My new toy has arrived! A spiralizer. I can't wait to have a play with making lots of pretty vegetable noodles. Perhaps the kids will eat more veg this way too!

This week is a little bit special because Sunday is my birthday! So I'm only really meal planning the front end of the week.

Monday: Rainbow chilli

Tuesday: Out for Sister in law's birthday

Wednesday: Spiralized vegetable 'spaghetti' bolognaise

Thursday: Spanish chicken with brown rice

Friday: Turkey steaks with pesto crumb, sweet potato mash and brocolli

Saturday: Out with my friends for my birthday (Pizza for Husband and kids)

Sunday: Out with my family for my birthday

Little I's first soft play party with her big sister looking out for her.

My latest book club meeting was to discuss our summer read; Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

Set in the golden era of light entertainment, Funny Girl tells the story of Barbara Parker. A girl from Blackpool who most would described as a bombshell. But there is more to Barbara than the curves and hair; she is funny and wants to be a comedian like her hero Lucille Ball. Barbara turns down her 1964 Miss Blackpool crown (keeping it would mean a year stuck in Blackpool) to escape to London where she changes her name to Sophie Straw and lands a role in a sitcom aptly called Barbara (and Jim).

From here the author is very clever. We only catch a glimpse of what Barbara (and Jim) is actually about, instead we are immersed in the lives of it's stars, Sophie and Clive, the script writers and production team and the ties that bind them together. Along the way the storyline shows us how it was virtually impossible to be openly gay in the 60's (you'd be arrested) and how difficult it was for a woman to break into the male dominated world of the BBC.

But the book doesn't take us too far down the rabbit hole of repression and inequality, instead it mirrors the tone of the era it is paying homage to. It makes us feel all wrapped up and cosy, like we are watching along at home on our sofas laughing along with the characters. Until the final chapter brings us back to reality proving that the laughs can't go on forever.

Overall I thought this book was charming and very very well grounded. I spent the first third of the book convinced Sophie Straw was a real person. It all 'feels' so right and captures the feel of sitcom so perfectly. I'd recommend if you are looking for a book to read which feels like an old friend coming over for a cuppa.

But I can't help wonder what on earth she was planning on doing with the teapot...

After last week's meal planning success this week I've got another fridge full of yumminess for the family. Little I is feeling unwell so she is off her food at the moment but hopefully these dinners will perk up her appetite.

What are you eating this week?

Monday:

Baked cod with spinach and pesto bulgur wheat

Tuesday:

Kids - Hawaiian pizza.

Baked eggs (recipe coming soon!)

Wednesday:

Kids - Fishcakes with salad

Pork with a pesto crust and sweet potato mash and broccoli

Thursday:

Spaghetti bolognaise

Friday:

Salt and pepper dusted basa fillets with sweet potato wedges and carrots

Saturday:

Cottage pie

Sunday:

Roast dinner!

We are teaming up with Beanies flavour coffee to offer you the chance to win a Stashbox variety pack (worth £22.50).

​With the summer holiday's over the good news is you might have a chance to finish a cup of coffee before it goes cold - and we have the perfect coffee for you! Beanies comes in a range of twelve fantastic flavours from Chocolate Orange to Almond Amaretto, and at only 2 calories a serving being good has never tasted this fab!

To enter simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. If you are not one of the luck winners you can pick up your own range of Beanies Flavoured Coffee beaniesflavourco.co.uk

It is time for Little I to move up to the next stage car seat. Last time round we opted for the Maxi-Cosi Axiss at this age which I loved because the chair swivelled making it super easy to get children in and out of the seat. But the latest safety data showing that rear facing car seats are 5 times safer for under 2's in a frontal collision has made us rethink and we have decided to extend Little I's rear facing for as long as possible.​

Maxi-Cosi have developed a range of extended rear facing seats which can also be switched to front facing mode. The 2way Axiss can be rear facing until the age of 2 then switched forwards until 4yrs but I've decided to give up the practicality of a twisty seat in favour of the 2way Pearl which can be kept rear facing until around 4yrs old. Anything which improves the safety of my kids on the road has to come first.

The 2way Pearl comes in 2 parts; the seat and the 2way isofix base. I should point out right now that this seat can only be attached to your car via isofix. There is no seatbelt securing option so make sure you have isofix anchors in your car. Once the base is secured in the car the seat clicks on top either front or rear facing. It really is that easy. To make sure you have installed the seat correctly there are a series of lights built into the leg of the isofix base. Basically they all need to be green to confirm correct installation. If the seat is installed incorrectly an beeping alarm sounds to alert you.

Husband's car is super easy for isofix because the anchors are really accessible at the back of his seat pads. Mine unfortunately are sunk really deep into the seat upholstery and locating them is a complete pain. So I am super pleased that the 2way Pearl comes with these cute isofix guides which I can leave in my car permanently making installation so much easier. One the seat is anchored it is very secure.

The seat reclines in 4 positions using a handle at the front, perfect for longer journeys where is it likely the child will fall asleep. The angle of recline is fantastic, the best I have seen. There is no chance of Little I's head falling forwards. You can use the maximum recline in rear facing mode until your child is 97cm tall. In front facing mode you can use the full recline until they outgrow the seat.

The Pearl has easy in straps which are spring loaded so as you put the child into the car the straps don't get stuck underneath them! This is my pet hate with car seats so this feature is brilliant. The straps are also heavily padded and not too invasive so Little I looks super comfy.

Another feature I like on the Pearl is the adjustable headrest which extends high above the car seat wings. Having tall girls they grow quickly and being able to have a wide adjustment range on the headrest is a must.

The 2way Pearl seat costs £200 and it cannot be used without the 2way fix base which is £190. So the overall cost of the seat is £390. It is not the cheapest seat but I absolutely believe it is one of the most comfortable and safest seats available. You can find your local stockist here

My girls have become obsessed by a new show on Cbeebies. Twirlywoos. Little I is glued to it from start to finish and her big sister, Little E, says it is her favourite. I must admit I find myself humming the theme tune to myself all day long... So I am very excited to be hosting this competition to win a copy of their first ever DVD - There's somebody at the door.

Take a flight of discovery with the lovable Twirlywoos in their first ever DVD release
 
Laugh along with the adorable antics of hit CBeebies comedy pre-school series Twirlywoos in their first collection of DVD tales. Twirlywoos - There’s Somebody At The Door is released by Abbey Home Media on Monday 5th October.
 
Twirlywoos features the fun-filled adventures of four, fruit tea loving bird-like characters: Great Big Hoo, Toodloo, Chickedy and Chick. Home to the Twirlywoos is the Great Big Boat, manned by the Hooter and the three Quacky Birds. The Big Red Boat has a plentiful supply of their favourite fruit tea, and a host of secrets and surprise visitors.
 
Silly, fun and full of surprises Twirlywoos is made by children’s TV specialists Ragdoll Productions and devised by Anne Wood (Teletubbies, In The Night Garden) and Steve Roberts (Dipdap), and is narrated by Linda Bassett.  
 
Combining stop-frame animation and live-action sequences set in the real world, the series uses fun and laughter to encourage pre-schoolers to think for themselves and gain confidence in their perceptions of the world.
 
The fun-filled DVD collection includes a free activity poster and features the following favourite stories:-
 
Underneath - The Twirlywoos learn about underneath when they visit a hat shop. Back in the Boat, the Box brings a rainbow for the Twirlywoos to dance underneath.
 
Round and Round - The Twirlywoos have fun on a roundabout, and are visited by the Stop-Go Car who chases them round and round the Boat.
 
Connecting - The Twirlywoos use a shoelace to connect some people together at a bus stop. Back in the Boat, the Very Important Lady falls apart, and it’s up to the Twirlywoos to connect her pieces back together.
 
Through - The Twirlywoos see a postman putting letters through a letterbox and decide to copy him. Back in the Boat, the Twirlywoo Screen gives the Twirlywoos a door to go through.
 
Full - The Twirlywoos see someone fill a glass with water, and get carried away finding their own containers to fill. Back in the Boat, the Twirlywoos have too much tea, and get full up themselves!
 
Behind - The Twirlywoos entertain a baby – and confuse her dad - by popping up behind him. Back in the Boat the Twirlywoos Screen draws a wall, with someone unusual hiding behind it.

Wrapping - The Twirlywoos see someone wrapping a present, and get carried away trying to wrap things of their own. Back in the Boat, the Stop-Go Car brings them a long scarf that they all get wrapped up in.

Upside Down - The Twirlywoos learn about upside down when they watch a gallery owner hanging some paintings. Back in the Boat they help put the Very Important Lady the right way up.

Twirlywoos - There's somebody at the door DVD collection on sale Monday 5th October. To enter my competition to win a copy of the DVD simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Follow Twirlywoos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Twirlywoos