Roksley Children's Centre 12th November 2-4pm

MR Riley And Riley Cafe

Yesterday the whole family, us three went in to Crouch End for food shopping and my very romantic other half asked me “you want to go for a coffee date?”

I don’t know about you, but that extra word ‘date’ added to the phrase made it a bit more special. I really wish my other half would not work as much as he does, or work hard but come no later then 7.

I found UK really strange for not being more child and father friendlier. I am glad that our little one and I get to have him on the weekends.

Our Coffee date took place at this Café place name Riley. It’s fairly a new place, opened up over the summer. I really urged for a nice hot chocolate with a scope of ice cream. The place looked very busy over the summer having an ice cream bar and for some reason we had never gone till now. 

A friendly young boy greeted us and I’m guessing the owner. We ordered our drinks. My “hubby wanted a latte and a Dounght and I, hot chocolate with a scope of ice-cream.

The owner looked with a question mark. I explained; you just make a normal hot chocolate and ad a scope of ice cream. The owner then took out an Ice-cream glass, to serve in, asking me if it is ok. As I have in my younger days worked in Cafes and bars thought to myself I’m going to be disappointed aren’t I??

“Hubby” was forced to go and take money out as the Café; Ice-Cream bar did not take card. As we sat down, having conversations around the wooden table. The place is very “woody”. Natural wood everywhere, the massive counter, the shelves behind the counter, the tables and going down stairs. It is a massive place with no personal touch or feeling, part from that on top of the each table there is a one flower in a glass/jug.

But that is a Pizza Express rip-off. We were asked if we wanted sugar, “Hubby” said yes and we got a small jar with lid on containing lose sugar.

It was not what I had in mind of a Coffee Date.

To begin with, it is not a place you want to sit in for very long. The Hot Chocolate was not what hot chocolate is meant to be. Tasted watery, but that is expected when you mix bad chocolate powder with water, and the massive counter had probably the smallest selection of what is meant to present tasty disserts and food. Dissert fairy would agree with me when I say/write ‘Waitrose has a better heavenly dissert aisle”.

You could tell if you ever worked within the service “food and dessert” business that the place was lacking of a couple of things.

Being who I am, I wanted a picture of Riley for this post on the blog and came across a couple of articles about Riley.

I am chocked! Seriously 

This Riley place is meant to be an Italian-inspired café, where was Italy? I could not see anything about the place being Italian oriented.

And the owner is an ex banker, who I now really would like to offer my help. Let’s dig our heads in dessert books, bake tasty thing to decorate the counter on top of the wood we darkened. Keep the nature feeling and paint over cold blue with a warm green colour. Buy sugar cubes and put them in a nice bowl and place them on the table. With a bit of TLC we could turn this place to a “hip and trendy place” but before, we need to get rid-off those horrible red cheap looking chair cushions and have a stop at Wayne's Coffee House in Stocholm/Sweden so Mr Riley can have a taste of the service and has to try everything on the counter. 

 

Final words, Riley place has ONLY had a lot of thoughts put in, instead of personal

TLC and fantasy. 

Unique Discovery

I love that I often stumble on things and I love these things when they are not massively produced and everyone does not have them.

I have found Kris Williams, also a mother and a Graphic designer. Her and I have got something in common we agree, “having kid change things”. While being pregnant she started to work on the drawing she named ‘The Big and Little Series’. Each painting features a big something and little something, sharing good times, good times. The paintings are lovely and I am so happy they can’t be bought from Jojo Maman Bebe, (Thank gosh for that!) Kris is right, thinking other parents would like to have them in their children’s room. I have fallen in love with the Bears On Bikes. I love it. Kris makes art for the little people And the big people too! She has also done;  

Growth Charts, Me & Papa Series, Robots! Owls! Hippos! Oh my!, Little Birds, NEW! For 2010!, Robot Love, and Owls For The Birds

Let me present you Bears On Bikes by, Kris Williams lovely art.

 

 

Special alert! Special alert! Crouch End No:3 30 Day Drawing Challenge

 

I just came across this brilliant what to do on rainy days with the young ones and I bet you will get into it as well. It’s a 30 Day Drawing Challenge, such as: draw your best friend, yourself, family picture and so much more. You might need to replace some of the challenge, but admit it is a great idea?!

It could be a really thoughtful Christmas present to grandparents and an amazing memory book for you and your little one if you turned it to a book. A book with 30 images drawn by your special artist, where you can ad title of the picture and the day it was drawn on. I can visualized the book and see the front cover being a drawn family picture. You cannot agree it isen’t a wonderful thing? You can scan the pictures in and make a Photo book, several places like: BLURB, Jessops, Yophoto does them. 

It may take a bit time, but it’s a creative time. On the Blurb website you can be the designer and take it a bit further and go solo, no need for template. All the service offers template if you want it to be simple and fast. It is a great way to encourage anyone’s fantasy to blow and grow, meantime it will great family quality time with your little one. You will keep them busy, active and just enjoy the slow paste.

 

Special alert! Special alert! Crouch End No:2 Baby Swim

It’s hard to come up with activities or entertainment when the darkness eats up the brightness and of course just to make it harder to leave warm homes, rain comes. Part from watching TV and attending singing or other children friendly fun. I have often caught myself wishing I didn’t have to meet new mothers and their baby/babies. I am sorry, sometimes I just want to enjoy my own little one and have our time. 

What do we do? We go swimming. My little one loves it and we have been few times, 

splashing away, laughing, chasing the floating boll, just us and we love it.

I got my little one a Zoggy’s Trainer seat, which is very handy. As the little one puts weights on, they tend to get heavy after holding them for a while. When we first time put our “lovy” in one it was really funny as he just managed to spin himself around rather going anywhere. 

 I wished we would have gone swimming earlier, I can’t remember how old he was but you can take your little one for a swim as early as 6 weeks old. No need to have injections before as, the chlorine kills any germs. The baby's inbuilt gag reflex is generally at its strongest before six months. This means that he can hold his breath under water without thinking about it. The first time we went swimming, the water was cold for a baby. I thought it was and our little one and another baby a month older then ours was shivering as well. And therefore the Park Road Leisure Centre really put me off as the same happened when I went there pregnant. I do go to the Park Road Leisure Centre more often these days, (need to get into shape) I feel they have improved but still think its very “USCH”. If you do go, bring flip-flop, you will not regret it. 

 

Baby sleeping through the night???

I often get the questions...


Does your baby sleep all night?
How much food are you giving your baby?

So this thing with sleeping seems to go hand in hand with the amount of food. Right?
I do not believe in leaving a child to cry it self to sleep. I don’t. Especial not if the baby in standing up holding on the cot while shaking with anger, screams and tears on top of that. That’s a crap cake, if you know what I mean, I totally agree with the Jo the Super Nanny, who written in her book leaving your child to cry to fall asleep just will give no other signal that NO ONE CARES. You as a reader might think I am not so hardcore, however I could not care. I do not believe in the method. You leave your child to cry, and within time he or she will learn to fall asleep. 

My little one used to fall asleep when I was back home in Sweden and we were giving him Välling. Välling is what I would describe as Organix brand named Organic Seven Grain Cereal. Maybe Välling is a bit more watery. In Sweden you give Välling before bedtime in a bottle. Its often becomes like a drug. The child has to have it before bed and normally the child/children sleeps while drinking it. Which can be discussed is it a good thing? 
My little one was a bit unique; he refused his dummy really early and would refuse to drink of the Avent bottles, or anything that had a nipple shape part from the breasts. So I would then make the Välling a bit thicker and feed him with a spoon before bath time and that used to make him fall asleep through the night. Lucky me and my other half!!! 



But being back in the UK for few months and no Välling I have then tried replacing Välling with something else. More solid food, offered more water and it has worked and not worked. My solution is a child who has been breast and bottled feed at a specific time for a longer period is used to that feed and therefore will at nighttime wake up and expect to be feed. It’s a habit, and just like any habits, you can change and adapt to the needs. Not your need! Your baby’s need. As a parent we all lack of sleep here and there. So as my baby is coming to 11 months and for some reason he should by now sleep on his own and sleep through the night. SAYS WHO???



There are several guidelines about babies, growth etc and not all of them will apply to you or your baby. Like my little one, still wakes up for feed, he wants his milk and I want his closeness. I do feel so much better having him next to me and hear him breathing and it is more then a bonus if he puts his arm on me.
But after finding the Organix baby Porridge and the Cereal my little one sleeps longer during night before waking up. I do recommend the Organix Four Grain Cereal and instead of normal milk I use Soya, as it contains calcium and only has little saturated fat.

Special alert! Special alert! Crouch End No:1

Being the housewife I am these days. I am getting a “tat” bored. Summers seem long gone and winter just around the corner and I do not want to be locked indoors. I have created myself a project or a special assignment just like special agent Oso.

So Special alert! Special alert!

My little one loves the theme song and admit i do to. 

Discover what you can do in Crouch End.

Being a pushchair pusher I am guessing you have enjoyed the park, but just like me you would probably like to do something different.

When I walk in the park on my own, I have spotted few mums being alone. It’s hard becoming friend with mums. I like often walking on my own, as I can do whatever but now and then sure I miss a friend. Ohh really I do miss my work.

My first discovery is this special offer for your body & mind. 

 Viktoria has massaged my lovely friend who also got the same qualification just like Viktoria. My friend enjoyed her 90 min treatment. She did however say: Viktoria is a bit fast with her hands but she did an amazing job.

My friend, a new mother too a 3 months old baby, so you can probably imagine how much in need of massage and “me”time she was.

Being a mother, and being on maternity allowance, unfortunately not all of “us were born with a golden spoon in our mouth” (Swedish saying), some tend to be very economical with the money. I have to say that I love Viktorias Autumn Offers. I hope many more then me has seen her flayer around Crouch End. If you have had any of Viktorias treatment let me know how it was.