2013 in Numbers

2013 was a big year for our family, we became 'complete'. We have two healthy and happy children, one of each, and so we're done with baby making (more on that topic later in the week).

Here's what made 2013...

Baby Bear.

- Two ultrasound scans.

- Two midwife-departments.

- Nine midwife appointments.

- Two false-labours.

- Thirty-eight weeks of pregnancy (forty-two in total).

- Seven minutes of delivery.

- 1:06am; time he was born, weighing 8lb6oz on 08/09/2013.

- Ninety seconds; length of time he stopped breathing once delivered.

- Twenty-seven minutes after he was born, my husband arrived.

- Three return journeys to and from our home in Eastbourne and the Conquest Hospital by my husband in a thirty-six hour period.

- Forty minutes is the approximate time from home to hospital one way.

- Sixteen weeks of successful breast-feeding.

- Twenty-five weeks of maternity leave taken.

- One very proud big sister, two smitten parents and one big lump of gorgeous bubba.

And the rest...

- One house-move.

- Two failed attempts, two relapses and three successful attempts at potty training.

- Fifteen children under five at the party where my daughter turned three.

- Twenty-five and twenty-seven; the ages my husband and I turned (respectively).

- Two trips to Paris as a family.

- Four concerts.

- One trip to Peppa Pig World.

- Two weddings attended.

- One year of wedded bliss celebrated.

- One first ever trip to the cinema.

- Four days of Christmas-festivities as a family of four.

- 364; the (approximate) times I've seen Disney's Tangled with Moo.

Wow. What a year. I've loved 2013 (apart from the never-ending pregnancy) and I can't wait to see what 2014 will bring my way I'm hoping more handbags and chocolate with less weight gain!

Clare

Tesco A/W13 Collection

It's no secret that I love a bargain and growing up in south-east Hertfordshire you're never short of one as it's the homeland of supermarket giant Tesco! I have, for many years, bought clothing from across the brands that Tesco stock, in fact one of the best winter coats I ever owned was from my local supermarket back home in Cheshunt (a textured, black wool number A/W 2006). 

I find the quality of F+F clothing to be incredibly high; it maintains colour and shape when washing as well as lasting far longer than your typical 'budget' high street equivalent. As an example, I have a black cardigan that I again bought in 2006, I adore this cardy, it is the perfect shape for my hour-glass figure with three-quarter-length sleeves and is a great all-rounder for dressing up or down. I've owned it for seven years, wearing it typically at least once a week...I am yet to replace a button, mend a hole or confine it to the 'clothes that have shrunk and I will one day fit in again' drawer and it's STILL black. Not grey. Not off-black. Black. Black black. Not bad or what I think at the time was £8!

So you can imagine how giddy with exitement I was when they got in contact to ask if I'd like to give some of their children's clothes a whirl (and maybe a little something for myself). So I browsed the easy-to-use site (I work pretty much exclusively online using just my tablet, some websites don't work well) for a variety of items for both Moo and Bear (Bear it being born at the time).

Starting with Moo I wanted to get her a little outfit that she could wear to a variety of places (such is life for a busy three-year-old) such as soft play, nursery or visiting relatives. She also needed new wellies and I happened to find the perfect pair.

Bunny Wellies £8

Which I paired with these super-cute faux-pocket leggings(£6-7) in dusty pink and soft, lace-front sweater(£8-9). The leggings are a really skinny fit (which is great for us as Moo is really skinny), however her great-grandmother struggled to pull them up for her so perhaps the fit could be a smidgen less snug! I cannot praise the sweater enough! Despite the fact that it is cream and has delicate detailing on the front, it washes up a dream! Moo covered herself in marinara sauce whilst wearing it and I almost cried, thinking it ruined. Nope. All came out in the wash, first time. Phew!

Tesco also stock a wide range of character-wear, including Disney and Peppa Pig (they've got lots of Sofia and DocMcstuffins) which is great for toddlers and at a much better price than if you were to go direct to the brand stores themselves.

Please forgive the dribble...

For Bear, I got a couple of little outfits; turn-up chinos(£6) and a elbow-patch, waffle-knit jumper(£7) as well as ribbed-waist jeans(£4) and a skull-and-cross-bones long-sleeved t-shirt (because in case you missed the memo, we're all about the rock'n'roll here at Casa Teacup). Sadly the skull top seems to of sold out so here's the same but bicycle-print(£3) which I actually like slightly more (and just purchased). All of these items washed and dried wonderfully, however I will say that the neck-hole on the jumper could be slightly wider as the smallest button fastens it a bit too tight for my liking.

I picked up this three-pack of little socks(£3) to keep his tootsies warm; he wore the skulls with the skulls (sorry, overkill) and the oh-so-adorable sneaker-print pair with his snugly jumper!

Finally I treated myself to this beautiful, maroon bird-print snood(£5) which I've had loads of compliments on. I usually team it with a broach, cardy and ballet-pumps.

I can see already that a vast amount of my winter-wardrobe will be coming from F+F this year, and some of the children's stocking-fillers too. I'm a super for good-value for money and to know that I can still get great quality and long-lasting fashion at a very reasonable price, reassures me that I can have that little bit extra cash to spend on other things like food shopping and rising utility bills.

Do you shop supermarket chic? Do you think it offers better value than certain 'budget' high-street retailers?

Clare

Please note I was sent all items mentioned for the purpose of review, however all opinions and finings are 100% my own.