leo play or have our dinner when the temperature gets so chilly in there, but with the Dyson Hot it is so much more comfortable and I don't object about going in to watch Leo run around with his many toys any more.

So what is in the box?

Operations manual

Loop amplifier

Remote control

Base

Everything you need to get started is in the box, even the 2 year guarantee which you can register for using the form, going online or even giving Dyson a call.

Assembling the Dyson is a doddle, and literally involves placing the base on the bottom of the fan. With the base in place you are ready to plug in, set your desired temperature either using the digital display on the bottom of the fan, or by using your compact remote control. The remote is a great touch and means that you can quickly and easily change the temperature to match your comfort at the flick of a button without moving an inch.

When you aren't using the handy little remote there is a great storage option. The top of the heater is magnetic so you can actually just place it on top and it won't be going anywhere!

There are 10 different speed settings in all, and you can set the temperature from as little as 1°C right up to the dizzy heights of 37°C with complete precision and control. 

When the fan is on you can certainly hear it but I would not say it was loud, no louder than any other fan or heater anyway. I currently have the fan on 10, the highest speed setting and I would not say it was a distraction or loud at all. I could very easily sleep with the heater on without it causing any issue, but I am highlighting this as I have read some reviews who have specified the heater as loud. 

Please see the video at the bottom of this review to hear just how loud the heater is going through the settings.

Having Leo I know just how important safety is, and obviously a heater is not something that I will be leaving around for Leo to stumble upon but Dyson have built in a great safety feature. Just in case. If the heater is knocked over the heater turns off. Simple, effective and above all else, safe.

The heater does exactly what it says on the tin and efficiently heats the room very quickly. I would highly recommend this heater for people who are lucky enough to have a conservatory that they would still like to make use of during the winter months. This really would be perfect and would demonstrate the air multiplier technology to it's full capability.

At £299.99 it is at the pricier end of the market, but for the stylish looks and Air Multiplier technology it is hands down a winning product. 

Overall I am really impressed with the Dyson Hot Heater, I do think it works better as a heater than it does as a fan but it is of course primarily advertised as a heater with cooling capability. It really is a great bit of kit and Dyson deserve a big thumbs up! 

Well done Dyson!

Disclaimer: I was sent the Dyson Hot for the purpose of this review however all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

No Vomiting Here!

In the 19 months Leo has been in our lives we have experienced viral infections, colds, ear infections diarrhoea, and more colds. Each of these illnesses and bugs have brought with it their own special joys of sleepless nights and a not so happy little boy, but we have been relatively lucky in the sense that we hadn't yet come across any nasty sickness bugs. 

No vomiting here!

Our luck ran out on Friday night when around 11pm Leo awoke crying. I made my way to him thinking he just needed a cuddle and tucking back into bed, but as soon as I opened his bedroom door I knew he was poorly. I could smell the sick as I entered his room, so I instantly flicked the light on and I was met with one poorly little man completely covered in sick.

He was lay there and my first worry was how long had he been laying in his sick? What if I hadn't heard? What if he had choked? I hadn't heard anything until he started crying so I can only think that it had immanently happened. He looked so sorry for himself, so confused.

Now I had always wondered how I would react when it came to dealing with proper child sick, the lumpy kind that actually smells like sick. Not the milky possit type...the REAL stomach turning kind. But seeing my little man crying and just wanting a cuddle, I didn't even think twice about reaching in and picking him up out of the cot. I didn't care that I too was now covered in the less than desirable substance...

I called to Luke over the baby monitor to come up and give me a hand, so as he stripped off Leo's bed I began running Leo's first bath of the night. All Leo wanted was a cuddle and I literally had to prise him off me to get him into the bath. 

I got him ready for bed again in a fresh pair of pyjama's and snuggled him in for a cuddle, I wondered whether we were in for more sickness...and I didn't have to wait long to find out that we were indeed in for more sick. Lot's more.

Luckily I managed to run with him from the lounge into the comfort of the laminated kitchen floor, an easy to mop zone where cleaning was going to be much more pleasant.

When Leo was being sick he looked so scared and he clung to me like he was never going to let me go.  So in the process I was getting covered, my hair, my back and my front all depending on how Leo decided to hold himself while he was in the throws of it all. And you know what, I did not mind one little bit. I just wanted to get Leo through each bout of sickness and I wanted him to know that I was there for him. 

Of course this meant that Leo and I both got through quite a few pairs of pyjama's and we defiantly had the distinct smell of sick oozing off us and floating around the house. From 11pm through to 7am Leo had 4 baths and our bed had 2 changes after he decided he wanted his milk. Surprisingly I actually got a little bit of sleep after preparing myself for an all nighter. 

Of course getting Leo to bed meant that I had to get blankie in the wash. Blankie is Leo's pride and joy, and had been one of the many casualties in Leo's exorcist impersonation. Blankie was the first thing in the wash and in the dryer and took around 2 hours for us to get back to him, and any other blanket I tried to coax him with resulted in failure. He knew that it wasn't blankie. 

So when we finally got Leo down to sleep with his blankie from about 3am and we got 4 hours of sleep I was very happy. Only at about 7am we were awoken by another bout of sickness from little man who had been sleeping in our bed...Blankie took the brunt of it and again ended up back in the wash...It is safe to say that I took to eBay and found Leo a spare yesterday. We need two for when this happens again!

Leo's blankie is part of a cot set that I bought back in 2011 and I really did wonder if I would be able to get hold of one, but someone must be looking out for me as I have tracked one down and it should be here next week! 

We won't be caught out again! 

Yesterday was spent cuddled up with Leo on the sofa, where he did lot's of sleeping and refused to eat.  He seems to be well on the mend now but my poor little bubba really has been under the weather.

I ended up with a mountain of washing that looked like it may take days to wash...But somehow I tackled it. Duvets, pillows, clothes, towels. You name it, I washed it. Then I cleaned the entirety of the kitchen and mopped the floor, it really did need it. I then put all the bed's back together again and collapsed on the sofa and was completely ready for bed by 8:30!

I have to say though that I was shocked at how well I dealt with the whole sickness thing, I guess when your baby is ill you really do whatever you can to get them through it and out the other side. I didn't care that I looked and smelt so awful, I didn't care that the house was a pig sty. I knew my only mission that night was to be there for my beautiful boy. 

But my oh my, I need another weekend in order to get over this one!

19 Months

19 months old is an amazing age, in fact I am loving everything that comes along with toddlerhood. I love that Leo is comprehending the ways of the world and that look that he gives me if I say something foreign to him, a look that says ‘what the hell is she on about!?’

But when Leo is not giving me that one particular look, he is absorbing everything like a little sponge. Taking in everything I tell him and everything I try to teach him.

Recently we have become really good at our animal noises, we can ‘Baa’, ‘Moo’, ‘Oink’, ‘Quack’, ‘Squeak’, ‘Meow’ and of course ‘Woof’. We have been practicing when we go out and about, when we see the animal on the television and it has clicked with my little man. If we so much as see a Dog passing us by he has to say ‘Woof, Woof’ just to let me know, I had never noticed that there were so many dogs down our road!

One subject I have been speaking very passionately about to little Leo recently is cleanliness, and telling him how important it is for him not to play around with the bin because it is ‘dirty’. Dirty is now another word that he tells me whenever he gets into the kitchen and pops the button on the bin to have a little peak inside while telling me ‘bin’ all the while.

With Leo’s understanding of the bin housing rubbish, he will now take any rubbish that he finds around the house (usually ones he has taken and hidden…) and puts it in the bin. He seems to spy it with his curious eyes and then takes it directly into the kitchen and disposes of it in the correct manner. Each time he does it he gets a standing innovation of applause, because he is just too clever for his own good. If I pass him an item of rubbish now and ask him to take it to the bin, he does exactly that!

Although for Leo to get to the bin his has to pass the oven and suffice to say he does get distracted. He opens up my grill and tells me ‘sausages’ like that is the only item of food we ever eat! I can reassure you all now that this is not the case…At this moment in time Leo is just loving the word and he knows that the grill is where we do cook them, if and when we have them. It just demonstrates to me that his memory is coming on in leaps and bounds, expect for when he is supposed to be throwing rubbish in the bin of course!

What’s fascinating is that Leo is still taking everything in even when the conversation is not directed at him, I can be talking away to Luke when Leo will repeat a single word from our conversation back to us, and it really does get me thinking about just how careful I have to be. There have been a few occasions now where Leo has tried to put two words together or repeat longer words back to me, and over the last few weeks his talking has really come on!

Just yesterday I mentioned that I had a message, and my little parrot repeated ‘message’ back to me clear as day. I can’t help feeling really proud of him, and this whole talking lark is one very exciting journey that I am so happy to be a part of.

2013 is already seeing Leo become more vocal with new words coming around daily, his understanding about the things I talk to him about is becoming more apparent and I know that he is going to be a right little chatter box before long!

Spring/summer 2013 Trends

Spring/summer 2013 Trends

There may still be a chill in the air, but the highstreet is full of lighter spring and summer clothes. Now is the perfect time to re-stock your wardrobe with key pieces for the biggest fashion trends of the year. The odd sunny day we’re experiencing right now will soon give way to warmer temperatures and brighter skies as spring approaches, so head to the shops and snap up some top trendy buys!

Usually considered a masculine item, Bermuda shorts are set to be a big hit in womenswear collections this spring/summer. A great option when the weather is fine, Bermuda shorts sit low on the hips and are cut just above, or on the knee. Laid-back slouchy shorts look fab when teamed with a fitted top and are flattering on most body shapes. To elongate legs make sure you pair your shorts with a pair of peep-toe heels.

Step aside from casual cool and invest in a collared dress: peter pan and ruffle styles appeared on last year’s fashion show catwalks and have already filtered down onto the highstreet. Collars add a touch of sophistication to plain pieces, taking a dress from an everyday item to a work wardrobe staple. If a ruffle collar is too girly for your style, choose a dress in a darker colour rather than a feminine pale palette. New Look has a great selection of collared dresses, including a ruffle neck purple dress with a cute waist belt.

Those who tuned into the recent Grammy and BAFTA awards could not have failed to notice the monochrome dresses sported on the red carpets. Many celebs opted for black and white gowns and separates as these classic tones are universally flattering. Celebs are always fashion-forward, so it will come as no surprise that monochrome is a huge trend this spring/summer. Black and white pieces are ever-wearable, and can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. An investment monochrome piece transcends the seasons and can be brightened up with accessories for spring, and toned down as winter approaches.

Ethnic and boho are classic fashion favourites for the summer months. A major factor in this look is now set to become a trend in its own right: beading. Brocade and baroque ruled winter fashion in 2012 and embellishments are continuing this year in the form of richly beaded scarfs, dresses, accessories and tops. India and the Middle East influence the beading fashion, with many traditional garments from these locations using intricate sequin and dazzling bead detail. Choose a floor-length dress in an eye-popping colour, either with beading detail or accessorised with a beaded scarf.

Cropped tops were the item for choice for girl bands and their fans in the 1990s, and baring your midriff is having a comeback in 2013! A rather daring look, many of the upcoming season’s cropped tops have full length sleeves and high necklines, keeping things classy and ensuring modesty for the wearer. The trend is more sophisticated than decades gone by, as cropped tops were seen on the catwalks teamed with high-waisted skirts and cute bolero jackets.

Brighten your day by heading online or to the highstreet and picking up some key pieces for this spring/summer.

Disclaimer: This is a Sponsored Post

Help! My Toddler is Punishing Me!

Ever since I went back to work after the Christmas break Leo has been acting out at his Granny. When I say acting out I guess I am putting it lightly.

I guess I should start at the beginning?

Leo goes to Granny’s house while I go to work. She looks after him. So when I leave Granny gets the brunt of me leaving Leo and it is usually in the form of him hitting her or even hitting himself.

It swings in roundabouts, he is happy there but he associates being there with me leaving him. As soon as he sees Granny he lifts his hand to his head and gives himself a smack, in fact we may only be visiting on a day that I don’t have work and if she dares speak to him then he will repeatedly hit himself.

If Granny dares to try and take him out of my arms to relieve me so I can leave in a morning, Leo will firstly lash out at Granny for trying to take him and then at me for letting her. 

I know this is all because I leave him. I leave him to go to work. Now we both tell him off for hitting, as he shouldn’t do it and of course he knows this really. But how do make him stop permanently…I just don’t know?

I know Leo doing this makes my Mum feel awful, as it is only her that he does this for. If his Granddad talks to him he is there reaching out to go for a cuddle. If my brother and sister are there he will play happily with them, but if my Mum dares to walk in and talk to him he will bop himself over the head again…. It is just when it comes to my Mum.

As for Leo hitting himself I just ignore it now, I don’t want to encourage the behaviour and I hope that he will soon forget and stop. It is horrid watching your child go about hitting themselves, but it is a behaviour that only comes about when he is with Granny or being told off.

Writing this makes Leo sound like a really volatile little boy, but this behaviour isn’t what defines him. Just last night he was sat giving me cuddles and trying to avoid bed time. He comes up and gives me kisses and then runs off to give Daddy one too. He plays affectionately with his baby doll and gives his Tigger Teddy big cuddles, and just this morning he went to Granny’s beautifully and I left them having cuddles with blankie together on the sofa.

So what else can I do?

My Little Valentine

Leo has the most gorgeous little face, 10 chubby little fingers and a glowing disposition that shines through his cheekiness. 

My being biased aside, he is quite the little gentleman who never ceases to put a big smile on my face.

That is why he is my perfect little valentine.

Mothercare have sent Leo some beautiful clothes to model all in the theme of Valentines Day, and here is my gorgeous little cupid playing model and having a wail of a time through each of the clothing changes before we finally settled down to watch Iggle Piggle before sleep descended.

I have found all of the clothes we have been sent really lovely quality, the pajamas are lovely and thick. Perfect for a cold winters night such as this evening. The jeans are thick with plenty of growing room for Leo's long legs and both of the tops are stylish and snug. 

Disclaimer: Leo was sent these lovely items of clothing for the purpose of this post, however all images and opinions are my own. We had a lovely time taking these photos and the quality of the Mothercare range is fantastic. 

The MAD Blog Awards 2013

The MAD Blog Awards are upon us, the Mum and Dad Blog Awards to be precise and you can smell the excitement in the air. 

The MAD's are a chance for you to nominate your favourite blogs for a Award, and help celebrate everything that’s brilliant about blogging. This year their are 16 award categories, reflecting the growing diversity and amazing talent to be found among UK parent blogs.

  

Why would I love to attend?

The finalists will be invited to join the most glamorous and fun night in the blogging calendar – the MAD Blog Awards ceremony. Just to even be able to attend this event would put me on cloud 9. I would love to attend and meet the faces behind the blogs that have inspired me and also helped me on my blogging journey.

Nominations are in full swing and I am secretly hoping to make it to the ceremony, where the 2013 winners will be announced!

I have recently discovered that I have been nominated for Best Family Life Blog and Blog of The Year. Just to be nominated is absolutely amazing, and I thank you all for taking the time to put a big, big, BIG smile on my face.

Just being nominated and recognized among the many distinguished blogs that I have been following over the past 16 months is the biggest achievement in it's self.

Of course I am not asking....begging....and I am not down on my knees pleading...But... if you did fancy putting my little bit of cyber space forward for this amazing opportunity, you will see that I have slipped the link to the nomination page right here. All you need in order to vote is an email account, and it takes just a few seconds to cast your nomination.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this, and an even bigger thanks if you do take the few seconds to nominate us :-)

So if you are out to make my day, week and year I would be completely over the moon if you would back me in nominations for Best Family Life Blog or even Blog of The Year.

Thanks again and wish me luck!

Laura

xx