Brazenmom » News

The Tiger Who Came to Tea hits the V&A

Andrea — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:12:39 +0000

The V&A Museum of Childhood is hosting an exhibition From The Tiger Who Came to Tea to Mog and Pink Rabbit, which runs from 28 May – 2 September 2011. The exhibition offers a retrospective of Judith Kerr, whose vast body of work includes the popular Mog series and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, as well as her autobiographical novel When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, which charts her childhood fleeing Hitler’s Germany in 1933 with her family.

… which is all quite fabulous but what BrazenMom are really interested in is the exciting range of products produced in conjunction with the exhibition, from masks and stickers for children to enjoy to mounted prints to be hung on the wall, greeting cards and tiger tea and biscuits.

See below for some of the funky stuff on offer:

Kids Tiger Mittens

Tiger Umbrella

Tiger Food Toffee & Fudge Biscuits

The Tiger Who Came to Tea – Mounted Print

Knitted Tiger

Tiger Torch

Mog Paper Mask

For more info on the exhibition, CLICK HERE.

Children’s art competition

Andrea — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:09:38 +0000

Sudocrem, market leader in the treatment of nappy rash, is offering mums and dads the chance to WIN WIN WIN! And it’s oh so easy…

All you have to do is visit www.facebook.com/sudocrem, ‘like’ the page and share your child’s hand made painting or drawing with a brief description.

So, what can you win?

Sudocrem is offering a Spa Weekend for 2 people comprising a 2 night stay at the Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour 5 star hotel, including breakfast, a spa day pass to the Blue Harbour Spa and a half hour spa treatment for each person. Plus £100 worth of Early Learning Centre vouchers to spend on your child. The winning mum or dad will be the one who shares their child’s hand made drawing or painting.

Entries can be submitted up until midnight on Friday 3 June, 2011. For competition rules CLICK HERE!

Breast milk ice cream makes Gaga gag

Andrea — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:22:49 +0000

Breast milk ice cream? Really? The Icecreamists, an ice cream parlour in London’s Covent Garden, recently hit the headlines with the launch of a new ice cream flavour called Baby Gaga, which consists of human breast milk blended with vanilla pods and lemon zest. Yum? – perhaps for those who have a ‘sucking on mother’s milk’ type fetish.

Earlier this week, the Baby Gaga ice cream was, however, confiscated by Westminster City Council over fears it could lead to viruses such as hepatitis being spread. And to confound matters for the avant-garde ice cream parlour, pop star Lady Gaga has not only criticised the product as “nausea-inducing” but reportedly told the parlour to change the name of the ice cream so that it can in no way be linked to her name or image, or a legal suit will be launched against The Icecreamists.

As an ex-breast feeder, there is no way that I would ever ingest breast milk ice cream but I would not be adverse to selling my breast milk for others to enjoy. Before health officials confiscated the ice cream, the parlour had been paying lactating mothers £15 per third of a lire of breast milk they provided, after an advert was placed on the popular Mumsnet internet forum. Metro.co.uk reports that the ice cream went on sale at least week after donations from 15 mothers and became an immediate hit, selling out in a day, and another 200 woman were said to have stepped forward to help donate their breast milk for the controversial flavour before the health officials stepped in. Hello! What an awesome way to make money – pick me!

My main question when it comes to breast milk ice cream is this: the flavour of breast milk is usually affected by what a woman eats, so if I eat something that makes my milk spicy or salty, surely that taste will come through in the Baby Gaga ice cream – which would be gross…

…as if breast milk ice cream could get any grosser.

Source: Metro.co.uk: Lady Gaga to sue parlour over banned ‘Baby Gaga’ breast milk ice cream

Children’s books popular amongst library lenders

Andrea — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:22:56 +0000

Seven British children’s writers are in the Top 10 most borrowed Authors in UK libraries. They are:

• (2nd) Daisy Meadows (Rainbow Magic)
• (4th) Jacqueline Wilson
• (5th) Francesca Simon (Horrid Henry)
• (6th) Mick Inkpen
• (7th) Julia Donaldson
• (9th) Lauren Child
• (10th) Terry Deary (Horrible Histories)

This is the highest number of children’s writers to appear in the most borrowed Authors Top 10 since Public Lending Right records began over twenty years ago. The PLR says almost 80% of 5-10 year olds are now using our public libraries.

Children’s writer, Julia Donaldson, author of the Most Borrowed Children’s Title, The
Gruffalo, says of the latest data:

This just shows how much children need, and are entitled to, libraries and librarians. It’s how they find out which books they like best and develop a love of reading.

Source: Public Lending Right

Win with Sudocrem

Andrea — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:29:19 +0000

For 80 years, Sudocrem has been friend to every baby’s poor rashed bottom and now Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream is about to become friend to every parent’s social calender!

To celebrate the launch of Sudocrem’s shiny new website www.sudocrem.co.uk and informative social media channels, Sudocrem is launching a Kids do the funniest things competition that is offering the chance to win a 12 month Merlin Family Pass worth almost £400 to the winning mum or dad who shares with us their child’s (under 3) funniest photograph with the story behind it.

How to enter: It’s simple – just visit www.facebook.com/sudocrem, ‘like’ the page and share your child’s funniest photograph with the story behind it.

COMPETITION RULES:

Content should relate to children aged 3 and under only.
Submissions must not relate or refer in any way to the use of Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream or any other licensed medicine.
Photographs and supporting text are both acceptable.
The acceptance, disqualification or deletion of competition entries, without explanation or prior notification is entirely at the discretion of Forest Labs, as set out in the Terms and Conditions found on www.facebook.com/sudocrem.
Entries can be submitted up until midnight on Wednesday 16 March 2011.
Our winner will be selected by Forest Labs staff and our wonderful celebrity midwife Nikki Kahn.
The winner will be announced via www.facebook.com/sudocrem on Monday 21 March 2011. Shortly thereafter the winner will be sent a 12 month Merlin Family Pass worth almost £400 (Family of 4 = 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children) children must be under the age of 12 and full Merlin Terms and Conditions apply. The pass allows entry (with some restrictions) into top UK attractions including Alton Towers Resort Theme Park, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND® Windsor, The EDF Energy London Eye, The Dungeons, Warwick Castle, SEA LIFE Centres & Sanctuaries, Madame Tussauds London, Madame Tussauds Blackpool (from April), the Blackpool Tower Dungeon (from Sept) and the Blackpool Tower attractions (from Sept).Terms and Conditions relating to the use of the Merlin family pass are dictated by Merlin Entertainments Group only and can be found here: http://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/what_you_get/terms_conditions.as
Read the competition Terms and Conditions here: www.facebook.com/sudocrem

Small girl takes loaf of bread hostage

Andrea — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:51:43 +0000

Today, in the city of London, a 13-month-old girl took a loaf of bread hostage. After a gruelling and torturous ordeal, Mr Bread Loaf, from the land of Sainsbury’s, was finally released by his captive following an incessant bout of pleading. Police are sad to report that following his release, the battered loaf finally succumbed to his wounds, and died an excruciating death whilst linked to IVs on the kitchen shelf. The chef did all he could but Mr Loaf’s injuries were extensive.

Authorities say that Amelia Violet Zanin will stand trial but is likely to escape conviction due to the mitigating circumstances of toddlerhood.

Andrea Zanin, Amelia’s lovely mother, told reporters that she purchased the loaf of bread to feed the ducks on an outing to the park but Amelia fell asleep before the unlucky loaf had the opportunity to perform his dietary function, and thus avoided consumption. It is alleged that Mrs Zanin left Mr Loaf at the bottom of her child’s pram, giving Amelia easy access to Bread’s resting place.

Andrea told reporters that “Amelia had great fun hauling Mr Loaf around the house.” The young mother admits that “Bread was cuddled, sat on, stood on, beaten and bashed… but NEVER let go of.” Mrs Zanin has since been arrested as accessory to murder, and awaits trial. Prosecutors will argue that it was Andrea’s responsibility, as Amelia’s mother, to have prevented her child’s thuggery, in which case a brutal murder would have been avoided.

Psychologists suggest that Amelia may suffer from what is commonly known as ‘teddy identification confusion’, which is a disorder affecting at least one in every million children under the age of two. Dr Jamand Butter, president of the Institute of Strange Children, explains Amelia’s actions as follows: “Amelia is not to be blamed for her behaviour. She is unable to distinguish her teddy bears from items of food, and thus treats them as one and the same. Do not be surprised if little Amelia chews vigorously on her soft toys and tries to take a broccoli floret to bed with her.”

It seems likely that Amelia’s defence attorneys, who are rumoured to come from the firm of Baker and Pastry, will argue criminal insanity on the child’s behalf. Dr Butter has offered to testify in support of Amelia.

Mr Loaf’s funeral will be held on in Hampstead Heath tomorrow (weather permitting) and is likely to be attended by friends and many many pigeons.

The Gruffalo hits the West End

Andrea — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:11:09 +0000

Recently voted Britain’s Number One Bedtime Story by BBC Radio 2 listeners, The Gruffalo probably requires no introduction. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award winning book has captured the imagination of children worldwide.

He has terrible tusks,
and terrible claws,
And terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.

He has knobbly knees,
and turned-out toes,
And a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.

His eyes are orange,
his tongue is black;
He has purple prickles all over his back.

What’s not to love?

Gruffalo paraphernalia is slowly but surely taking over consumerdom. A friend of mine bought her six-year-old nephew Gruffalo themed plasters (yes… plasters) as a Christmas presie – what better way to heal a would than with the special magic of the beastly Gruffalo? And I have been greatly tempted by the Gruffalo teddies that have populated the stores this festive season… not for me but for my one-year-old daughter of course!

Even better than themed plasters or plush toys is The Gruffalo adapted for the stage. The Gruffalo! Live on Stage! is now back by popular demand at the Garrick Theatre, London. Check out the trailer online at www.gruffalolive.com.

Pregnancy myths revealed

Andrea — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:48:54 +0000

It is common knowledge that stats are fundamentally flawed because they can be manipulated to suit the intended outcome. So, for example, if you want to prove that C-sections are on the rise in England, take your data from the southern part of the country, conversely, if you want to prove that women in England favour natural birth, take your data from the North. Being carefully selective of where information is drawn is just one small way in which statistical data can be shaped.

I recently read some stats in Practical Parenting & Pregnancy that I hope have been manipulated in some way:

ONE IN FIVE young adults thinks the umbilical cord is a musical note.

ONE IN EIGHT thinks a C-section is a religious group.

ONE IN 10 thinks eating read meat during pregnancy can affect the sex of the baby.

These figures are just so laughable but also entirely disturbing. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I remember mocking my friend and work colleague because she had no idea what an umbilical cord was, and she is a well educated, highly intelligent woman. I am no font of birthing knowledge but have an above average understanding of what goes on; on that premise I informed my friend in a completely judgemental but loving manner – so at least when it’s her turn to pop a bun out of the oven she will have some sort of clue as to what is happening to her body.

To save a stack of scorn, it is probably a good idea to pay attention in class and maybe do some reading. If listening and reading are not your thing, then feign understanding or lie – people aren’t likely to test you.

What’s in a name?

Andrea — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:34:15 +0000

Top 100 baby names for 2009

The Office for National Statistics has announced the most popular baby names in England and Wales. My little lovely is listed at number nine, which totally sucks because nobody wants to burden their baby with a boringly average name. We didn’t choose Amelia because it was popular – hell, we didn’t even look at a name book. Here’s the story:

Even before my little girl was a twinkle in our very surprised eyes, hubby and I have never been able to agree on names. Every ‘serious’ attempt at contemplating what to call any offspring that we may produce ended up in some sort of hysterical argument where names including “Clutchplate”, “Aristotle” and “Bovine” were offered up for consideration. One day we were watching some PVC clad vamps kicking some ass in Underworld: Evolution, and the name “Amelia” was mentioned. It was one of those surreal moments when you know that the person you are with is on exactly the same wave-length as you. The second we heard “Amelia”, we looked at one another and knew that that was the name we would call our little girl (if we should be lucky enough to have a little girl one day). And then Amelia was hacked to death on a train… nothing like a bit of Vamp horror to ruin a precious moment. But the moment was real and Amelia Violet is the name of our princess.

Amelia’s grandparents may not appreciate the fact that technically she is named after a vampire, albeit an aristocratic vampire who is one of the film’s three ruling vampire elders, but as we see it, Amelia gives her name a unique personality. No matter how many Amelias there are in the world, there is only one that belongs to me and her daddy. And in case you are wondering, the Violet comes from whittling my husband into submission – or so he says. Some things are worth fighting for and hubby has come to appreciate the romance of his little lovely’s name. Amelia will never be common because it is our daughter’s name and that is beyond special. My advice: choose a name you love, irrespective of where it appears on some list. But if you can’t resist a peep, check out the top 100 names below.

Top 100 baby girls names

1 OLIVIA
2 RUBY
3 CHLOE
4 EMILY
5 SOPHIE
6 JESSICA
7 GRACE
8 LILY
9 AMELIA
10 EVIE
11 MIA
12 AVA
13 ELLA
14 CHARLOTTE
15 ISABELLA
16 LUCY
17 ISABELLE
18 DAISY
19 HOLLY
20 MEGAN
21 FREYA
22 POPPY
23 PHOEBE
24 SUMMER
25 SCARLETT
26 MILLIE
27 ELLIE
28 AMY
29 HANNAH
30 ISLA
31 KATIE
32 IMOGEN
33 ERIN
34 MAISIE
35 SOPHIA
36 ABIGAIL
37 JASMINE
38 EVA
39 BROOKE
40 MOLLY
41 EMMA
42 LOLA
43 ELIZABETH
44 LEAH
45 LILLY
46 MATILDA
47 LEXI
48 LAYLA
49 SIENNA
50 ALICE
51 ISABEL
52 AMBER
53 BETHANY
54 GRACIE
55 GEORGIA
56 ELEANOR
57 AMELIE
58 CAITLIN
59 MADISON
60 ISOBEL
61 LAUREN
62 ROSIE
63 KEIRA
64 ANNA
65 PAIGE
66 MAYA
67 LACEY
68 MADDISON
69 LEXIE
70 AIMEE
71 SKYE
72 TIA
73 FAITH
74 SOFIA
75 ZARA
76 NIAMH
77 REBECCA
78 LIBBY
79 SARAH
80 FLORENCE
81 MARTHA
82 HOLLIE
83 ZOE
84 JULIA
85 EVELYN
86 TILLY
87 ALEXANDRA
88 NICOLE
89 HARRIET
90 EMILIA
91 LYDIA
92 EVE
93 MARIA
94 ROSE
95 ESME
96 ALISHA
97 HEIDI
98 FRANCESCA
99 SARA
100 MYA

Top 100 baby boys names

1 OLIVER
2 JACK
3 HARRY
4 ALFIE
5 JOSHUA
6 THOMAS
7 CHARLIE
8 WILLIAM
9 JAMES
10 DANIEL
11 GEORGE
12 SAMUEL
13 ETHAN
14 JOSEPH
15 BENJAMIN
16 MOHAMMED
17 LUCAS
18 JACOB
19 DYLAN
20 ARCHIE
21 LEWIS
22 ALEXANDER
23 OSCAR
24 LIAM
25 MAX
26 JAYDEN
27 JAKE
28 CALLUM
29 RILEY
30 RYAN
31 TYLER
32 NOAH
33 LUKE
34 ADAM
35 LOGAN
36 MUHAMMAD
37 HENRY
38 MATTHEW
39 HARVEY
40 LEO
41 ISAAC
42 HARRISON
43 FINLEY
44 EDWARD
45 MASON
46 CONNOR
47 OWEN
48 JAMIE
48 NATHAN
50 ALEX
51 MICHAEL
52 CAMERON
53 FREDDIE
54 AARON
55 THEO
56 HARLEY
57 TOBY
58 CHARLES
59 RHYS
60 LEON
61 FINLAY
62 MOHAMMAD
62 SEBASTIAN
64 DAVID
65 BEN
66 LOUIS
67 ZACHARY
68 KAI
69 ASHTON
70 EVAN
71 KIAN
72 LUCA
73 AIDEN
74 KYLE
75 GABRIEL
76 REECE
77 HAYDEN
78 AIDAN
79 REUBEN
80 JOEL
81 BAILEY
82 BRANDON
83 JOHN
84 LOUIE
85 ELLIS
86 KIERAN
87 ELLIOT
88 SAM
89 TAYLOR
90 BRADLEY
91 ROBERT
92 JOE
93 ARTHUR
94 CHRISTOPHER
95 EWAN
96 FREDERICK
97 MORGAN
98 JUDE
98 STANLEY
100 AUSTIN

ASA bans Hipp baby milk print ad

Andrea — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:34:37 +0000

The Advertising Standards Authority has pulled a recent print ad for Hipp Organic baby milk, which read “We’ve learnt from the breast”. The breast may have spoken to Hipp but the ASA were not convinced, saying that the ad was misleading because it implied the product was equivalent to breast milk.

Hipp Organic argued that the “We’ve learnt from the breast” copy was a reflection of the company’s high regard for breast milk as the best food for babies. Research conducted by baby milk companies and academic institutions has influenced Hipp’s Organic milk composition, which contains some of the beneficial components of breast milk to their formulas.

The ASA told Hipp not to use claims in future that referred to children’s development and health that do not comply with regulation. End of story.

Source: www.brandrepublic.com