The Boy Wears

A lot of LatteBaby's clothes are from www.Latte-Mama.com but for New Years Eve I've made an exception. I got my 8 year old brother a fabulous New Years Eve outfit from HM and have now gotten a matching one for LatteBaby!

That New thing

2 years ago, on this day I knew that my new years eves would never be the same, if celebrated at all, they would be quiet and always celebrated at home and never with my friends. It's because 2 years ago, I was told I was going to be induced on the 1st of January. Instantly that new years eve was different, it entailed nesting, getting my hospital bag ready and trying to overshadow the fireworks by hoovering the room which soon would belong to not just me but a brand new baby.

I had heard enough induction stories to think I would in fact give birth on the 2nd but baby was in a hurry and very keen to be born on the first day of the years. Because of this, i've made it a rule to always spend his birthday in Sweden. Sure, that would make it easier to go out not he 31st knowing there's someone to take care of him, but I just can't. Last year, I fell asleep with him on the sofa 15 minutes before being woken up by loud fireworks at midnight and then quickly gone back to sleep again. I also spent half of the day on the 31st baking his birthday cake and half of the day on the 1st finishing it off. This year, I'm doing the same. I will be making a train cake. Thankfully you won't have to taste it, only enjoy the pretty pictures. If pretty at all.

Time has flown by so past this week, I can't believe it's friday let alone the night before new years eve. This means no resolutions have been written, and a outfit hasn't been picked. So while I do that and get back to you on the details, I wish you all a happy new year!

A Personal thing

I'm going to get slightly personal now and not behave professional at all. I'm a single mum to a wonderful soon to be 2 year old, I've shared with family and friends that I will never have a second one (there is a slight medical problem involved, but I like to pretend the choice is mine). For the past year I have seriously considered fostering a child. When people ask me why, I can't say much more than "I want to be there for someone". When I had my son I was really proud of what a good mother I was, and what a good person I had become. If I'm a good mother to an only child, why can't I share that with someone who truly needs someone? This night has been a sleepless one, so I decided to stay up and google foster and adoption options in the UK. Suddenly 20 pages with different children charities came up. LatteMama donates a sum to both CARE international and Every Child each months, and getting involved with a third one was something I thought would come later in the year. but here I am, 2.40 am in Sweden and I've just finished reading every about us page, what we do page and how to get involved page, and I've decided there's room to get even more involved.

I have a plan, but as mentioned it is now 2.41 in the morning, and if I write it down I'm sure a lot of editing will take place in the morning. I can reveal that the charity I have fallen in love with is Barnardos . Something about it really caught my eye. I can't say much more except, it will be very simple to get involved, it will be fun, it will be help so many children and I am truly hoping we can help make 2012 a little bit brighter for someone out there. I'll let you all know tomorrow what the plan is, I hope you approve and I apologise for my 2.44 babbles.

Svängelska

MELLANDAGS REA

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BOXING DAY SALE

Great things to come

We hope you are enjoying your christmas eve and that you have great plans for tomorrow! Our plans are to have a brilliant boxing sale starting tomorrow at midnight! So when you're done eating delicious food, giving all the credit to santa, drinking your mulled wine visit LatteMama for a generous sale, not starting from 5% or 20% off but at 35% and more! We look forward to seeing what you manage to bag from our sale! Here's a small selection of the things on offer!

GOD JUL!

LatteMama went shopping

There's nothing like shopping in Sweden. i love it, even HM is more exciting here. Got two dresses, which look horrible on me because I never try clothes on and cause Sweden weight is ruining my look...

Blue navy dress from HM and a mustard coloured shirt from Cubus.

Bought for baby

With both Christmas and a LatteBaby's birthday coming up, we went for a shopping trip! After 4 big children departments like Toys r Us, Barnets Hus etc I was too excited for words. Both Lattebaby and I were running around like mad children and my sister was trying to keep our restrained saying no every time he grabbed something, and I asked if I could have it, pleaseeeeeeeeeee?? Some things we got were:

This birthday present for LatteBaby. He talks he dances an he teaches! Got it for a great price as well!

Just do it!

Wellies by Viking

I consider this last item to be for me. It's a brilliant train set by Jabadabado. It's called the birthday train. Along with the wooden train pieces you get wooden numbers from 0-9. So technically you could be using this for years and years to come. I envision Zach's 90th Birthday party with this wooden train in the centre!

Monday Mama #8

Laura may think of coffee when she hears the word LatteMama, but we've chosen Laura and her blog because she not only defines what a LatteMama is but she has made it all easier for us to take our children out and make sure they're with us every step of the way. She shows us the terrifying London in a different light, makes it child safe but still mum fun.

Name: Laura Evans Vogel
Blogname: London-baby.com
Website: www.london-baby.com
Twitter name Londonbabymum
Location: Pimlico, London

We love your website. How did you start it and where did you find the inspiration?

Thank you very much!! When my daughter was born, I had been working in London for two years. I had no family and all my friends were at work, so I was incredibly lonely when I first became a mother. We lived in Paddington at the time and I made it a point to find all that there was to do in Noting Hill, Bayswater, Marylebone, Kensington and of course Paddington. We moved to Pimlico 18 months after my daughter was born and I had to begin all over again. I originally thought I would make a guide book and quickly discovered a blog is far more fun!! I tried really hard to put a useful tool together for mums in need of companionship and help people take advantage of all the city has to offer for kids.

Your site has so many updates and you can truly find anything baby
related on there, how do you find the energy and the balance between family and London-baby?

I hate the flat getting messy and cleaning up all the time and cope by getting out as much as we can. My husband happily takes the kids every Saturday on a long adventure through London while I work, we can just about keep it running by working mornings, evenings and an hour in the day.

Tell us about any nickname you have for your little ones?

We have an extensive list of nicknames for our kids and they are not that interesting. However, my oldest calls me “mommy-girl” and it is the best nick name I have ever heard.

One thing you know you shouldn’t let your children but allow it anyways:

Watch loads of DVD’s. I justify it by saying that we don’t have any childcare, so I need an hour each day to work on the site and an hour or two in the evening.

The one thing you’re convinced your children have inherited from you.

My eldest is super chatty and my youngest gets easily frustrated.

What makes you a LatteMama?

I am taking the title literally; my eldest has never gotten tired, she slept through the night at age 4 ... coffee is how I coped with 1,001 sleepless nights.

How has motherhood changed you and your style?

I used to be all black and neutrals with very short hair. My daughter has begged I embrace my feminine side, grow my hair and “always wear something pretty”. Both my kids hate me wearing black and I now have incorporated a great deal of colour into my style.

If there's one advice you would give new mother what would it be?

Babies don’t read baby books, so don’t bother with them.

What are your future projets, and goals?

To make London-baby commercially successful by writing about obscure cultural events for families living in or visiting central London (ha ha)

The clothes Laura would pick for her son and daughter are the green moose by LiPFish and the chequered shirt by no added sugar

Colour me in Sunday!

The snow is falling, christmas is coming and today is all about keeping warm! Let your LatteBaby have fun with todays colouring in page and who knows, maybe someone will be getting it as a christmas present?

LatteBaby wears

Red chequered shirt by Ralph Lauren, Blue Cardigan by Bonnie Baby - Available at www.latte-mama.com topped off with a furry hat from H&M

Lussevaka

Tomorrow is the day of the Lucia celebration - one of Sweden's biggest celebration of the year. It always takes place on the 13th of December. LatteMama will be telling you more about the celebrations tomorrow, today it's all about the Lussevaka. It's a Swedsh tradition where you stay up from the 12th to the 13th in the wait for the big Lucia celebration. these past year that wake has turned into drunken nights, all night parties and - what I'll be doing - a secret cinema screening! I'll be tucking in the LatteBaby, then head over to the cinema with my brother for the screening of three secret and yet to be released movies. It starts at midnight and finishes at breakfast time. Wish us luck and I will get back to you about all the movies I got to see!

One of the same event I attended 5 years ago!

Monday Mama #7

Not only is this our favorite style blog out there but we’ve also had the pleasure to meet the mysterious Mrs.O and her little one in person and we adore them both. The TheMiniPost is the blog we all wish we started, it’s fun, brave and inventive. Here’s the story behind the blog and the the mini post duo.

Name: Mrs.O

Blogname: TheMiniPost

Website: http://theminipost.tumblr.com/

Twitter name @TheMiniPost

Location: East London

Keeping it Brief;

Okay here goes...Met my husband-to-be in 1997. Spent anincredible 18months travelling the world together. Won a scholarship to do my MA at Central Saint Martins and have been working in the design/fashion industry since. I have worked with some amazing personalities and fashion brands. I love what I do and love London. Its such a hub for all things new and exciting. Biggest highlight was TheMiniOne who was born in August of this year. I 'love, love, love' being a Momma to her. She is the 'bees knees'.

Why do you blog, and how did it begin?

I'm not sure I'd call myself a 'proper' blogger. Living in East London, I see new trends emerging every day, so the blog is a way to share these with Mommas/Poppas who love everything from street art to a good loaf of sourdough. And lots and lots of fashion.

Tell us about any nickname you have for your little ones!

TheMiniOne

One thing you know you shouldn’t let your child do but allow it anyways.

I dont think I've crossed this bridge yet, she's still so little.I'll let you know when I do.

Talk about one thing Keira inherited from you.

She has a cute 'n cheeky personality that my husband says is like me.

What makes you a LatteMama?

I still 'pretty much' do all things I love. The only difference is TheMiniOne comes everywhere with me. From Shoreditch House to Topshop.Only there are more breakfasts than late dinners these days.

How has motherhood changed you and your style?

Its become a touch more practical, and sadly not so many high heels.

If there’s one advice you can give to new mothers what would it be?

Trust your own instincts.

What are your future projects, and goals?

There is so much I want to do!! I've got some creative projects in the pipeline as well as renovating a house. The biggest prioroty is to learn how to do some cool shadow puppets for TheMiniOne.

We love your blog and are always curious on your hip mommas and poppas section, how do you choose and approach them?

Thank You! Its always something HipMomma/Poppa/Baby are wearing that catches my eye. And so I post their outfit for inspiration and share where to get it or something similar from.

If you could choose one piece of clothing from LatteMama for your little ones, what would it be?

The Gilt Edge City jacket but she is still too little for this, so the Cerise Moose Dress. She'll love pulling its tail.

Would it make your the mini one wears feature?

Yes! Yes! Yes!