A couple of weeks ago me and Boo were invited to the Out to Lunch League Launch hosted by Organix and the Soil Association.

The Out To Lunch report includes 21 restaurants, from multinational fast food chains to celebrity restaurants and ranks them in how well they provide the overall experience to families, including aspects such as their children’s menu, whether high chairs are provided, and portion size plus many more factors which really do make all the difference.

The findings have been compiled following extensive research which began in January 2013, including a study of over 2,000 parents.

Apparently 40% of parents dine out with their children once a fortnight – which gave me quite a shock seeing as me and Boo eat out at least twice a week, oops!

As you can see from the league table there’s some pleasant surprises and also some shockers – but I think the main message is clear: despite there being great examples of how restaurants are if you look closely at the scores it’s obvious that a lot more needs to be done across the restaurant industry to recognize that children are an integral part of their customer base and aren’t simply an add on.

Now the Out to Lunch report is out Organix are wanting parents to get involved in the campaign. All you have to do is download the Campaign Pack which allows you to print off review sheets that can be filled in when you’re at a restaurant and give real time feedback that will hopefully help restaurants to work with parents in getting it right for the youngest of their diners but by no means less important!

The tag line for Out to Lunch is simple yet sums up the initiative perfectly – real food, real choices!

At 7.30am on Monday morning I spotted what looked like a bite on Boo’s back by 7.45 there were another ten or so spots and by 9.30 the doctor had confirmed by worst fears – Boo had chickenpox!

I’d seen the sign on the nursery door the week before saying that there was a confirmed case of chickenpox but didn’t think much of it (or just wishfully ignored it!). Boo is booked for an operation in less than two weeks (more on that latter in the week) so my major concern was whether this would mean she wouldn’t be fit for surgery. With this in mind the GP along with the advice of the Microbiologist took the unusual decision to prescribe anti-viral medication to try and get her well enough in time for hospital.

The peak was on Tuesday afternoon with over 102 spots and over 40 on her face alone!! She’s been such a trooper and as yet hasn’t scratched them which I think is down to (in some part) the amazing PoxClin – at £10.49 it’s rather expensive but worth every penny as it’s helped sooth Boo and she’s not fought having it put on!

Chickenpox is a classic childhood disease that we all thankfully live through but that still doesn’t help when you feel desperately helpless as your little girl looks at you confused and in pain.

She’s over the worst of it (fingers crossed I haven’t just jinxed it!) and will be back to her old self in no time at all – by no time at all I mean by Monday otherwise it’ll be anther day of paying for a nursery day we can’t use!

For the time being Boo is enjoying her new princess set complete with click clack heels and afternoons spent in Mummy’s bed having a Netflix session!

It’s just after midnight and these were my ramblings from early this afternoon: It’s glorious sunshine outside and I should be baking and decorating 72 cupcakes this afternoon – instead I’m googling the best ways to try and stop icing from melting in scorching hot weather. Unless you’ve been hibernating for the last couple of months tomorrow is Boo’s 2nd Birthday party!

What do you get the little girl who literally has everything? That was the question I asked myself in the new year (ok so I’m a little obsessed with planning ahead)? Why you throw her a giraffe themed birthday party of course!

Boo is a sociable little girl and just loves a party or two so I just new that The Duke’s Head would be the perfect venue. We’ve booked the Lavender room which comes with it’s own private garden; I couldn’t have hoped for better weather – just perfect.

Lots of friends and family are travelling far and wide (I think the furthest is Boo’s Godmother who set off from Plymouth this evening armed with Tupperwares full of giraffe biscuits!)

Yes I’m excited to seeing all my plans and my little attention to details coming to life but what really matters is seeing Boo’s face when she realises that the Happy Birthday song is for her; parties are in my mind designed to create the most wonderful memories and that’s exactly what I intend to stock up on tomorrow!

Time to get some rest as I have a date with a canister of helium at 9am and over 60 balloons!

Summer is truly here and that means lots of days out on Mummy and Boo days; Boo wants to be like Mummy and have a bag so Trunki sent us a PaddlePak frog to see if it past the Boo test!

I had notions when Boo was a few months old that once she was a toddler we wouldn’t need to cart round heaps of kit – oh how wrong was I! It simply gets swapped for more age appropriate kit like magazines, sunglasses, hand cream (I’m guessing that last one is pretty unique to Boo!)

The PaddlePak Frog – Ribbit is described as a swim bag but in truth it’s way more than that. Sure we take it swimming with plenty of room for both of our costumes, towels etc but when we get the most use is on days out to the beach and having fun in the sun. It’s bright colour and design mean it’s easy to spot which is always good when every toddles seems to have the same looking bag; and best of all Boo loves wearing it and has taken to ‘ribbiting’ as she walks around with it on her back!

It has a nifty roll and clip fastening at the top which does take a bit of getting used to and means you can’t over fill it – which if Boo is carrying it, is probably for the best. We also tried out the crab purse which clips on to the bottom and Boo uses it to carry change for the locker and her gym pass – it’s perfect for keeping little valuables safe and dry.

Yes it’s bright green and won’t compliment many outfits but that’s the whole idea of the Trunki PaddlePak – it’s fun, bright and perfect for Boo’s summer (and winter when it comes) adventures!

Disclosure: We were sent the PaddlePak Frog – Ribbit and crab purse for review. No payment was received and all opinions are 100% honest we promise.

Boo already loves playing mummies and has all the kit including the cutest mini mosses basket so she was super excited when I introduced her to Caroline the Corolle bath baby.

The Corolle bath baby is a lovely doll – she comes with her own little pink and orange outfit complete with matching headband and an adorable mini duck who Boo christened Miss Quack! However the biggest surprise is that Caroline is scented with the most delicious vanilla smell, I could literally sniff her all day!

Time for the real surprise; despite having the soft body making her perfect for tucking under a toddlers arm while they busy about with the duties, the Corolle bath baby can go in the bath – all of her!

I was dubious at first, although Boo didn’t show any hesitation as she flung her in and shared a tub of bubbles with Caroline and Miss Quack. When it came time to get out Boo snuggled in a warm towel while Caroline was hung out to dry; thanks to a clever little hook she simply drips dry in a few hours (apparently it’s really important not to ring her out).

Boo loved Caroline the Carolle bath baby doll and has played with her ever since she dried off, proving that her appeal to little ones isn’t restricted to bath time – and to top it all she still smells gloriously of vanilla!

Disclosure: We were sent the Corolle Bath Baby for review. No payment was received and all opinions are 100% honest we promise.