Monday Mama #9

Before LatteMama even existed, and our obsession for children's fashion was only a passion Little Scandinavian was our source to a wonderful world with no boundaries. The blog is down to earth yet lets us explore all exciting things children, fashion, and scandinavia related.This is the blog you've all heard about and here's the woman you need to know more about.

Name: Bianca Wessel Blogname: Little Scandinavian Website: http://littlescandinavian.com Twitter name:@scandinavianmum Location: London, UK Keeping it brief: Norwegian living in London, UK with my husband and the two girls age 10 and 6 years, with a burning passion for sharing all things trendy and beautiful made with little ones in mind. Why I blog and how it started: When moving from Norway to the UK in 2007 I started blogging, mainly to keep family and friends back home posted on how we were getting on. Then realising the huge interest for all things Scandinavian, especially for kids, I Little Scandinavian was founded in 2009. My nicknames for the LatteBabies: Not so much babies or little any longer but they are known as Little B and Little A. One thing I know I shouldn't let my children do but allow anyways: Stay up too late. We don't run a strict bedtime regime and it can result in very tired girls the following day. The things I'm happy to say my children got from me: They have clearly got my blonde hair and blue eyes as my husband is dark. But otherwise I think they are both a good mixture of both our genes. I'm a LatteMama because: I see myself far more as a slummy mummy than as a yummy mummy, so I choose to think I'm a lattemama simply because I consume in average 3-4 latte a day -true! How motherhood has changed me and my style: Motherhood and age has changed my style into wanting quality rather than quantity. Also I love well made clothes and products that are kind to my skin and the environment. The one piece of advice I'd give to new mums is: Trust in yourself and listen to your instinct. My future projects and goals are: I'm currently very happy with blogging on Little Scandinavian and developing the Little Scandinavian concept. I also enjoy a bit of freelance writing, some consulting and pr work on the side. The one thing I'd choose from LatteMama for the little ones would be... For the boys I quite like the the simple style knitted jumper featuring a soft slouch hood with fun intasia mock pockets and elbow patches in a cotton wool mix from No added sugar. For the girls I would definitely choose the handmade chalk white dress from Rafens with marine blue and red details. It's so unique and sweet and will be great for the coming spring summer season with a pair bright red or sea blue clogs.

The world lies at your feet...

Ever wondered why more shoes don't have cute kittens on them? Or why watermelon never was an option as a colour scheme for your pumps? We have, but finally someone has read our minds and made it happen. LatteMama loves it when there are so many fantastic, creative and colourful ideas roaming around, but even more when they come true. MinaShoes is the new Swedish brand created by the wonderful Linda Gullberg. The shoes are for young fashionistas and they express fun, confidence and childhood.

Just like LatteMama Mina is all about "expressing children's creativity and humour". The good news are the wonderful shoes will be available this february at LatteMama. We can't wait for the shoes to arrive, for now the only thing we can do is look at these fabulous pictures. What do you guys think about them?

Funny or inappropriate?

Do the Birthday locomotion

Here's the lovely Birthday Train I got for Zacharias from Jabadabadoo he absolultey loved it.

And here's the ugly traincake I made. I am too proud to see whether or not it actually looks like a train. It did tasted so yummy and more delicious than any pretty cake i've ever made.

If you wanna know the recipe and how to instructions let me know and I'll put it on here!

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.