{Co-parenting}

I like to think that the kids dad and I have good working relationship when it comes to the co-parenting. I was unable to rely on him as a partner, but thankfully still able to rely on him as a parent. Initially I wasn't very trusting, but I'm hoping that I've improved - at least where the parenting is concerned.

The children have adapted well to the new arrangements and I think this is helped by the fact that their dad and I communicate well.

I've been asked by some other single parents how I've managed this, and I'm not sure there is a secret to share. I guess a lot of it comes down to our personalities - I think I'm a relatively laid back person (do let me know if you disagree!). I'm very proud of myself with how I've dealt with the situation over the past 2 years or so.

Littlest as a baby :)

Immediately after the split I had the children 6 nights a week as he had moved back into his parents house and he wasn't able to take them any more than that. Once he moved into his own rented house, he increased the number of nights and we're now at a 50/50 split. I certainly would never try and stop him seeing the children, which I've heard happen in some cases. He's their father and I'm very happy that he's playing an active role in their upbringing.

The arrangement for the weekends isn't ideal and we both know this will need to change before August when our son starts school. At the moment the kids are with their dad 6 out of every 8 weekend days. The reason for this is that I'm off work on a Thursday and Friday so I spend all day with them then (although it's mainly spent going to classes, swimming lessons, nursery drop-offs/pick-ups etc). I'm hoping that we can move to an even split soon and this is under discussion.

Outside of the day-to-day arrangements, we have shared birthday parties for the kids where my family and his will get together to celebrate, eat cake etc. We're currently in the process of organising a party for the littlest who turns 3 in April.

I was at his house on Christmas morning to see the kids open their presents from Santa.

Christmas morning 2013

When he picks the kids up, or vice versa, we'll sometimes have a quick cup of tea or whatever and catch up.

Initially I was of the opinion that doing things just the four of us was confusing for the kids, but I'm now glad that we did and I do think it is in their best interests that we can do things together.

I've just recently set up a shared calendar to allow us to view appointments, school holidays etc. This was suggested to me by another single mum and I'm hoping that it will further improve our communication.

I'm learning that if I'm not happy with something, rather than bottling it up I will make a telephone call to their dad to discuss. Likewise, I think he'd do the same.

We had a chat over the phone before R met the kids. We didn't agree, but we at least discussed it.

I personally prefer email as a means of communication. It allows me to consider my words carefully, and I can walk away and come back to it prior to sending if need be. But the negative point is that emails and texts may be taken the wrong way. (I personally tend to read out emails in my head prior to sending them to make sure they read ok).

What's difficult is dealing with questions from the kids, and my son who is now 4.5 years old is now asking why his mum and dad live in different houses whereas his other friends have a mummy and daddy in the same house. Whereas previously it was just accepted.

I replied and said that some mummies and daddies live together and some live separately, and that both was ok. I also texted their dad to tell him about this because then if he gets the same questions he'll know how I responded.

What are your thoughts, and do you have any tips for amicable co-parenting?

{Pancakes}

Tuesday 4th March is Shrove Tuesday, and if you haven't already decided what kind of pancakes to make... then look no further!

We love a pancake in the Glasgow Mummy household... normally either chocolate chip or covered in butter and jam! Yummy!!

Don't these just look amazing!!

Or a stack of Swedish pancakes with cream and raspberries. Mmmmm!

One recipe that has caught my eye is for Black Cherry Chocolate Pancakes. How good does that sound!!

Here are the details:

Ingredients (serves 4)

125 g self-raising flour

10 g cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting

2 tsp caster sugar

1 egg

150 mL milk

Few drops vegetable oil

150 mL double cream

1 x 410 g can Princes Black Cherry Fruit Filling

Method

Sift the flour and cocoa powder into a large bowl and stir in the caster sugar.

Add the egg and milk and then use a hand whisk to beat the mixture together to make a smooth batter.

HEat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Use the batter to make 8 small pancakes. To cook, add small ladlefuls of batter to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbles appear on the surface. Turn over and cook for 1-2 more minutes until set. Set aside on kitchen paper until they are all cooked.

Whip the cream until it holds its shape. Sandwich two pancakes together per person using half the cream and the Princes Black Cherry Fruit Filling. Top with the rest of the cream and cherries. 

Serve, sprinkled with a little cocoa powder.

Seems to be really straightforward, yet looks really impressive I think. Let me know if you try it :)

{Ideas for the Activities with the Kinder}

The title says it all really! The kids and I have loads of fun painting, drawing, playing with Lego, Play Doh, gardening, jumping on the trampoline, baking cakes etc., but sometimes it's handy to have a few activities up your sleeve that don't take much organising and that will pass the time for half an hour or so whilst dinner cooks or whatever.

Here are some of the suggestions that I've come up with, lots others can be found on my Ideas board on Pinterest. Do come and say Hello and check out my other boards whilst you're there :)

Start with a magazine or newspaper clipping and let the child expand the picture. Genius! From artmommie.blogspot.com

We love Cheerios and we love the birds that visit our garden. What better idea than these Cheerio bird feeders from happyhooligans

Marble races with a pool noodle or you could construct a track out of toilet & kitchen rolls. This idea is from myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com

And whilst you're out with the marbles, why not try and spot of marble painting? theschoolsupplyaddict.com

Make colourful salt dough ornaments, from two-daloo.com

I've got a number of heart decorations hanging here and there in the house, and it would be nice to replace these with some homemade ones :)

Trace your outline and decorate. Looks great! From passionatehomemaking.com

You'll also find some other ideas over on an older post of mine, here.

What are your go-to activities for entertaining little ones?

{my kitchen table}

I have so many great memories that are associated with the table in the kitchen of the house I grew up in.

Painting, cutting, sketching, colouring in, glueing, rubber stamping....all manner of arts & crafts! My mum was rather crafty & I loved being sat at the table on one of the benches doing art work.

We also used to sit at the same benches drinking earl grey tea & eating delightful almond biscuits after having been outside playing in the cold (hilarious I know, but it's true!).

My sister & I also used to eat our dinner there most nights with our mum (dad didn't get home from work until later)... we used to have pink grapefruit as a starter regularly (seems bizarre as it's not something I eat now) and I was made to drink cups of milk (which I very much disliked!).

Now as a grown up (cough, cough!) with my own children, I am creating memories at our table.

We do lots of arts & crafts... painting, cutting, sketching, colouring in, glueing, rubber stamping (notice a similarity!?) and we eat dinner together every evening. 

Baking cakes at the old house. Yummy!

I don't have a dining kitchen anymore in the new house, but I have a dining recess in the playroom/dining room which is attached to my small galley kitchen. I've taken the furniture from my old house with me, and thankfully it fits perfectly.

This was the space when I first moved in!

Mild chilli with rice and pasta (her choice!) made into a smiley face!!

The boxes weren't unpacked and they were still at the table drawing!

Getting there!

Creating more art for the walls :)

I've attached two Ikea curtain wires to the wall to display their artwork with plastic bird clips that I bought from cloudy blue in Aberdeen.

Now the walls are painted, and I'm nearly finished this room!

{Why I'm #Groovy}

Joining in again with Kate on Thin Ice's Groovy Mums linky...

This week Kate has asked us to speak to our kids to discover what makes us groovy.

I'm a bit late at joining in as the kids have been with their dad and I didn't get them back to mine until this afternoon. I wasn't even sure that they'd understand what I meant when I said 'Is your mum groovy?'. The littlest immediately said 'yes', but then when I asked her if she knew what it meant she said no!

So instead I asked what makes your mummy cool, and this was their response:

'You are very funny and make us laugh the most.

Because you are good.'

What am I good at doing, I asked? 

'Cooking. Making cakes. Making dinner. Crafts. Painting. And making party stuff.

You helped me with the Lego computer game and I completed the level.'

I asked if I look cool, and I was told no. I do however look pretty, their words not mine. Apparently when I wear a dress I look pretty and when I wear trousers, a t-shirt or jeans I look cool.

So there you have it. Why I'm cool by my 4.5 year old son and my daughter, who will be 3 in April!

{Everything is Awesome - Lego Movie Review}

At the weekend, R & I took the kids to see The Lego Movie.

I don't know who was more excited, them or us!

It was the first time I'd taken the kids to see a film, and I was really impressed. It is an expensive morning out, but it was worth it. I booked our Odeon family ticket online for just over £27 and at the cinema we got treats for us all for £9.99 - the Odeon Family Mix includes 2 Kids Mix (snack, drink & kids popcorn), 2 medium drinks and 1 medium popcorn.

The movie itself was amazing. I absolutely loved it... I laughed and I cried. Definitely the sign of a good film. My favourite character was Batman, although Liam Neeson as Bad Cop/Good Cop was also highly amusing. It's a great film for all the family. There's a lot of adult jokes and an interesting political undertone (R's words, not mine!). 

The kids were very well behaved, although the littlest sat on my knee throughout which hampered my viewing at points. Plus, despite taking her to the toilet before the screening started, we still had to go half way through so I missed a wee bit!

Emmet and Batman

Bad Cop

As we were leaving the cinema, I took a quick video of my son to capture his thoughts... I should have thought ahead of what questions I was going to ask (poor planning on my part!) but you get the gist!

"Everything is Awesome!"

All in all, we give the movie a big thumbs up. I would happily watch it again, and again!

We also discovered that Dobbies have half price DK sticker books... The Lego Movie and Super Heroes... reduced from £7.99 to £3.99. I bought two and have stashed them for a rainy day (of which there are plenty in Glasgow!).

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{Gilda & Pearl - The interview}

Lingerie to Love, Made and Handfinished in the UK

As I mentioned on Sunday, I was at House of Fraser, Glasgow to meet with Diane, the founder of Gilda & Pearl and here is the interview I promised you all :)

Diane, who is originally from Glasgow, has been designing for as long as she can remember... Whilst working in magazines in London she had the opportunity to train with the designer who created Princess Diana's lingerie trousseau for her marriage to Prince Charles. She helped Diane make some samples which she took to Portobello market and shortly thereafter her pieces were being stocked in a boutique in the city area of London. The Observer magazine photographed them and Figleaves placed an order with her... all in a matter of months.

Diane explained to me the reasoning behind the name Gilda & Pearl...

"Gilda refers to Rita Hayworth's character in the movie of the same name. She's very glamourous and gorgeous and her wardrobe is all made to measure or bespoke. It credited her in becoming the ultimate femme fatale. Her costume designer also made the nude crystal dress that Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang Happy Birthday Mr President. Beautiful clothing and beautiful details can become quite iconic and feminine but also quite strong.

Pearl refers to something that is really beautiful to look at and never mass manufactured... something timeless."

The vision for the brand was clear from the outset. Gilda & Pearl is a heritage brand offering a bespoke service, which adds something unique. Diane was also keen for her pieces to be made in the UK as much as possible.

"It's a high price point and a luxury product, but to be able to say it's been made carefully and in the UK is important."

The brand, which was founded 5 years ago, is already international with stockists in China, Japan, North America and Australia. The pop-up shop in House of Fraser, Glasgow, is the first time the main collection has been sold in Glasgow. Diane is aiming for Gilda & Pearl to be available in at least one department store in the next six months.

I was intrigued by the design process. Diane collects clippings throughout the year and has great fun looking at lace, satin and trims that inspire her. Her favourite fabric to work with is silk, although she has sourced a sheer silk tulle which is also excited about. As far as possible the materials are sourced from the UK. For example, the lace used in the How to Marry a Millionaire range (such a great name!!) is from their Nottingham supplier.

How to Marry a Millionaire Padded Bra, £69

Diane also wears the lingerie she creates. This way she knows how it lasts and if there's any room for improvement. It was a tough choice for her to make but her favourite pieces are the luxurious loungewear.

After having had two little ones, I'm a bit self conscious about my tummy. So I was keen to hear if the brand catered for all shapes and sizes.

"Absolutely, Gilda & Pearl is about making the wearer feel fantastic. We have a number of very flattering robes, kimonos and beautiful slips to suit all shapes. We're also looking to introduce a range of shapewear."

Lovers of Montparnasse Babydoll, £195 (one of my favourites!)

What are your five must haves that you carry with you in your handbag?

"I carry so much around with me at the moment as I'm so busy! I'm always emailing, so my phone and iPad or laptop are two essentials. I'd also have a kimono if I'm travelling - if there's a problem with my luggage then I know I can get to the hotel and relax. My lipgloss is another essential. And then I'd also have a book of some kind. I'm currently reading about Marilyn Monroe's life. Quite light reading but I enjoy it."

How to Marry a Millionaire Gown, £275

What three things should every woman have in her wardrobe?

"A gorgeous, well fitting bra makes you feel really good... A great accessory - for me it's a big fur stole that instantly makes me feel good... Lastly, a beautiful bag that stands up to the wear and tear of busy life."

I asked Diane what advice she would give to anyone who wanted to become a fashion designer. Her wise words are applicable across many industries...

Believe in yourself.

Get as much experience as you can.

Listen to what people are telling you,  but trust your own instincts.

Be as creative as you want.

The Gilda & Pearl pop-up shop is open in House of Fraser until Friday 14th February (Valentine's Day!). The lingerie is also available to purchase online here, where there is even Drop a Hint and Get It By The Weekend services.

{When Glasgow Mummy met #luckydick}

This weekend I stopped by House of Fraser on Buchanan Street to check out the Valentine's pop-up shops, Dick Winters and Gilda & Pearl.

Quintessentially British Boxer Shorts

House of Fraser is continuing with their Scottish Design programme and have introduced the luxury lingerie brand Gilda & Pearl and the heritage male underwear brand Dick Winters for two weeks only. 

The backing of the two brands sees the concept of "House of Fraser Presents..." evolve and the company continues to embrace its home grown talent.

I met briefly with Claire and Emma, the duo behind the brand Dick Winters, which is based in Glasgow. We spoke briefly about the company, the boxers and the clever marketing campaign. I had a feel of the material (not on the model, I hasten to add!)... a smooth British microfibre - an Actisystem textile which is apparently very comfortable and breathable. #Luckydick Ryan has also said the boxers wash really well. And at £28 a pair, I think they're reasonable for such a quality product. On the signature waistband at the back there is an silk woven label personalised with the 'dick'.... choose from 'clever dick', 'lucky dick', sporty dick', 'rock dick' and 'old dick'. I think the play on words is rather amusing and really clever! I'm a sucker for packaging as regular readers will know!

I believe both #luckydick and #cleverdick are going to be in store on Friday 14th, so do go in and say Hello!

Glasgow Mummy & #luckydick! (properly embarrassed - look at my red cheeks!!)

Up a level takes you to the luxurious pink pop-up shop of Gilda & Pearl - lingerie to love, made and handfinished in the UK. Again, another Glasgow-based brand, which has been growing considerably since it's launch in 2008.

I had a short interview with Diane, the designer, and I'll share this with you shortly on the blog. Her pieces are beautiful, my favourite is the 'How to Marry a Millionaire' range (again, very clever marketing!) and I adore the big silk bows.

How to Marry a Millionaire Bow Knicker, £69

For those of you that are yet to choose Valentine's Day gifts for your other halves... pop into House of Fraser and you'll be sorted!

{There's an App for that}

This week I was on a business trip to Stockholm.

Ready for dinner in Stockholm

I flew with British Airways, and had downloaded their iPhone app which allowed me to keep track of my scheduled flights, of which I had 4 - Glasgow to London City to Arlanda and back!

Anyway, I'm amazed at how easy it was... It's been 4 years since I was last on a plane, and things have changed since then.

I didn't need to print any documentation - my boarding card was on my phone and it was scanned at the desk. Simple! (I didn't trust the system on the way out, so still printed the hard copy, but solely used my iPhone app on the way back!). I didn't have any luggage to check in, as I was literally there for an evening meal and then a day of meetings before coming home. I went straight from the taxi to security to the gate to the plane. Hardly any queues and limited hanging around. Result!

I also didn't take any currency with me. Usually I'm faffing around trying to get a good exchange rate etc etc., but because I wasn't there for long and the taxis in Sweden accept credit cards... that's all I needed.

And then when I landed back in Glasgow (when it was permissible to use mobile phones again), whilst still on the plane I used the Hampden Taxi app to book my taxi so that when I walked out of the terminal building and across to the car park, the taxi was there and I didn't have to hang around.

The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the food. Yes, my flight from London City to Arlanda was only two hours, but this was the measly sandwich we were given. It was tiny!

I can't get over how useful my smart phone is, and how did I ever manage without one!!

What other apps would you recommend that I check out?

{Disney on Ice is coming to Glasgow}

I am yet to take my little ones to the cinema, theatre or the like and so when the opportunity came up to review the newest Disney on Ice show, Worlds of Fantasy, at Glasgow's Hydro I of course said yes!

The show is coming to Glasgow's Hydro on 27th - 30th March 2014 and looks set to be a great performance.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy... a captivating adventure taking Disney lovers (like me and the kids!) across the auto-racing terrain of Cars, Andy's bedroom for some Toy Story 3 fun, under the sea with Ariel from The Little Mermaid and into Tinker Bell's mystical Pixie Hollow.

The excitement begins when Mickey Mouse embarks on his adventure with Minnie (who else!?) to uncover each world of fantasy, but their plan goes awry when their car breaks down. Donald Duck and Goofy try to fix it, but it takes the assistance of the coolest Cars on ice to get it working again!

Worlds of Fantasy offers the perfect combination of elements for fans of Disney On Ice. “From the contemporary feel of Cars and Toy Story 3 to the timeless quality of The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell, audiences will see four completely different Disney worlds brought to life,” says producer Kenneth Feld. “All of this provides a value that is truly unparalleled in the world of live family entertainment. More than ever before, there’s something for everyone.”

I can't wait!

The facts about the show are really interesting too...

• Each life size car took 2,000 man-hours to build
• It takes over 12 hours to set up the show at each new site
• 13 production trucks are used to take this show from city to city
• There are 79 different paint colours in the show

Under the sea!

(The hilarious thing is that I still have that exact shirt for my Ken doll!!!!!)

Tinker Bell and the other fairies