Mum-e Blog

Today I am presenting a new regular slot on my blog. Every Monday, to start the week, two links to fabulous websites that make my chaotic life a little bit easier – and hopefully you’ll find them useful too. I’m calling the post Magic Monday.

So, here are today’s:

1. www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk
This is a great site for the summer holidays. Click on a county on the map, choose an age range and then loads of great places for outings come up, all colour coded under headings like Animals and Nature, Museum & Gallery, Waterfun and Play Centre. Click on your choice for more info. A really good range of places – not just the obvious one you’ve already heard of, and really quick and easy to use.

2. www.lakeland.co.uk
For every household gizmo you will ever need and more… I LOVE Lakeland. Who could not want one of these 3-in-1 Pineapple Corer/Slicer/Peelers? I certainly do. Along with an avocado slicer, fizzy drinks bottle stopper, chopper scraper and an apple juicer. And loads of other stuff. Just as fun to browse as it is to buy. And brilliant for presents.

I do like things that make me smile and feel less stressed rather than frown and swear.
Regular readers of my blog will know that I have slight issues with my sat nav. Obviously I love the fact that it gets me to places without me having to balance an A to Z on my knee, and it means the new South African au pair can drive around Middlesex like a native. But I do hate the woman’s smug voice – and I do hate it that she is always right and my husband loves her. But the thing I hate about it most of all is having to lick (or watch him lick) that sucker thing and slap it on to the windscreen. And then nearly jump out of my skin when I’m driving at 70mph and it falls on to the dashboard with a thwack. If you’ve ever seen someone swearing and banging the windscreen while driving through Pinner, it’s me, trying to re-attach the sat nav.
Also there’s all that wiping the windscreen so robbers can’t see from the mark that you have a decent piece of kit, possibly hidden in the car and break in on the off-chance that this is the day that you decided to leave it in there rather than add it to the other annoying stuff in your handbag (and risk certain death if conscientious Not So Alpha Husband ever finds out).
But I have a new toy that solves all my sat nav problems.
It is called a Nav Mat and it’s made by a company called Bracketron. Basically, it’s a grippy mat, for your sat nav, a bit like a heavy beanbag that sits solidly on your dashboard, almost moulding to it, and your sat nav nestles happily atop it. Most sat navs fit it, and you can also use it for your phone or MP3 player. There’s no mark left, and the police have even given it their stamp of approval.
Here is a pic of it:

The nav mat in action

It’s only £20 from Amazon or Lakeland and it has changed my life. In a really small but good way. Smiles all round.

I read the most amazing story today about people using their iPhones to ‘paint’ amazing pictures, using an app called Brushes. Just take a look at this one, by a Spanish chap called Jose Andres Guijarro.

Stunning, isn’t it? You just paint on to the screen with your finger and thumb. The app costs £2.99, and apparently it has become so popular some people are now planning to exhibit and even sell their pictures.

I’d imagine that even if I had the app, I wouldn’t be producing art like that. Frankly the only thing I am good at on an iPhone is playing Solitaire (record is 2 mins 12 which is pretty good I think) and Bloons (slightly stuck at level 34).

What I can’t wait for is the new iPhone OS 3.0 so I can cut and paste text – and most importantly, video things.

This morning it was Little Princess Number One’s school play and it was so cute. I practically had to be held down by Not So Alpha Male (who actually managed to come along, for once) to stop myself running over to give her a big kiss and sort out her hair clip which was falling out (not that I’m a control freak or anything).

Anyway, obviously I forgot my Flip little camcorder thingy – along with the tickets, hopelessly – and I sat there thinking how totally fantastic it would be to be able to record it all on the new iPhone.

I guess a cheaper option for now might be to stop forgetting to take the camcorder out with me.