Lets talk travel mugs... again x

 

OK so have been 'off line' for a while but here we are back and blogging. No promises that I will get in more than one a week but that is my plan for now. Some new and updated reviews in the pipeline. We will bring back our Dublin Events Page and launch a London Events Page too... but for now lets talk travel mugs and me!

Not all that long ago I jumped on the travel mug band wagon. It was the boring silver type with a black lid. It did the job right but it didn't look all that me, I love a little colour in my life. So recently it broke, I recycled it and got super excited about getting a new travel mug.

I spotted these gorgeous ceramic travel mugs in Urban Outfitters around Christmas time. One of those things I should have just got there and the patterns are adorable. I thought that I would shop around a little more but nothing topped these until I was in good old Oxfam and found a simple but funky ceramic travel mug. Buy of the year I reckon... It's just like these ones only its plain white with a red band and a red top, seeing I'm trying a little to move away from pink and bring red back into my wardrobe its perfect, a little retro or something...

The first time I posted about my travel mug I gave you the math so here it is again

The Math –

If I got 1 take away coffee a week (and well let’s face it, it’s usually three) for a whole year I have saved by using my travel mug between 52 – 156 paper cups, and 52 – 156 plastic lids from ending up in landfill.

I also urged everyone who hasn't got themselves a good travel mug to do so and this little change in your life could make a big difference to our earth. It's a change I made a year ago and I haven't looked back just re-styled that's all :)

You can buy a huge range of travel mugs from Urban Outfitters online at www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/gifts-+amp-novelties/mugs/icat/mugs/

Angi xxx

Travel Tip # 1

Hi Everyone,

Recently a friend of our asked us to come to coffee to have a chat with a friend of theirs. She was about to embark on a long haul flight to New Zealand with her 9 month old baby girl.  Knowing that I had completed the long haul flight Australia with Amelie and that Tara had jetsetted all over with baby Dylan she was keen for any tips we could give her. We thought that we could share some of our travel tips with you.  

                                            

We thought that we would begin by sharing with you some information on three items that I found to really took the pressure off when I travelled unaided (without the husband that is) to Australia with Amelie. We were in transit for 30 hours and each of these items made me feel confident before I left that I was fully prepared to make the journey. Having confidence and feeling prepared was wonderful and calming, I believe that a calm mummy equals a calm baby and I really enjoyed the adventure I shared with my baby girl.

Today we will tell you about the first item, the next day the second item and information on the third item will follow on the third day, makes sense right? On Friday we will post our top ten travel tips for mothers travelling alone with small babies. I hope that what we share with you will give you confidence to travel with your babies and the calmness to enjoy the journey not just the destination.

Essential Jetsetting Item #1

Hug-a-bub

What is it:

The Hug-a-bub baby sling that is made from 100% natural and organic cotton with an ergonomic design. It allows you to carry your baby horizontally (great for breastfeeding mums) and vertically. I wore it every day when Amelie was small and when I was in 30hours in transit to Australia I could not have lived without it.  The sling is one long piece of fabric that secures your baby against your body so snug with excellent head and neck support for babies from birth.  It does not strain your back or shoulders like other slings and baby carriers I have tried. My Mum gave me this as a gift when Amelie was just two weeks old. I used it then and still use it now that she a year old.

Why you need it:

I travelled from Dublin, Ireland to Adelaide, Australia on my own with Amelie when she was 8 months old. I had to carry my hand luggage, documents and Amelie all on my own. The hug-a-bub allows you to have both hands free all the time while you carry your baby. It also allows you to bend down without your baby coming away from your body. It is only a piece of fabric so if you are not using it, it is very light to carry and does not add too much to your baggage limit. It promotes closeness with your baby from a young age so they just love it and come to know that hug-a-bub time means relaxing time with their Mummy. Any time Amelie gets in the hug-a-bub even now at a year old she either sleeps or knows she is going to share a peaceful relaxing time with me. It is just like the most amazing cuddle in the world.

Where can you get it:

The Hug-a-bub is designed in Australia you can purchase it online from the website

http://www.hugabub.com/

You can also find a full list of stockists from around the world on the website.

The following are stockists in Ireland:

Ecoshop Limited
+353 1 287 2914
Meridian Point, Greystones,
Co Wicklow

Pearl
+358 86 389 3657
30a South King Street
DUBLIN

Jetsetting Babies Guide to Dublin South - Review # 6 - Poppies - Dun Laoghaire

A: 7 Upper Georges Street, Dun Laoghaire

P: (01) 6336871

W: www.poppies.ie

Poppies is a great little café, restaurant located at the top end of Georges Street quiet close to The People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. It is just opposite a great babies store called Tiggle (a relatively new addition to stores in Dun Laoghaire).  I frequent Poppies often either with friends who have children or alone with Amelie.

The well-spaced tables allow plenty of room for buggies and high chairs, I have met three other Mums and their children at Poppies on several occasions and found it to be quite comfortable. Like many other places they only have two high chairs so you may have to hold your baby on your lap or leave them in the buggies if you are in a large group. I have also seen a huge number of mothers here with their toddlers and small children it seems to cater for families well.

The food in Poppies is fantastic and uses locally sourced ingredients. I have often called in purely for a nice fair trade coffee and their amazing homemade carrot and walnut cake. Having tasted a good number of things from the menu, I can say I am not so in to the ‘Poppies Chicken’ it looks interesting and impressive with a cornflake and almond topping but as a signature dish I was not blown away, it is a little dry and plain. On the other hand I highly recommend the saucy and flavorsome Shepherd’s Pie served with Avoca style salads or a baked potato. No clear children’s menu but they have a lot of things you would happily feed your kids, what’s more is they have a god selection of fruit available for a healthy snack.

A fun marketing idea and eco-friendly initiative has been adopted by Poppies, they sell their own travel mugs and stainless steel water bottles which they currently have on promotion at 50% off, and I was lucky enough to get the travel mug filled with a hot, creamy take away latte when I last purchased one.

If you didn’t have to place your order and pay your bill at the counter this place would be a little closer to perfect for mothers and babies. They staff are lovely and deliver great service each visit. The next time you need to warm up a little after a trip to the playground in People’s Park poke your head into Poppies and you will leave full, cozy and satisfied.

High Chairs: Y x 2

Childrens Menu: N

Changing Tables: Y

Kids Activities: N

Eco Friendly Tip # 1 – Me & My Travel Mug

Eco Friendly Tip # 1 – Me & My Travel Mug

For Christmas I was very excited to open one of my presents and find a travel mug. I had wanted one for quite some time but had not gotten around to picking one up.  The main reason I wanted a travel mug was because all of those take away lattes had really started to eat at my conscience. I imagined the pile of paper cups, plastic lids and paper sugar packets getting higher and higher the landfill spilling over and toppling into pristine forests and crystal clear ocean (overactive imagination YES far from the reality NO. So every time I bought a cup of coffee to drink while doing the shopping or running errands it tasted a little bitter, even though there was nothing wrong with the coffee.

Now I simply pop into my favourite café (that sells fair-trade organic coffee of course) hand them my travel mug and I am on my way sipping a delicious guilt free latte. It stays hot for longer too so it means if you get distracted with a dirty nappy or a crying baby and the coffee gets forgotten you have a much better chance of still enjoying it warm instead of cold. I salute everyone out there who already has their eco-friendly travel mug and urge all of you who don’t to jump to the travel mug band wagon! If you are a Yummy Mummy who lives a hectic life this is a small, simple practical item that you will really enjoy and it’s great for the planet!

The Math –

If I got 1 take away coffee a week (and well let’s face it, it’s usually three) for a whole year I have saved by using my travel mug between 52 – 156 paper cups, and 52 – 156 plastic lids from ending up in landfill.

Check out www.kitchen cookware.ie and pick up your Travel Mug today!