Lest We Forget - Remembering the Fallen and the Surviving Heroes

A serious blog for today

Today is Remembrance Day. The day where the majority of the UK celebrate and remember the fallen and surviving heroes of war.

There has been a lot of debate about the disrespect of the X Factor judges for wearing sparkly poppies. It's apparently defacing a symbolic emblem. I disagree as it's brought so much positive publicity to this worthwhile cause and the British Legion actually sell lots of different variations of poppies - including a sparkly version!

Today's horrific display by protesters for our sacred Armistice Day THAT'S disrespectful!
A bit of glitter on a fabulous symbol is love for a wonderful cause.

So back to seriousness.
One of my favourite poems is In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Wear your poppy - sparkly or plain - but wear it with a smile and a thought for our wonderful heroes xx

Defying Gravity

Maria here. Violet is otherwise engaged! Watching Hi-5 whilst eating a biscuit!

Hope you had a fabulous Halloween? I'm definitely still in a wicked witch mood!
Which inspires me to write about one of the favourite things in my life - WICKED.

My absolute favourite song from the musical is Defying Gravity. It's literally the highest point of the whole show and the lyrics inspire me.

... I hope you're happy?
I hope you're happy now.
I hope you're happy how you've hurt your cause forever?
I hope YOU think you're clever!
.....
And so I can't imagine how,
I hope you're happy right now...

...
Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur:
..
I hope you're happy now that you're choosing this,
I hope it brings you bliss...

And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity

And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
IS EVER GONNA BRING ME DOWN!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is here!
What a wonderful day it is for children, all the pumpkin carving, dressing up, partying and trick-a-treating. It's so much fun.

I don't know about you, but I also partake in the dressing up each year.
Join in the fun, I know a certain person who is already ready, no need for an outfit hey HUN?
:D
(Cue extreme witchy cackling)

Out with the Old

I don't know about you but I'm all about having a good clear out as the seasons change?

There is no better feeling than opening the doors and getting rid of the deadwood and welcoming the clean, refreshing feeling that it brings. Things lingering bring me down.

As a result, I have been singing Song of the South all day today. Everyone knows that song don't they? More commonly know as Zip-a-dee-doo-dah?


Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Ev'rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

And there IS Plenty of sunshine headin' my way!

A bit of an obscure, cryptic post, I know, and nothing to do with The Dream Bag. But everything to do with me. ;O)
That's all for now, thanks for reading. Hope YOU enjoyed it!

TAMBA

Hi

I am so excited! My friend Lucas is the star of our new Ad in the latest edition of TAMBA Mag!

We at www.thedreambag.co.uk love the people over at TAMBA as they are doing such a great job and supporting a lot of people with their work. We are very proud to feature in their wonderful publication.

Lots of love
Miss Vv
xx

That Back to School Feeling

My big bro, Jose, went back to school today. It feels like he has been off school forever and I cried A LOT when he left this morning. He has moved up to the big boy’s school today and he looks so smart in his uniform doesn't he? I was one proud little sister this morning!

I was concerned that my bro was going to oversleep this morning, so I woke mama at 4am just to make sure they got to school on time. We had a chat and a cuddle and then I was fit for nothing at 6am so I had to go back to sleep, but luckily mama had her alarm set for 715, when I was rudely awakened from my slumber.

Don't tell anyone but I’m secretly glad I don’t go to school. I get to go to work at www.thedreambag.co.uk at least once a week with mama and create some havoc by shouting a lot and eating all their biscuits! I only get to go on days when she hasn’t abandoned me to that place called nursery. She leaves me there 2 mornings per week.

Hmmm speaking of nursery.....

Mama says it’s important for me to play with the babes there, but I just shout a lot until she comes back. The ladies that play with me at nursery tell mama they don’t know how she copes with me. Ha! I show them who’s boss for sure! I like it though as mama always takes me to the park on the way home from nursery. Before I really enjoy the swings I do a few of those pretend breathy sobs, so she thinks I’ve been really upset. She still keeps taking me though. I think I’ll have to rethink my strategy before Friday morning…..

So what’s my news from work?
Well, we are getting a new range of products in early 2011. Some items to co-ordinate with the current range of sleeping bags. I have been busy testing these for my mama and I love them so much I am hesitant to let mama have them back to test them further! More news and pictures about these items as soon as I have it. It’s a good job I can’t talk as I would be telling everyone I know about the products and then I would be in a LOT of trouble with mama!

I had better go, I’m a sucker for a good baked potato and by the smell of things there is one here with my name on it!

Until next time,
Love
VV xx

Seek and Ye Shall Not Find Me!

Well, the weekend is upon us and so inspiration came for a new blog topic.

I would like to complain to everyone at www.thedreambag.co.uk

Let me ask you this question. Have you seen me? Have you seen how cute I am? Look at my picture, I don’t think you can deny my cuteness?

Now have a look on our website www.thedreambag.co.uk

Do you see me? Check every page, search until your heart is content.
I will answer for you. No, you cannot see me. As I am not there.
My brother, Jose is there. But I'm not. I smell favouritism.

I'm going to address my absence at this weeks’ team brief. I will bet my last babycino with extra froth & a side order of biscotti that I will be on that website in all my smiley glory before the end of 2010! AND I want a piece of modelling our new range, let me tell you! I wont be settling for sitting in the background in an older range! Oh no!

I shall not take this lying down (but look quite good lying down in my new Farmyard Friends 2.5 tog Dream Bag)

Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Feisty love and Baby Kisses
VV
xx
(soon to be model of www.thedreambag.co.uk )_

Our New Editor

Hi
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Violet – Most people call me VV, Miss V or if they are being cheeky Violetti-Spaghetti. I’m 15 months old and my mama and daddy run The Dream Bag with the help of Matty, Lex and Ben’s mammy "Alison", Lucas’ mum "Ambre" and Cerys, Michael, Luke and Graces’ mum "Andrea".

My brother Joseph (“Jose”) and I have used The Dream Bag since we weighed in at 10lbs. Of course we didn’t have much choice initially, but now we both love The Dream Bag so much.

I will be offering my outlook on the world, reporting my news and submitting pearls of wisdom here every week. So here is this weeks pearl….

LET US CHOOSE PARENTS!

Bring the power of choice and freedom of speech (or my case babble) back to the munchkins.

Let me explain. For MONTHS mama has been putting me to bed in either Little Flowers or Daisy Daisy. Now she is inflicting HER choice on ME. Surely the choice should be mine? So after 3 weeks of mooing, oinking and baaaaing, yesterday mama FINALLY got the message. And now I am getting a 2.5 tog farmyard friends bag ready for winter! What do we have to do to show these people what we want?

Who will join me come the kiddie revolution?

That’s all for this week, folks. I have a busy day ahead. I have books to read, toys to play with, music to dance to. I gotta go and get the strawberries from the fridge whilst mama isn’t looking……

Until next time
Love and sloppy kisses
Miss VV
xx

Holidaying with a baby

I will soon be going on holiday to a hopefully sunny beach resort and I have (only just) started to think about packing. Unfortunately we don't have a trailer, so the huge amount of items required to tend one's baby, will need to fit into quite a small space.

Here is my checklist so far : 

Nappies
Baby blanket
Resealable plastic bags (for stashing stuff!)
Clothes (one or two changes a day, cotton for travelling)
Food, formula, water, juice, bottles or a training cup (you will need more than you think!)
Breast pump (if breastfeeding)
Night light (for night feeds or nappy changes)
Baby sling (if going somewhere a buggy isn't suitable)
Travel cot (with baby sleeping bag) 
Car seat (for safe travel)
Lightweight buggy
Changing bag
Nappy rash cream
Baby wipes
Baby bath and lotion
Tissues
Extra dummies (always handy!)
Washable bibs
Sun hat and sun protection of at least factor 20

I have probably forgotten something! 

About Me : Alison Brown, IT Manager

Whilst I am telling the readers out there about the different products and special offers we have here at Dream Company, it is sometimes nice to read something different.

On our About Us page, it (hopefully) amusingly states "Wonderfully creative designer. Designs all our websites, customised cards and stationery. Alison has a penchant for silly handbags with children's characters on. She also has a fabulous pair of shiny, red shoes. Hardest working person in Wales." - that was written by our MD, Maria.

Ah, she is funny. I now have to tell you about my handbags. I have two bags - one lovely lilac thinnish sort of bag with Tigger attached by the zip end and a bigger one that is blue, that I make use of as a changing bag, with Winnie The Pooh attached to it (both to be found at your local Argos store). She thinks the fact I have these, is hilarious and I am very glad to be the source of much amusement. I love my bags!

I coveted my most gorgeous patent red shoes from Clarks, and I lovingly window shopped them every day on the school run for months and months. I was subsequently very lucky to have gotten them as a birthday gift from a lovely friend. Bliss! I am very thankful, I don't want a lot in life, but those called to me. I am a bit of a tomboy, so a big "I want those shoes" wish is very rare.

The last bit that she wrote, well, I try my best and that is all anyone can do, I suppose. I have three gorgeous children (Ben, Lexie and Matty) and a job that I love (I am not just saying that because I am writing on their blog you know) and they all keep me out of mischief! I love designing a new look for the websites or developing a new birth announcement card or a christening invitation and sometimes you can even find me on our website chat facility (I am very shy) trying to offer advice as to which card design would be best to buy.

Anyway, enough about me, come and visit us soon!

15% Sale on all 0-6 months baby sleeping bags!

For a short time, we are offering a 15% discount on all 0-6 month baby sleeping bags at The Dream Bag.

Special Offer at Pedley Baby

For two weeks ONLY until the 15th of July all Nursing Chairs are 10% off at Pedley Baby.



Stylish, comfortable and luxurious, these chairs are a wonderful piece of furniture in their own right, and make a great addition to anyone's living room.



Don't delay, get over to Pedley Baby and save 10% off our usual prices.

While you're there take a look around at our extensive range of baby and breastfeeding products.

Breastfeeding on the go!

Stylish, fashionable and oh - so practical products to make breastfeeding a breeze for both mother and baby. Life doesn't have to be put on hold, just because you are breastfeeding. Breastfeeding covers offer a fantastic array of accessories to enable you to nurse your baby on the go, whilst maintaining your sense of style!

Breastfeeding ponchos are also very popular with our Pedley Baby customers.

Why Dr Browns?

The Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow baby bottle is the only baby bottle that features a patented internal vent system. This vent eliminates the air bubbles and vacuum effect to allow positive-pressure feeding with no air – similar to breast-feeding.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NARROW AND WIDE NECKED BOTTLES?

Nothing apart from personal preference. Customers I have surveyed tell me that the Dr Browns wide necked bottles are easier to fill.

BENEFITS OF DR BROWNS BOTTLES

The innovative design of the Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow offers these advantages over other baby bottles:

- Reduces colic, vomiting, reflux, burping, and wind
- Prevents air bubbles from forming in milk or formula
- Helps reduce fluid in the ear
- Prevents nipple collapse

And all Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow baby bottles include the following features:

- Easy to clean and top-rack dishwasher safe
- Connects directly to most breast pumps (Standard bottles only)
- Comes complete with a high-grade Level-One silicone teat

DR BROWNS REPLACEMENT TEATS AVAILABLE IN ALL 4 SIZES - 1, 2, 3 and 4.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TEAT SIZES?

Level One Dr Browns Teats - for feeding newborn babies. These Teats are supplied in every package of Dr. Brown's Natural Flow baby bottles.

Level Two Dr Browns Teats - for feeding infants aged 3 months+.

Level Three Dr Browns Teats - for feeding more aggressive eaters.

Level Four Dr Browns Teats - for feeding more aggressive eaters.

News, warm weather and being a WAHM

Hi guys,

MD Maria here.
What a week I have been having! The whole family have been struck down by a tummy bug. Madame Violet seems to have been struck ten times worse than us all. What has been a 24 hour thing for the rest of the family, has turned into a week long, horrid virus for our precious girl.

So this has affected my workload immensely. Working predominantly from home has its advantages of course - I can stop and start work as required (well dictated by V!) But I am struggling to get anything substantial done this week because of illness.

And of course there is the lure of warm weather! It seems that summer is now definitely upon us.

And boy are we selling our summer stock of 1 and 0.5 togs quickly. We are still selling quite a few 2.5 togs - as sometimes one needs a different tog for different times of the day dependent on nursery temperatures and clothing worn of course!

Warmer weather lures a WAHM like me into the garden. Thank goodness for wireless! That's all I can say! There is nothing more glorious than working in the garden on a fabulous, sunny day. Well, apart from sitting by a pool, somewhere exotic, drinking pina coladas of course!

A girl can dream.

Best wishes
M xx

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week 21st-27th June

Since 1993,  the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW) has been run annually by the Department of Health as a key event for  promoting  breastfeeding. The main aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding, increase social acceptance of  breastfeeding and promote support for breastfeeding.

At Pedley Baby we have a wide range of products to support all breastfeeding mums. From breast pumps to breast milk storage bottles and nursing chairs and breastfeeding support pillows to breastfeeding covers and ponchos.

NEW : Thank You Teacher Personalised Photo Cards

We now have a range of 6 lovely Personalised Photo Thank You Teacher cards that can be customised with your own photo and wording to show your child's teacher how much they have been appreciated for their help and guidance through the past school year. My daughter adores her teacher, so Miss Fitzgerald will indeed be getting one of our personalised cards! Prices start at £3 including postage and packaging.

New Design : Christening Invitation

This clean, simplistic idea has been wandering around inside my head for a few months now. Today I have got it 'down on paper' and it is now available to buy in our Christening Invitation range on our Dream Stationery website. The design can be tailored to almost any colour and we will also print a second smaller black and white photo in the inside of the card, along with the invitation wording.

Gift wrapped Dream Bags

As an optional extra, we can gift wrap your Dream Bag and send it straight to the lucky person who you wish to give it to.

We also now, as a NEW feature, attach a custom designed label to match your chosen gift Dream Bag along with your personal message printed on the reverse. The labels are A7 (74 × 105 millimetres)

The labels are taken from the design on the Dream Bag and look like this :-

Social networking comes to our websites

For quite a while now we have been using facebook and twitter to help promote our products and services.

Now we've made it easier for you to share products you love with your friends, on each site you will find a panel of sharing buttons which will help you quickly and easily send that product to facebook, twitter and more.

On Pedley Baby and Dream Stationery the panel looks something like this :-



And on the dreambag website we squeezed it in like this :-



We'd like to encourage our customers, or even people simply browsing our sites, to share our products on these sites, if you love our stuff share it, if you don't, please let us know.

Day 2 : It is National Storytelling Week!

We are in the middle of National Storytelling Week 2010 (30th January - 6th February 2010) set up by The Society for Storytelling to promote the oldest artform in the world. My children have always loved stories and my daughter also has a keen interest in writing. Just last week she wrote her own version of Little Red Riding Hood to practice speech marks, commas and full stops. She likes to read everything back to me too and is quite an expressive reader for being so young (just turned 7).

At Christmas I bought one of the personalised children's story books that we offer on Dream Stationery, for my toddler, Matthew. My daughter was delighted to be able to do some storytelling for her brother as the stories are written using details supplied by the buyer, such as child's name, names of friends or siblings, name of the town they live in, etc. I am very pleased to say that he rather enjoys being read to.

We have 29 personalised children's story book titles available to buy at Dream Stationery. Prices from £11.95 including postage and packaging.

Diving in to blog world - here I go!

Maria here.

My first  blog.

Wow! I never thought I would be tempted to do one. But it seems to be a must now!

Busy day today. I work from home mostly -  with our baby girl, Violet, in tow.

Violet and I went to www.thedreambag.co.uk  office today to meet with Bob our mentor from the Chamber of Commerce. Bob is a good listener and a great advisor and he maybe helping us to find some new premises! Stay tuned to find out if we are on the move.

M xx

Day 1 : Hello from all at Dream Company!

We are going to be writing a little about the products we stock at The Dream Bag - Baby Sleeping Bags, Pedley Baby - Breastfeeding equipment and accessories and Dream Stationery - Personalised Photo birth announcements, invitations and business stationery printing and all about life as mums and dads.

We hope to make this interesting and we hope you will like our blog!