l'mamita spring 2015

events • style • advice • education

SPRING 2015• ISSUE FOURTEEN • FREE

ESSENTIAL READING FOR MUMS, DADS AND ALL THE FAMILY

IT ’SSPRINGTIME!

L’Mamita Magazine…Welcome to

L’MamitaCONTENTS

Spring has arrived at last which means we can head outdoors, soakup the fabulous scenery across the region and enjoy the sunnierclimes.

In this issue, we profile some of the best events taking placeacross the North East over the next few months and also share ourtop pick of kids spring fashion.

Award-winning blogger Hannah Parker, founder of Mums’ Days,shares her favourite family days out and we also catch up withmumpreneur Minna Scaife to find out more about her Gosforth-based children’s concept store, Pikku. Look out for your exclusivediscount voucher inside this edition!

We also have our usual mix of beauty and interiors features,including hair styling tips for mums in a hurry from the team atBobble hair salon in Jesmond and furnishings that will add a wowfactor to your little one’s bedroom.

We hope you enjoy this issue and we’ll be back again in thesummer with more news, events and features for you and all thefamily.

Directors : Mike Grahamslaw, Mick O’HareCommercial director : Martin StoutEditor : Alexis ForsythEditorial : Lucy Patterson, Hannah Parker,Tracy Ann HarlingDesign : John Haxon

Copyright North East Times Ltd 2015

While every care is taken in compiling the contents of thismagazine, the publisher accepts no responsibility for the effectsrising thereof. The views expressed are not necessarily the viewsof the publisher.

All material is copyright. Reproduction of any part of themagazine is forbidden except by written permission of thepublisher. No responsibility will be taken for the return of materialsubmitted.

L’Mamita is published by North East Times Ltd, Quayside i4,Ouseburn Building, Albion Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LL,tel: (0191) 265 70 50 web: www.accentmagazines.co.uk

Bits and bobs 6Quirky furnishings foryour little ones

SPRING 2015• ISSUE FOURTEEN

4 Spring 2015 www.lmamita.co.uk

Networking Mummies 8

Get social with other mums in

Tyne and Wear

Springtime favourites 12

Seasonal fashion picks

www.lmamita.co.uk Spring 2014 5

What’s on 29

Upcoming events around the region

Family days out 14Blogger Hannah Parker shares her top five

L’MamitaNEWS

Treetop adventures

The new Christopher Treehousecabin bed from online boutiqueNoa & Nani is a great space-saving solution. Perfect forcreative playtime – it also offers asnug and secure place forslumber. Crafted from solid pineand finished in a white lacquer,the elevated tree house alsoboasts country-style cladding, atraditional pitched roof, cut outwindows and a skylight. As anadded bonus, the bed’s canopyalso doubles up as nifty storagespace.

www.noaandnani.co.uk,£399.99 (including delivery)

A whale of a time

Brighten up your kid’sbedroom or nursery with thisBuddy the Whale cut out rugfrom designer rug retailer,Kelaty. With his light bluestripes and dark blue spots,complete with a blowhole,Buddy is sure to add a splashof ‘under the sea’ fun to anyroom. Plus, for peace ofmind, the rug is made from anon-allergic durable materialthat’s ideal for kids to play on.

www.kelaty.com, £189

BITS & BOBSThese new additions to your home will ensure the

fun never stops this spring, even on those pesky

rainy days when the kids are stuck indoors…


A dainty desk

The multi-functional Roofus,available from furniture

specialist Loaf, is so muchmore than just a desk and

chair – it’s also a playhouseand easel. This versatile

piece of furniture is ideal forhomework, play and

everything else in between.The Roofus is made of solidreclaimed fir recovered from

old buildings and is hand-finished in a beautiful

beached timber. The chaireven features a handy built-

in book tray for additionalstorage.

www.loaf.com, £495

Yippee for teepee

New from Dutch designerWoood is this beautifulchildren’s teepee style bed –a great way to fuel your littleone’s imagination from themoment they wake up.Dubbed as ‘the ultimate sleepstation for mini explorers inthe making’, the bed isavailable from April and ismade of solid, quality pineand white veneer. The teepeecabin’s neutral colourcomplements any décor, withthe range also including abookcase and kids desk.

www.cuckooland.com, £399


L’MamitaNEWS

Laura Morris and Stacey Calder establishedNetworking Mummies in 2009 after the twobusiness mums met at a local toddler group inDorset. The pair came up with the idea afterrealising there was a gap in the market for anetworking group that would support motherswho not only run a business, but also jugglefamily life, too.

Networking Mummies UK Ltd now has over20 active branches across the UK, with Tyneand Wear being one of its most recentadditions. Connecting families in businesswith free networking events and affordableworkshops, it also gives mums and dads inbusiness the opportunity to connect face-to-face and online.

In February, Lesley Hawke became thebranch leader for Networking Mummies inTyne and Wear. As a mum of two and a stepmum to one – all while running her own twocompanies, as well as her partner’s twobusinesses – Lesley knows only too well the perils of jugglinga work-life balance and still being a mum.

Lesley says: “I’m really excited about becoming the Tyneand Wear branch leader of Networking Mummies UK Ltd. Ilove meeting, and being inspired by, other mums in business,and to be able to help and support some of them will bereally fulfilling.

“I have lots of ideas for events in 2015, which I hope willhelp mums and dads in Tyne and Wear really get the mostout of their businesses without compromising on family time.I truly believe that support, motivation and learning fromfellow business owners is key to keeping a business moving

in a positive direction.” Lesley’s first coffee morning takes place on March 27,

10am to 12pm at Osbornes Bar & Kitchen, Jesmond, withkind support from The Malhotra Group. The free coffeemornings will then be held on the last Friday of every monthand Lesley will also be arranging fairs and family fun days inthe coming months.

For more information about Networking Mummies,visit www.networkingmummies.com or [email protected]

Say hello to Networking

Mummies, which launches in

Tyne and Wear this March…

THE PERFECT MIX FOR

MUMS IN BUSINESSLesley Hawke, branch leader of Networking

Mummies in Tyne and Wear



L’MamitaADVERTISER’S

ANNOUNCEMENT

AWARD-WINNING TUITIONExplore Learning provides award-winning tuition for children ofall abilities. Voted ‘Supplementary Education Provider of theYear’ for the past two years running at the prestigious EducationInvestor Awards, the company is expanding rapidly and over500 children from Tyne and Wear now attend its tuition centresin Sunderland and Newcastle.

As Explore Learning members, children work with tutors whoare great educational role models, enthusiastic about learningand fantastic motivators.

Each child has an individualised learning programme tailoredto meet their needs, and all Explore courses map to the NationalCurriculum, complementing the work they are doing at school.

The centres are open seven days a week and are Ofstedregistered meaning that families can use Childcare Vouchers topay for membership. Also, because children attend up to twicea week on a drop-in basis, Explore tuition can fit easily into yourbusy family routine – there is no need to commit to the same

day and time every week.There is independent proof of the benefits, too. Research by

the Institute of Education at Reading University showed that“Explore Learning members’ improvement in maths was 30 percent higher than that of the comparison group after controllingfor gender, age, year group and special educational needs.” Theresearch also highlighted that “Building confidence, overcomingshyness to put up their hand to ask for help, being moreindependent and less reluctant to try without assistance” wereall elements that parents recognised in their children and directlyattributed to Explore Learning.

Find out how your child can benefit from Explore Learningmembership today! Complete a free trial form atwww.explorelearning.co.uk and one of our experiencedtutors will call you to arrange a free taster session for yourfamily.

Help give your kids the edge.

L’MamitaCHILDCARE

At the end of 2014, Kids 1st was named

the highest quality provider of childcare

in the UK by Nursery World for the

fourth consecutive year.

Kids 1st Nurseries has topped the quality league table, whichhas been compiled with points based on its latest publishedOfsted inspection reports.

Mark McArdle, managing director said: “I am so proud thatwe are at the top of this league table for the fourth year. It wasvery special to achieve this once, but four times is incredible.This is a great accolade to celebrate in our tenth anniversaryyear and it is a very important award to us as it is based solelyon our Ofsted inspections.

“I am a firm believer that we are only as good asour staff and this quality rating is very muchtestament to the commitment, dedication andqualifications of the staff team, and the team spiritwithin the group.”

In 2014 Kids 1st celebrated 10 years in businessand this award is the latest in a long line ofachievements for the group. In November 2014, Kids1st Durham achieved the company’s tenthoutstanding Ofsted report, the nurseries havefeatured in the top ten nurseries in the North Easton daynurseries.co.uk and in 2009 Kids 1st wasnamed Nursery Chain of the Year by Nursery World.

Kids 1st is a family run business, with ten purpose-builtnurseries in the North East of England. Outstanding featuresof the nurseries include nutritious homemade meals,challenging gardens, which have been designed to suit theage groups that use them, CCTV and fingerprint security,interactive whiteboards and modern language and danceclasses.

To book a visit to a nursery or to find out more about aKids 1st Nursery near you please call: (0191) 461 8877 orvisit: www.kids1st.net. You can also follow Kids 1stNurseries on Facebook or @Kids_1st on Twitter.

Locations: Gosforth, Quorum Business Park, Rake Lane,Low Fell, Hexham, Wansbeck, Durham, Wynyard,Darlington and Stockton.

KIDS 1ST TOP OF NURSERY

LEAGUE FOR FOURTH YEAR

Kids 1st Durham –

rated outstanding

by Ofsted


L’MamitaFASHION

Floral print

sunglasses, Tu at

Sainsburys, £4

SPRINGTIME FAVOURITES

Bee applique

skirt, M&S,

from £16

Pink spot bag,

Next, £7.50 Painterley Strip Dress,

Monsoon, £40

Silver gladiator

shoes, BHS, £10

Brighten up your little one’s

wardrobe with our top pick of this

season’s staples…


Unisex customisable

whiteboard trainers,

Scribbies, £39.99

P-Rex the dinosaur

backpack, The Cuties

and Pals, £24.99v

Shark print

shirt, F&F, £8

Three-pack monkey

tee M&S, from £12

Printed chino

shorts, Next, £10


L’MamitaFEATURE

In the North East, we are completely and utterly spoilt forfabulous family days out. And it wasn’t until I tried to narrowit down to just my top five that I realised how much therereally is to do!

1. CASTLESThere are more castles in Northumberland than any othercounty and this year I am trying to see them all with Reuben.There are the famous ones – Alnwick, Belsay and CastleKeep (due to have a grand reopening this spring) – which alloffer a fabulous day out. But for some old school exploringand adventure I’d highly recommend hunting for Mitford,Edlingham or Elsdon Castle – take a picnic, a flask of coffeeand you’ve got an exhilarating and free day out!

2. THE BEACHWe are lucky to have beaches all the way from Berwick toBrotton and it’s hard to pick a favourite. But I have a soft spotfor Blyth beach – you can hire a beach hut for the day, walkto St Mary’s Lighthouse on the same stretch of sand, play inthe dunes or just enjoy some of the best chips and ice creamalong the coast.

3. THE CITYThere are lots of lovely and free museums in Newcastle, andgone are the days when you should feel self-conscious ofyour toddler having a tantrum surrounded by modern art.

Head on over to the BALTIC, theDiscovery Museum or the GreatNorth Museum, which has anawesome T-Rex and a soft playarea, for a touch of culture.

4. BEAMISH MUSEUMWe have only just recentlydiscovered Beamish but I was blownaway. You are literally transportedback 100 years in this living,breathing outdoor museum. We willbe spending a few more spring andsummer days there, I want to see howthe veg patch is getting on in the pitvillage!

5. KIELDERKielder is Europe’s largest man-made lake and it’s inEngland’s largest forest. The views are stunning, the air isfresh and there are loads of outdoorsy things to do forunadulterated family time (not least because there is nophone reception!). It also has the darkest night sky inEngland making it perfect for a bit of star gazing – what littleone wouldn’t love to do that past their bed time?!

Catch up with Hannah’s latest blog posts atwww.mumsdays.com

TOP FIVEFAMILY DAYSOUT

Hannah Parker writes the award-winning blog Mums’ Days which

focuses on life, love and modern day motherhood. She lives near

Corbridge in Northumberland with her husband, Mike, her 8-year-old

step-daughter, Gabriella, and her 2-year-old son, Reuben. Here, Hannah

shares her favourite springtime family days out around the region.


L’MamitaFEATURE

FLOWER POWERWho can grow the tallest and most impressive sunflower? Find

out with this kit, which includes a dinky childrens' wateringcan, a packet of sunflower seeds and a paper tape measure.

www.annabeljames.co.uk, £14.95

TRAIL-BLAZING This keepsake nature explorers case is perfect fordiscovering and recording your kid’s outdoor adventuresand includes a nature trail scrapbook, compass, magnifyingglass, whistle with built-in thermometer and pencil.

www.oakroomshop.co.uk, £19.99

GOING GREENThis little garden greenhouse is sure to appeal to

kids with a budding interest in all things greenfingered. It has clear walls and a roll-up PVCdoor, so you can easily watch over your little

ones as they tend to their blossoming plants.

www.prezzybox.com, £22.95

GET INTO NATURESpring has sprung which means it’s time

for you and your family to get outside

and start exploring. Here are a few

ideas to kick-start your little one’s

interest in all things outdoors…



Petits Poussins has been going from strength to strength for8 years now, teaching foreign languages to mums andtoddler groups, nurseries, schools, private tuition and adults.We have written and developed our own unique and dynamiccurriculum and teach around 650 children per week. Ourteaching techniques are different from what you wouldusually expect from a language class and we always adhereto our company motto of ‘Making Languages Fun!’

In 2004, Petits Poussins was born out of a passion by itsfounder, Gill Nemri, to pass on her gift of bilingualism to asmany people as possible. Gill wanted to create languagelearning experiences where parents, nurseries and schoolscould learn French in a fun, friendly and relaxed atmospherewith their little ones. They also offer private tuition to all ages,including adults, and train teachers and provide languageresource advice.

What makes Petits Poussins unique?

Each child gets individual attention, ensuring that they arealways making progress in their language development. Weuse total immersion language teaching style and all of ourteachers are bilingual. Through the use of our speciallydeveloped teaching techniques, songs, games, visual aidsand much more, we make the language learning experienceas fun and stimulating as possible.

How soon should I bring my child along to one of yourclasses?

This is a very common question. It's best to learn otherlanguages from as early an age as possible. It is amisconception to assume that if your child hasn’t fullydeveloped its mother tongue then it will be confused ordelayed in picking up a second language. A child is born withthe innate ability to pick up multiple languages at once, notjust one or two. Researchers believe that it's not until aroundthe age of 7 that the brain changes and that innate abilitychanges.

Our child is bilingual, will learning a third languageconfuse them?

Absolutely not. Children’s brains are hard wired to pick upmultiple languages. In our Italian classes, we also follow ourunique teaching methods and some children are followingboth curriculums and picking up all the languages with noconfusion. We always say children are like sponges and webelieve there is no limit to their learning.

If you would like to ask any further questions to the team atPetits Poussins, reserve your free taster in a class or see theteaching packages that we provide to nurseries and schools,please do not hesitate to contact us, we are always happy tohelp.

We are always interested in receiving CV’s and are recruitingright now so please get in touch if you are fluent in more thanone language, passionate about giving your gift and areinterested in joining our team.

L’MamitaADVERTISER’S

ANNOUNCEMENT

‘MAKING LANGUAGES

FUN’ WITH PETITS POUSSINS ...

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

L’MamitaFEATURE

SPELLBINDINGCLASSICS

This year marks the 150th anniversary of

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. To

coincide with this monumental milestone,

L’Mamita’s Lucy Patterson looks at other

children’s classics we all know and love…


C.S Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,published in 1950, is still a firm favourite amongst many,with children across the world wishing that they couldescape to Narnia – a land of talking animals and mythicalcreatures, ruled by an evil White Witch – via an enchantedwardrobe in a spare room.

Peter Pan is also a much-loved classic, originating fromJ.M Barrie’s 1904 stage play, subsequently developed byBarrie into the 1911 novel Peter and Wendy. Inspiring anumber of films, such as Hook in 1991 and FindingNeverland in 2004, it’s filled with memorable characters;Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn’t grow up, Tinkerbell thefairy and the evil pirate Captain Hook, as well as themagical place that every child dreams of visiting:Neverland.

People of all ages treasure Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Making chocolate loversjealous worldwide, it follows the adventures of youngCharlie Bucket, after he wins a golden ticket that grants hima tour of the most magnificent chocolate factory in theworld, owned by the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka.

With several blockbuster films to its name, as well asmusicals and other merchandise available to buy, it’s acherished classic featuring some of the most unforgettablecharacters from children’s literature.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written in 1900 by L. FrankBaum, tells the story of a young girl called Dorothy who,following a cyclone, wakes up in the magical Land of Oz.Another enduring masterpiece, this book takes up a prizedposition on bookshelves around the world. It also inspiredthe popular 1902 Broadway musical, as well as therenowned 1939 film adaptation featuring Judy Garland.

And how could we forget J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potterseries, which has arguably sealed itself as a modern-dayclassic. Chronicling the adventures of Harry Potter, RonaldWeasley and Hermione Grainger throughout their time atthe mesmerising Hogwarts School of Witchcraft andWizardry, the seven novels have all been a commercialsuccess, with the film adaptations being just as popular.There’s even a 9 ¾ platform at London’s King’s Crossstation dedicated to the boy wizard – proof, if any wasneeded, that this book is truly one of the best.


L’MamitaCHILDCARE

A Newcastle resident since meeting and marrying herGeordie husband on a skiing holiday four years ago,Finnish-born Minna was inspired to create Pikku when sherealised how difficult it was to find clothes for her baby sonthat were a little bit different from what you would normallyfind on the high street. “I’d go to baby groups and manychildren would be wearing the same things – I found I wasordering lots online,” she says. “Talking to other mums, itbegan to look like a feasible idea but I knew retail onlywould be risky, so I decided to incorporate a children’s hairsalon to give extra footfall and to create a more completeretail experience for families.”

It’s an idea that’s working well: the salon is bustling withlittle ones’ haircuts and pamper birthday parties and it'sbooked up months ahead for 'how-to’ hair styling classesfor parents wanting to master the art of the ‘Elsa plait’ andmore. Meanwhile, there’s been so much interest in Pikku’sunique children's wear, both locally and from outside theregion, that online sales on the newly launched pikku-online.co.uk are booming, too. The footfall from eachcomplements the other, and there are plans to extend theconcept with the launch of further stores.

What’s on offer

Catering from newborn to age seven, the range of clothingat Pikku (the name means ‘little one’ in Finnish) includes avariety of mid- to high-end brands which, crucially, are notavailable anywhere else in Newcastle or in some cases, the

UK. “Exclusivity and uniqueness are our USP -– the brandsmight not be familiar to many yet, but it’s all aboutsomething fun and different,” says Minna. “I also try tochoose items which are functional as well as fashionable– so our baby vests have special dribble rash protection,and our tops and trousers have foldable cuffs as part ofthe design, so you can get extra wear out of them as yourchild grows. We also listen to feedback from mums – Isourced a range of funky swim nappies after hearing theother mums complain about the lack of choice. ”

What we love

From high-end Finnish label Gugguu to Danish brandAlbakid, Scandinavian style is well represented on therails, but equally popular are the gorgeous dresses fromUK label Poppy, and the award-winning designs ofRachael Riley (including the dungarees worn by PrinceGeorge, no less). For special occasions, the store’sextensive selection of children’s christening andformalwear is hard to beat, and the recent addition ofunique toys and soft toys make perfect gifts. Newcollections arriving for spring/summer include iconicFinnish brand Marimekko and beautiful organic cottonbabywear by Pigeon.

Pikku is open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm at173-5 Gosforth High Street, NE3 1HE. Tel: (0191) 4471300; www.pikku.co.uk and www.pikku-online.co.uk

INTRODUCING…

PIKKU From a fun and funky place for children

to get a haircut to exclusive clothing fit

for a prince, the kids are definitely alright

at Pikku, the new children’s concept

store making waves well beyond Gosforth

High Street thanks to the vision of mum-

turned-entrepreneur Minna Scaife.


L’MamitaEVENT

Pop up

filmmaking

Tyneside Cinema’s Pop Up Film School returns this Easterwith a bumper programme of fun and inspiring events for yourlittle ones.

The cinema is running a series of film bootcamps for 8 to15-year-olds, providing budding filmmakers with theopportunity to make a western, a sci-fi epic and a making of…all in a week, rounded off with a world premiere for family andfriends.

Youngsters aged between 9 and 15 can also re-imaginemoments from classic animations and create clips of their veryown during the cinema’s four-day animation bootcamp, alsotaking place over the Easter holidays.

Film bootcamp:Ages 8-11:April 7-10, £120/£80Ages 12-15:April 13-17, £140/£90

Animation bootcamp:Ages 9-12:April 7-10, £120/£80Ages 13-15:April 13-17, £140/£90

LOVE FILM?L’Mamita profiles the family-friendly

events and activities on offer at

Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle.

Family films

If you’re a regular cinema goer, who is more often than notwith your children in tow, then make yourself acquainted withTyneside Cinema’s Children’s Film Club and Bringing in Baby.

The Children’s Film Club takes place every Saturday, withthe cinema screening a range of classics, old and new,including family favourites such as The Lion King, Hop andNight and the Museum. Tickets are priced at just £3.20 andevery child receives a free lolly and entry into a special prizeraffle.

Meanwhile, Bringing in Baby (BIB) caters for parents andcarers of young babies. At BIB, you can enjoy some of thebest new releases, screened with the lights up a touch andthe sound down a little. Plus, for added convenience, bottlewarming facilities and buggy parking are available at everyscreening, with baby changing facilities available on floorsone, two and three. Screenings take place every Thursday,with some shows on Sundays, too.

Moving stories

Tyneside Cinema and Seven Stories have joined forces tocreate the Moving Stories Family Card – a chance to see‘children’s books from page to screen’.

At the end of March you can catch Disney’s magical newlive action adaptation of Cinderella – starring Cate Blanchett asthe wicked stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairygodmother – for just £4 a ticket with the Moving Stories FamilyCard.

You can pick up your free card from the Tyneside Cinemabox office or at the Seven Stories reception.

For more information about Tyneside Cinema, visitwww.tynesidecinema.co.uk

The Pop Up Film School isback this Easter

Cinderella

opens on

March 27


L’MamitaNEWS

Choccy gift jar,

www.iflorist.co.uk,

£29.90EGG-CITINGEASTERTREATS

Hop into the Easter holidays

with these delightful gifts

for your little ones…

Easter bunny and chick felt baskets,

www.oakroomshop.co.uk, £2.99 each

Easter Yolk Folk,

www.clareloves.co.uk, £6.50

Easter cupcake set,

Poundland, £1


Easter bunny egg cosy,

www.cuckooland.com,

£13.50

DIY Easter egg paint set,

www.tigerstores.co.uk, £2

Hip hop hooray 3D

tree centrepiece,

www.berryred.co.uk, £16

Chunky crochet

rainbow bunny,

www.justforbaby.co.uk,

£14.99

Laura Ashley SS15

Easter egg hunt,

Laura Ashley, £15


L’MamitaMUM’S CORNER

Most people think that being a mum means that your hairand beauty regimes have to take a back seat, but thisdoesn’t need to be the case.

With some helpful hints and tips you can make the mostof your personal style no matter how much or how little timeyou may have while juggling work and family life.

When it comes to your hair, it’s important to have a stylethat not only fits with your personal image but whichcomplements your lifestyle, too. There is no point in havinga style that looks fabulous in the hair salon, but which you

then can’t recreate or manage on a day-to-day basis. It’s important to get the basics right, so to get started,

ensure that you use a shampoo and conditioner that’s bestmatched to your hair type, whether that’s normal, oily, dry orcoloured. This makes your locks more manageable andkeeps them in a much sleeker condition. Once you’vemastered this step in your hair care regime, you can thenthink about how to style your hair!

Here are three quick and easy styles using a combinationof bobbles and hairgrips...

MIX UP YOUR ‘DO…Tracy Ann Harling, senior stylist at Bobble hair salon in Jesmond,

shares her top three hairstyles for mums in a hurry.

The side twist

Suitable for mid-length and longer hair, theside twist is a simple way to reinvent yourdaytime look.

Step 1: With you hair in its natural parting,take a small section from one sideand twist it across the nape of yourneck.

Step 2: Keep twisting this section, thenusing a bobble, combine it with therest of your hair and secure it inplace under your ear. And voila, yourside twist is done!


The undone up-do

The undone up-do is the perfect solution for mums withshorter hair and, best of all, it can be created in a matter ofminutes.

Step 1: Apply a styling product through your hair to giveit added texture and oomph.

Step 2: Next, take a section from each temple and pull itacross the crown. Backcomb it with a littlehairspray.

Step 3: Let the hair dry slightly and comb it back tocreate height and secure in place with a bobble.

Step 4: Take a small section of the hair and wrap itaround the bobble. Secure with a hairgrip andfinish with hairspray.

The messy bun

The messy bun is the choice du jour for mums with long,unruly tresses who are after something a little differentfrom their regular ‘do.

Step 1: Take sections from either side of your templesand pull across the crown. Grip both sidestogether, ensuring you cross the hairgrips at thecrown.

Step 2: Bring the rest of the hair around to one side(which ever you feel most comfortable with)and tie it with a bobble into a low side ponytail.

Step 3: Twist the hair and wrap it around the base ofthe ponytail to create a knot and use a fewcarefully placed hairgrips to keep the hair inplace. Spritz with hairspray for extra hold.

Bobble is located at The Coach House, 1A Clayton Road, Jesmond. For moreinformation call (0191) 281 0648 or visit www.facebook.com/BobbleJesmond


L’MamitaFEATURE

@GreatNorthMum

Great North Mum was created by 30-something JennyHicken from Newcastle, who describes herself as ‘amultitasking mummy on a mission’. Jenny’s blog posts andtweets cover a range of topics, from parenting andhealthcare to fundraising and pregnancy, with baby numbertwo due this July. By day, she works for the NHS and is atrustee for pregnancy charity MAMA Academy. You can alsoread her weekly column in the Chronicle newspaper.

@Mum_TheMadHouse

Meet Jen Walshaw, the founder of Mum in the Mad House –ranked by Cision as the UK’s number one mummy blog. Herblog is about ‘trying to live a creative family life in the mad

house’ and includes a host of arts, craft and cooking ideas,parenting tips and free activities that parents can do aroundthe north of England. For handy cost saving tips, head onover to Jen’s other successful venture – A Thrifty Mum.

@NEFamilyFun

North East Blogger of the Year 2014, Samantha Rickelton,from Cramlington, runs North East Family Fun, a blogfeaturing an inspiring and informative mix of food, travel andlifestyle posts. The blog follows Samantha, her husband andtheir three children on their adventures around the region.Samantha has also spearheaded #LoveNorthEast toshowcase the best that other North East blogs have to offer.Follow her on Twitter for all the latest goings-on in the region.

THE TWITTERATIPresenting L’Mamita’s top pick of bloggers to follow on Twitter for all the latest

North East news and views on everything family related. By Lucy Patterson.

Jenny Hickenis expecting

baby numbertwo thissummer

Samantha

Rickelton,

2014 North

East Blogger

of the Year

@nefamilylife

Newcastle Family Life was created by Lindsay, a 31-year-oldmum of three who blogs about her busy life with a teen, atoddler and a baby. She created the blog in March 2014when she was 13 weeks pregnant with baby number three asa way of recording her pregnancy and children’s childhoods.Hannah blogs and tweets about a range of topics, from kidsfashion and baby products to home décor and days out.


Downy Duckling Days

Washington Wetlands Centre, Washingtonwww.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washingtonA special day out for the whole family – you areinvited to meet cute, fluffy duckling babies at the wetlandreserve’s specialist duckery, and watch as the tiny ducklingstake their first wobbly steps in the outdoor pens. There’snothing extra to pay, as this is included in the admissionprice. An arts and crafts session is also available for a smallcost.

The Famous Victories of Henry V

Theatre Royal, Newcastlewww.theatreroyal.co.ukThis production follows the adventures of badboy Prince Hal and brings together all the exciting highlightsfrom three great plays – Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V. Witha running time of two hours, this is the perfect firstShakespearean encounter for young people aged eight andover. Tickets are available from the box office or online.

WHAT’S ONL’Mamita

EVENT

Lucy Patterson rounds up the best family-friendly events in the weeks ahead…

Twists and Tails – The Story of

Angelina Ballerina

Seven Stories, Newcastlewww.sevenstories.org.ukTwists and Tails – The Story of Angelina Ballerina is theperfect multi-sensory session for your little ones. They candress up as Angelina and join in with a range of interactiveactivities based on this classic family series from KatharineHolabird and Helen Craig. A day ticket is required for thisevent.

Alice and the Magic Mirror Garden

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens,Ponteland, Northumberlandwww.english-heritage.org.ukPop down to Belsay Hall and see where Alice, the Mad Hatterand the White Rabbit are hiding! Children can follow a trailand discover the wonderful world of Belsay, as they searchthe grounds to find out where their favourite characters arehiding.

Superhero Squad

The Discovery Museum, Newcastlewww.twmuseums.org.uk/discoveryThe Superhero Squad is in town to helpyoungsters brush up on their skills and super powers, with arange of craft activities, games, prizes and hero challenges onthe day. Children are asked to dress as their favouritesuperhero and will receive a certificate of attendance and amedal. Tickets should be purchased in advance and areavailable online.

S Club 7 Bring it all Back Tour

Metro Radio Arena, Newcastlewww.metroradioarena.co.ukS Club 7 are back! For one night only, see thegroup on their first arena tour in over ten years. Their originalfans are all grown up now, but S Club 7’s catchy pop songsand high energy dance routines are sure to appeal to today’syoungsters. Expect plenty of audience participation too,making this a concert you definitely don’t want to miss.

UntilAPRIL1

May Day Celebrations

Beamish Museum, County Durhamwww.beamish.org.ukThe perfect outing for all the family, withmaypole dancing acros both days, why not join inand celebrate May Day the traditional way, in the Pit Villageat Beamish? With lots of extra activities going on, as well asthe chance to explore the museum – pop down at no extracharge. Admission is included in theusual entryprice.

MAY4 – 5

APRIL7 – 19

APRIL15

APRIL9

MAY23 – 31

JUNE30


l'mamita spring 2015

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