What do animatronic cows and the Barbican centre have in common? They both featured in our last weekend. We headed to the Barbican centre on Saturday to meet Buttons, the ridiculously life like (including sounds!) 8 foot animatronics cow. Now I’m sure you’re wondering why we were having out with a cow, we were in fact guests of Cadbury’s. Buttons is a response by Cadbury’s to the results of recent research that children (in particular city dwellers who perhaps have never seen a cow in real life) struggle to accurately size a cow, from 10% thinking a cow is as small as a cat, right up to another 10% believing that a cow is as big as a double decker bus!

Buttons took a team of 20 prop specialists over 500 hours to create and the performers studied the movements and general behaviours of real cows for over 300 hours to give a realistic performance; and whilst I knew that Buttons wasn’t real, the attention to detail meant there were a few times when I had to pinch myself, well done guys!

I think it’s fair to say that Boo was a little apprehensive of Buttons at first but it didn’t take long for her to warm to the choctastic cow and was soon engrossed in getting stuck in and drawing her.

I absolutely love Boo’s drawing of Buttons, complete with pretty fence a chocolate buttons!

Buttons is part of a campaign by Cadbury’s to offer the opportunity for families this summer to adopt a cow – with twenty lyukcy families winning a weekend at a Cadbury’s dairy farm – how amazing would that be? Look out for special promotional packs of Cadbury’s Buttons and Freddo bars which contain a code inside and follow the instructions to be in with a chance of winning with Cadbury’s and Buttons.

Competition closes on 31st August and full conditions can be found here… good luck!

Disclosure: A fee was received for this post.

The summer holidays are here and whilst we all like to think that our days will be filled with endless sunshine and trips to the beach/park/forest or wherever your adventurous heart may take you; however may I gently pull you back down to the reality of the British summer we’re all too familiar with. As parents we need a back up plan of a crowd pleaser and for me it, you can’t beat a fresh set of colouring, be it crayons, colouring pencils or felt tips.

BIC KIDS very kindly sent Boo a stack of their products including the BIC KIDS kid Couleur 12 pack – these durable and ultra-washable felt pens make them a perfect way for kids to explore felt pens whilst ensuring their clothes (and you house) will survive, BIC KIDS Evolution Ecolutions Colouring Pencils – are a great classic now wood free (who knew) and with a chew-proof lead and barrel these pencils a e highly durable meaning you’ll spend more time marvelling at your little ones artistic masterpieces than wondering how much of the colouring pencil they’ve injected throughout the day! And lastly a pack of BIC KIDS Plasticdecor Crayons, an old classic but still a firm favourite in our house as there no marks on hands makes them perfect for large area shading and they’re virtually unbreakable – winner!

BIC have teamed up with Mumsnet this summer to give proud parents across the UK and Republic of Ireland the chance to see their child’s drawing transported from the fridge door to billboards across the nation.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize all you have to do is head over to Mumsent by August 6th and upload your child’s drawing which will be judged by an expert panel of creatives before winners are notified and the billboards are launched in September.

Boo kept it sweet and simple with her entry, after all it doesn’t get much better than the Mummy and Boo show… Good luck!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. I have received a voucher as a token of thanks for this post.

My Dearest Darling Boo,

As I sit and write this, I still can’t quite believe that you are six today – it seems like only yesterday that you were born (yes I know that every mama says that, but it really does!) and yet as I creep into your room for a peek while you’re sleeping, I’m instantly transported back to when you came home from hospital; your smell, your snuffle your dreamy clings to me, both everything and nothing have changed.

There’s no denying that you have well and truly inherited my love for adventure and now you are big enough to drag round your own hand luggage, the world is (literally) our oyster – I’m so proud of how well you throw yourself into new surroundings and experiences, the perfect world traveller.

This year has seen you bloom at school, really finding your feet and discovering what your passions are and learning that it’s ok to say no – it’s been a privilege to watch your personality develop as you find your feet and realise it’s cool to be you.

You’re also such a citizen of your community and the wider world – seeing you have hot tears when watching the news about the tragedies and injustices across the world not because you are upset but because you struggle to understand such horrors; stay idealistic my brave souled Boo, it’s children like you with an understanding of the world beyond their suburban doorstep that will go on to do great things.

And just when I think you’re old beyond your years you’ll climb onto my knee and nuzzle me until I sing hush little baby until you fall asleep – and that’s ok too.

So my dear Boo, keep growing, keep laughing, keep loving – enjoy everything, every minute and don’t look back but know I am always here right next to you. You have the biggest heart and the brightest brain, my beautiful, perfect, fabulous Boo!

Quite simply I love you,

Mummy x

Had you asked me seven years ago about my hair I would have confidently said my hair was my crowning glory – I’m known for my long dark hair and it’s one of the Persian traits that I was happy to inherit. Fast forward to the depths of motherhood and my hair is a very different story, I’m lucky that I had ridiculously thick hair pre Boo so the losses that I’ve experienced are undetectable to other people – yet I still know.

Due to me suffering with Hyperemesis Gravidarum when pregnant I never bloomed, in fact my hair, skin and nails had never looked so bad – so you can imagine in the months after Boo was born how upset I was when my hair started to fall out. Boo lost her newborn hair and it was joked that we would be bald together.

After about a year my hair loss did slow down and eventually stop. During this time, I received endless well meaning advice from friends, family and sometimes even complete strangers! If there is one thing I learned during my hair loss is that there are an awful lot of myths: from too much washing of your hair can cause follicle weakness and eventually loss to wearing a hat is responsible for hair loss (although I’m sure that particular myth is meant for men!). Another common myth is that by taking medication it can help reduce post baby hair loss – in fact there is a daily mediation that can be taken, but only for propecia which is most definitely not a hair loss concern for new mothers!

Hair loss just like people comes in all shapes and sizes and ins’t always necessarily a bad thing – what’s important is to be aware of the facts and not get caught up in common hair loss myths. Take it from me, when you wake up to a pillow full of hair, Google is not your friend!

Disclosure: This is a post in collaboration with LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.