I’m getting really excited about BritMums Live 2013 coming up in just a few days, the UK’s biggest conference for parenting and lifestyle bloggers that has sold out to more than 500 attendees.

BritMums Live is the perfect chance to mingle with like-minded people in a booze-friendly setting (The Brewery in Shoreditch) and to catch up on the latest tips and tricks in the digital media world.

This year, I’ll be on a mission to drink wine (as always), swap notes with some fantastic bloggers and also share our exciting new service Mothers and Shakers.

If you want to get a sense of what BritMums Live is really like, you can read this blog post I wrote for Angels & Urchins back in 2011 about CyberMummy, the original UK blogging conference that spawned BritMums Live.

Or you can watch my guerilla style video (at least that’s what I’m using to explain the rickety shooting and ‘gentle’ editing) — Before BritMums Live there was… CyberMummy!

In the meantime, it gives me great pleasure to introduce my sponsor for BritMums Live — Hillarys Blinds, the made to measure service that has been dressing up the windows and rooms of BritMums (and dads) all over the country for more than 40 years.

Hillarys’ motto is ‘Make a window, Make a room’ and they’ve perfected this art with their range of more than 850 stunning blinds, shutters and fabric designs guaranteed to transform your living space.

Here’s their company ethos:

Hillarys believe that for far too long the window has been neglected and forgotten. It’s been an afterthought, when it should have been the centrepiece. So they’re on a mission to make sure every single window in every home now gets the focus and attention it truly deserves.

Hillarys offers design consultations on anything from roof window blinds for your conservatory, to finding the right shutters to keep the sunlight out in summer when you’re trying to persuade your babes to sleep!

I’m delighted that they’ve chosen to take care of my ticket and childcare requirements for the weekend, so that I can focus on making the most out of the UK’s largest gathering of mama and papa geeks!

BritMums Live is at the Brewery, EC1 on Jun 21-22.

Visit www.hillarys.co.uk for more about Hillarys Blinds

The story of Mothers and Shakers (we call ourselves MaSh) begins more than a year and a half ago, when I had a ‘lightbulb moment’.

After spotting my friend Vicki’s Twitter profile where she described herself as a ‘mother and a shaker’, I sent the following in an email to her that I actually titled ‘Lightbulb’:

‘My idea came when I was looking at your Twitter profile the other day and thought – Yes! That’s it. Mothers and Shakers! I was thinking about creating a network of creative mothers who are into all sorts of enterprising activities (so not just mum bloggers) and who are making things happen or who want to make their dreams come alive.’

And here’s what I wrote in one of our follow-up exchanges:

‘I’ve been chatting with another mum about the fact that with the whole blogging thing, the real gap is reaching those who actually don’t know what a blog is or how to start one, and doing outreach events for them. But then it hit me that actually we all have multiple skills/talents outside just blogging (or mothering, for that matter!) that could be beneficial to others.’

Building a Dream

Later that month, after some further discussion with Penny who I’d been collaborating with on developing the Lazy Daisy blog (an opportunity that came to us both through Vicki), I sent an invitation to my ‘dream team’.

That initial email is filled with some pretty ambitious ideas (some of which I still hope we can achieve) but the core of what became our start-up enterprise was this:

‘We offer our team expertise for small biz and brands looking for a social media element… targeted and approachable for young brands and mumpreneurs starting out.’

The feedback I got was instant and (almost) unanimous in their desire to be involved. I’m sharing this story because it’s personal and emotional for me: to start with a SPARK of an idea, swallow your doubts to share your vision, and then watch it take shape into something that has already made people say ‘wow’.

Cool. Creative. Connected.

Mothers & Shakers as it has evolved and been fine-tuned over the past year is a concept and a dream that belongs to every one of the outstanding ladies in MaSh. We are all committed and passionate about what we do and how what we know might benefit others.

This is at the heart of what we stand for:

We believe in the power of online connections to transform lives and businesses.

Blogging has changed my life. It sounds grandiose on some level, but the opportunities I’ve had, the growing confidence in my vision and voice and most of all, the people I’ve met through blogging, have made a lasting impact on the person that I am today.

I tell almost everyone I know to start a blog, although I know blogging isn’t for everyone. However, one thing I do believe is that it’s our connections that make us succeed in life and the fastest way you can find the largest group of people who ‘get you’ (online marketers call this your ‘tribe’) is online.

I count myself extremely lucky to be part of this collective of cool, creative and connected women, who also understand the realities of being a mother while going after your goals.

Mothers and Shakers is a bold experiment in social media and I’m so excited about our services and where this adventure will take us.

It’s been amazing working with our designer Amee d’Souza (also a mother, definitely a shaker), who went above and beyond to understand our aims and objectives and is absolutely part of our journey so far. She created that gorgeous MaSh lightbulb in our logo, not knowing just how meaningful the symbol was to me.

To all you creative visionaries and start-ups, enterprising bloggers and emerging brands, MaSh is here and we’re ready to help you kick things to the next level.

Here’s to your lightbulb moment.

Check out www.mothersandshakers.net to find out more about our services for small business, bloggers and creative entrepreneurs

Contact Mash at contact@mothersandshakers.net to enquire about our rates and packages

Gluten-free menu. It’s not the sexiest sounding dinner option, especially if you’re not a coeliac.

But I’m not one to turn down food and fine company — plus I was intrigued by the concept of ilumi, a range of nutritious, allergen-free ready meals that go beyond the call of duty.

In other words, they aim to taste good too!

Here’s the deal: ‘All our ilumi recipes are carefully crafted to be that little bit “more” – more creative, more flavoursome and more like what you’d like to cook yourself (or order in a restaurant!)’

Cook and Dine at La Cucina Caldesi

I was invited to a cooking demo and 3-course dining experience by the passionate team behind ilumi, held at La Cucina Caldesi in the West End.

The ilumi crew spoke about the company ethos, their focus on health and wellbeing and how all their meals are made from scratch in bespoke kitchens, using no nuts, milk, gluten or preservatives (they’re vacuum sealed).

Then we watched two ilumi chefs whip up their dishes before we sat down to sample what they’d cooked.

First up, Tom Kha Gai soup. Or as I like to call it, Yum Kha Gai. Seriously delicious, flavourful, coconut soup with rice and chicken that was so filling it could have been a meal in itself.

We were off to a cracking start, helped along by marketing man Will Young (no, not the crooner) who helpfully plied us with wine.

Next we saw the chefs make what looked and smelled like an amazing vegetarian stir fry with noodles. And now came our dilemma: whether to go for meatballs or the veggie option?

All the carnivores on our table opted for meatballs, and afterwards I wasn’t 100% convinced we’d picked right. The sauce was tasty enough, but I could have done with more seasoning in my meatballs (I’m Nigerian, we like our spice!). It wasn’t helped by the non-ilumi range pasta being undercooked (I’d actually thought the chewiness was something to do with lack of gluten).

Still, I lapped it up and what everyone remarked on was that there was none of that stodgy feeling in your stomach you normally get after stuffing yourself with carbs.

Which left plenty of room for dessert — chocolate brownie (flakier texture from what I’m used to, but yummy all the same) and the star of the night, dairy-free ice cream that was so good, even my chef buddy Rachelle of Love Learn Cook gave it top marks.

It was a brilliant night out, met some lovely food and London bloggers and shared some hilarious (and a few naughty) stories.

Overall, I would recommend ilumi, not just for people who suffer from allergies, but for anyone who wants to supplement their home cooking with some health-conscious ready options.

Somebody said that ilumi meals are popular among campers and festival goers and I reckon they’d be a very welcome addition to our Just So Festival packing list!

Thanks to ilumi for a lovely evening.

Check out www.ilumiworld.com to explore their variety of meals each including a full list of ingredients!

Vikki Stone is an award-winning songstress, actress and funny lady, billed as one of the fastest rising stars of British comedy.

She’s probably best known for her ‘Philip Schofield Song’ about her crush on TV’s ‘silver fox’, listed by Huffington Post as one of the Top 10 Viral Videos of 2012.

Vikki is also the face and voice of the new Cadbury Crispello ‘lovely little naughtiness’ online campaign. Cadbury Crispello launched an open competition for the nation’s cheekiest stories to be submitted via the Cadbury’s Facebook page.

Vikki has composed funny songs around the 3 winners’ stories to be performed at live gigs in their hometowns – Sheffield, Poole and Newcastle.

I caught up with Vikki yesterday to chat about cheekiness, chocolate and dog beards!

What was the cheekiest story you heard?
The three winners are obviously my faves but the next best was a woman who wrote in about leaving fake tan in her boyfriend’s moisturiser and then videoing the results! It’s now on YouTube.

Watch Vicki’s Fake Tan Video

Tell us something cheeky you did.
I’m always being a bit cheeky, it’s part of showbiz I think, constantly trying to get away with stuff. I made a video called The Philip Schofield Song and I thought I’d ask him if he wanted to be in it and he actually said yes. I even managed to persuade him to stroke a pair of pants with my name on them!

Is this Philip Schofield obsession real?
I’d like to pretend it’s not but it’s a real obsession! He’s just someone who’s been around for what feels like my entire life.

One of my mum friends admits she’s started fancying CBeebies presenters.
I’m not a mother (even though I do get jibed for saying I’m the mother of my dog) but I can imagine that. Actually I’m doing a show for CBBC.

How will you tailor it for kids? You’re known for being quite rude!
There’s a live event called Comedy for Kids, at the Cornbury Festival in Oxford, where they use well-known comedians to do a kids’ set and then do an adults’ show later. I’m basically a completely different persona when I play for children. My kids songs are definitely kids songs.

What were you like as a kid?
I was a complete nightmare! I was one of those stage school, jazz hands children. Every picture of me is on stage, trying to steal the limelight!

How do you juggle so many creative hats?
Doing what I do, I think you end up doing a million different things, so it’s never just being a comedian or a performer. I still even do things like arrange songs for choirs. I keep my hand in, just do anything and everything people ask. I tend to say yes to things and then worry about it later. Of course there are those moments like when someone says Vicki, can you horse ride? And I’m like yes I can horse ride and next thing I’m on a horse in the middle of the field thinking s%it!

How has social media shaped your career?
I think it’s definitely part of your job these days. But even if I wasn’t in the business, I would be a social media addict. Even my dog has a Twitter account! I like being the one to find something funny and share it with people, whether or not I make it myself or whether it’s something I’ve spotted online.

Such as?
Like, you know those cat beards that people were putting pictures of online? I tried to make a cat beard but my cat wasn’t having it. I managed to get my neighbour’s dog to do it and posted a pic on Twitter. Then a guy from the Metro emailed me and said, I really like your photo can we use it? The next day, I’m in the Metro with this picture of a dog beard. Vikki Stone, leader of the dog beard movement. That’s the power of social media.

Who are your inspirations?
Caitlin Moran is fantastic. I love her voice, it’s really current and inspirational and funny. Obviously Victoria Wood has been a huge influence from an early age, although I don’t seek to emulate her. Also Tim Minchin is amazing and growing up I loved Fawlty Towers. I love that big physical comedy and how it’s a set-up that starts small and then the stakes get really high and the situations get manic.

How much Cadbury’s Crispello have you eaten? I won’t judge.
A lot! There’s been a constant flow of Crispello coming in and out of my house. It’s a great way to sweeten the neighbours.

Catch Vikki Stone at the Udderbelly Festival, South Bank Centre, SE1 next week (Jun 19) where she promises to give out Cadbury Crispello! She’s also playing at the Edinburgh Festival this summer.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CadburyUK to keep up with the Nation’s Cheekiest Stories tour and share your lovely little naughtiness!

Don’t miss our Father’s Day Weekend Guide with going out ideas for Dads including:

Streatham Common Kite Day, a National Army Museum building workshop, a Backyard Cinema festival in London Fields and much more!

Check out Father’s Day In London: Top 10 Cool Things to Do

And read on for some more great ideas of fun things to do with kids in London this weekend…

Thu-Sun: Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House and 6 Burlington Gardens, W1 (Piccadilly Circus tube)
One of the most anticipated events of the contemporary arts scene, this year’s show features more than 1,000 works in all styles and media. Events for families include Imagination Animation (Sun, 11am & 2pm, FREE), a workshop to create and animate your own story using a variety of tools from flipbooks to iPads. 10am-6pm (Sat-Thu), 10am-10pm (Fri, except early closing 5pm on Fri Jun 14); adult £10/child 12-15 £6/under 12s FREE (Jun 10-Aug 18)

Thu-Sun: In the Night Garden Live at the O2, Greenwich, SE10 (North Greenwich tube)
Tickets are already selling out for this wonderfully enchanting show based on the popular CBeebies characters. You can watch either the Pinky Ponk or the Ninky Nonk performances and catch up with your faves Iggle Piggle, Tinky Winky, Upsy Daisy and the teeny tiny Pontipines live on stage! 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm (Tue-Sun, ongoing). £17.50-£29.50. Babes-in-arms (6 months and under) are half price (Jun 6-22)

Read our In the Night Garden Live Review

Fri: West London Tots Summer Fair at The Albert, Queens Park, NW6 (Queens Park tube)
It’s a big summer outing for the popular mum’s club, in association with The Special Yoga Centre. Come along for aerial yoga, balloon modelling, bouncy castle, specialty food stalls massage and pamper sessions and more than 40 artisan stalls to browse. 9.30am-5pm, adult £5/child FREE (Jun 14)

Sat: The Fair in the Square at Pond Square, Highgate, N6 (Highgate/Archway tube)
There’s a carnival feel in Highgate as the Hornsey Girls School Steel Band join a host of live musicians on stage at this annual fair. Plus sheep shearing demos, circus skills, Punch & Judy, bungee jump, and more than 120 local stalls to wander through. 12.30-5.30pm, FREE (Jun 15)

Sat-Sun: Grand Medieval Joust at Eltham Palace, Courtyard, Eltham, Greenwich SE9 (Eltham and Mottingham rail)
This sounds like a must-do for Dads, if you aren’t too busy with ideas in our Father’s Day guide. Step back in time to the middle ages with medieval, falconry displays, knight school training for kids, jesters and jaw-dropping action against the stunning backdrop of the palace. 10am-5pm, adult £12/child 5-15 £7.20/family £31.50 under 5s FREE (Jun 15-16)

Sun: Family Open Day at Polka Theatre, 240 the Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 (Wimbledon tube)
Go behind the scenes at south west London’s enchanting children’s theatre, with storytelling sessions, backstage tours, a chance to dress up in costumes or even buy your own to add to your dress-up box. And you can meet the stars of current production Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play. 11am-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Jun 16)

Sun: Pants on Fire’s Storytelling Morning at The Conservatoire, 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 (Blackheath rail)
Settle in at the esteemed music school for a morning of musical storytelling, interactive adventures and puppetry magic. Sam from the Conservatoire and her folk accompaniment will bring tales to life, with instruments — some played by the audience! Refreshments available. 10.45am-1pm, adult £12/child £10/babies under 1 year old FREE (Jun 16)

LOCAL PICK

Fri: Gigs for Kids at The Church on the Corner (former King Edward VII pub), 64 Barnsbury St, N1 (Angel tube)
We’re so excited about this launch happening right here in Islington! Gigs for Kids is a brand new daytime concert series bringing fantastic live music to mini movers and groovers. You can hear gypsy swing jazz from top jazz/folk players Zac Gvi (clarinet and sax) and Francesc Marco (accordion), enjoy tea and coffee and let the little ones bop along, play with toys or just toddle about. Doors open 10.45am, event 11-11.45am, adult £6 (or pay what you can afford)/child FREE (Jun 15)

We also like
For older siblings (ages 10+), check out Visions of the Universe Late with Camp Bestival at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich SE10 (Thu); BP Big Screens: Royal Opera House Live, various venues including Trafalgar Square (Thu); Little Bo Peep at Arts Depot (Sun); Streatham Common Kite Day, SW16 (Sun); the Bedford Park Festival is still going strong in Chiswick (until Jun 23); Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St, WC2 (ongoing); We’re Going on a Bear Hunt with puppets at Little Angel Theatre, Angel (until Jul 21)

It would have been wrong of me not to clear my schedule immediately.

Even sneaking the boys out of school a little early (tut tut), we hightailed it to the Charlotte Street Hotel for our afternoon tea engagement with the former rugby champ.

Ben Cohen has teamed up with Persil Non-Bio and Comfort Pure to create the Cuddle Mastery Guide, a mini booklet aimed at giving new dads the confidence to cradle their newborns.

The guide features adorable babies and shirtless Ben (equally adorable) in a variety of recommended poses for giving Papa Bear hugs.

According to research by Persil, a third of fathers don’t know how to hold their baby for the first time and 40% of new dads aren’t left alone with their bubbas until they’re at least a week old.

Aside from being an expert on tucking a rugby ball under his considerable biceps, Ben is obviously a pro at cuddling. As the father of twin girls (now aged 5), he had no option but to get stuck in from birth.

Ben’s advice to novice dads: ‘I know it can be intimidating when you first meet your little one, but spending that quality time with them learning how to cuddle and reading up beforehand really helps to increase your confidence.’

We’re big on cuddling at Babes HQ and the boys’ are also sports mad, so they formed an instant bond with Ben. It wasn’t long before they were clambering over him, playing with his iPhone and getting tips on being a world class player (57 matches for England, respect).

When my eldest asked him if he ever felt scared before a game, Ben told him, ‘Of course, but I’d be worried if you never felt scared, it shows you’re human. Also nerves help you focus.’

Great tip for my little worrier.

We also chatted with Jean Robinson, British Skin Foundation trustee and children’s dermatology nurse who talked about the importance of skin-to-skin contact with babies and gave advice on conditions like eczema.

Download the Cuddle Mastery Guide at https://www.facebook.com/ComfortZoneUK as a new daddy gift this Father’s Day. Or as a little treat for yourself. Apparently, cuddling Ben Cohen is good for you.

It certainly made my day.

It’s only once a year, so why not treat dad to a fun day out in London this weekend. Happy Father’s Day in advance to all our Babe papas!

1. Streatham Common Kite Day, SW16 (Streatham/Streatham Common rail)
Grab your kites and wing it at the annual festival for high-fliers. You’ll see spectacular aerial displays by the likes of Team Spectrum (they fly to music), and there’s also bouncy castle, face painting and food stalls including hog roast. 11am-5pm, FREE entry (Jun 16)

2. Backyard Cinema at London Fields Brewery, 365-366 Warburton St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
It’s a weekend movie festival at this popular Hackney spot, where there’ll be beanbags, deck chairs and floor cushions, popcorn and ice cream, live DJ sets and of course a full roster of movies. Family-friendly screenings include Wreck-It Ralph (Sat, 1pm), The Goonies (Sat, 3.30pm) and Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom (Sun, 2pm). £10-£19

3. Father’s Day on the Epping-Ongar Railway, North Weald/Ongar stations (via Epping tube, zone 6)
Hop on the tube to Epping for a classic day out with Dad, where you can ride a heritage bus to North Weald, see a special vintage car display from Morgan Car Club, and then board a steam or diesel train to Ongar. All heritage journeys inclusive in one affordable ticket! Read about our Steam Train adventure. From 9.25am-5pm, adult £12.50/child 3-15 £6.50/family £33.50/under 3s FREE (Jun 16)

4. Build Your Own at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea SW3 (Sloane Square tube)
Come along for a special Father’s Day weekend activity at the museum. You can make your own miniature models, from tanks to trebuchets, and learn the history behind your mini-build. Explore the museum’s handling collection, try rock climbing or a spot of rifle target practice. Best for ages 7+, younger kids welcome and book ahead for the popular Kids Play Zone. 10.30am-4.30pm, FREE (Jun 15-16)

5. Motorexpo at Canary Wharf (Canary Wharf tube/DLR)
Petrolhead papas are in for a treat, as the highest visited motor exhibition in the UK takes over Canary Wharf all week. Feast your eyes on some of the finest vehicles, from luxury cars and classic racers to the latest creations from the world’s leading manufacturers. 11am-5pm, FREE (Jun 10-16)

6. Trooping the Colour, the Mall and St. James’ Park, SW1 (Charing Cross tube)
The Queen’s Birthday parade is the perfect excuse for a pre-Father’s Day outing. Join the crowds and royal watchers to see the Household Division strut their stuff in full regalia. If it’s a nice day, pack a picnic for nearby St James’ Park. From 10am, FREE (Jun 15)

7. Urban Golf (in Soho and Kensington)
It’s Half-price Sundays for a round of golf on the UG simulators, so take Dad along to practise his swing this Father’s Day. Enjoy an hour of play on virtual golf courses rendered in stunning 3G graphics. Food and drink available, plaid trousers optional. 12-6pm, £20/hr (Jun 16)

8. Sunday Lunch at The Albion, 10 Thornhill Rd, N1 (Highbury & Islington tube)
You can’t go wrong with a traditional Sunday roast for Father’s Day, especially if you combine it with a bit of sun and a gorgeous beer garden. We’re lucky enough to have The Albion as one of our locals. This top-rated gastropub serves up delicious dishes, including suckling pig for 10 (at £30 a head), and a lovely garden for the little ones to roam about. Open from 11am, booking ahead strongly advised.

9. Festival of Neighbourhood at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Make a day of it at the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Neighbourhood. Watch The Adventurers Club (Sat & Sun), comedy for all the family in the Udderbelly tent; then take Dad back in time to Beanotown, grab a quick lunch at Real Food Festival, and hang out on the Urban Beach. (ongoing until Sep 8)

10. Michael Caine at Museum of London, London Wall, EC1 (St. Paul’s tube)
The David Bowie exhibition at V&A Museum is officially sold out, but you can still catch this show devoted to another British icon. The Michael Caine retrospective features never-before-seen footage, photography and memorabilia from the original Cockney rebel. 10am-5pm, FREE (until Jul 14)

Featured Guest Post

Skiing is great fun and I can’t wait to introduce the babes to the slopes, although it’s been years since I went bombing down them myself.

Today’s guest post from Maria at Club Med should tempt you out there, if you’ve never ventured. Climb every mountain! Tra la la la. Etc.

Top Three Skiing Holiday Myths

Are you thinking of going on your first skiing holiday? Perhaps you’re fed up of the wet and dreary weather back home or just fancy doing something a bit different to the usual beach holiday. Well, don’t be put off by what you hear.

A skiing holiday is great fun for everyone, regardless of whether you’re an advanced skier or a complete novice. Many people are apprehensive about their first skiing trip, particularly if they have young children or have never stepped foot on the slopes before.

If this sounds like you, check out these top three skiing myths and put your mind at rest:

Learning to ski is really difficult

Those that have never been skiing, even on a dry slope, are often nervous about learning to ski. There are rumours and myths flying around all over the place about how difficult skiing is to master, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you’re going to a ski resort as a complete novice, there will be specially trained staff on hand to help beginners and excellent ski schools to teach you the necessary skills. Once you’ve got the hang of the basics, there will be nursery or beginner slopes, where you can practice until you’re confident enough to move out onto the bigger trails.

You need to be a really good skier

This just simply isn’t true. There are some ski resorts that are targeted towards professional or advanced skiers, but the vast majority are suitable for a wide range of abilities. The other people at the resorts are likely to be just like you and I. Don’t feel pressurised into tackling those double black diamond routes just yet.

A luxury ski resort is probably one of the safest places to learn to ski, so whether you have only been once and want a bit of practice, or you’ve never skied before, you’ll be in good hands.

There’s nothing there other than snow

If you’re travelling with the family and a couple of those in your party don’t fancy skiing, that’s not a problem.

Although it’s hard to picture anything other than endless snowy mountains at a ski resort, there are often world-class attractions and facilities there. Whether you fancy a dip in the pool, pottering around the nearby villages, relaxing with a Swedish massage or just chilling out in the hotel or chalet, there’s something for everyone.

Hopefully busting these three skiing myths has helped you look forward to your holiday skiing in Val d’Isère, or wherever your chosen location is, rather than worrying about it unduly.

Image via Club Med

Featured Guest Post

You may think that becoming a parent means no more spontaneous weekends away, but city breaks with children can be just as fun and much less hassle than you would expect. If you’re looking to make the most of a long weekend or just fancy some quality family time away from home, follow these top tips for a stress free, family friendly city break.

When to go – If you have very young children or are able to take your kids out of school, aim to avoid school holidays and book a term time break. This will save money and will mean that attractions will be less crowded, especially in the UK.

If you’re only planning on taking a short trip away, go for a long weekend as family friendly hotels often struggle to fill rooms between Friday and Sunday so you could end up getting a better deal. Save extra money on your trip by booking last minute.

Where to go – If you’re on the hunt for a hassle free city break with children, try a new city in the UK you’ve never visited. London has plenty of things going on for kids and different things to see and do every weekend, as well as the traditional all-year-round attractions such as the London Eye and The Tower of London.

London has a wide variety of parks too, such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, so kids can blow off some steam in between sightseeing. If you’re dubious about mixing children with hotels, organise a house swap with a friend who has children in a different city. That way, you’ll have everything that you’d usually have at home when you’re away.

Out and about – Most cities are actually more child friendly than most of us think. A lot of major city attractions are free or discounted for kids and many museums come with small play areas or places for families to sit. Lots of museums and galleries also provide children’s activities or audio commentary so kids don’t get bored.

To save tired little legs, take a sightseeing bus tour so you can see everything you want to see without your kids having to walk too much. Even if your children are a little bit older, take a lightweight buggy in case they get tired and want to be carried.

Stock up each morning on plenty of bottled water and lots of snacks to save money and time when you are hungry and thirsty during the day. Take a picnic – children are unlikely to want to sit down and eat a proper meal when absorbed in new surroundings. Most parks and many attractions have family picnic areas where you can eat but your little ones can still run around and play.

Most importantly, remember to all have fun!

The other day my 4-year-old tossed his apple on the ground because he wanted a banana instead.

I hit him (verbally) with the full weight of my disapproval including that age-old, ‘back home in Africa, kids are starving’ lecture that bored us growing up.

The scary thing is that this story isn’t something our parents made up to terrify us into eating our peas.

Fact: More than 2 million children worldwide die of hunger every year.

Imagine your child’s nursery or primary school class (ours have max 60) then multiply this by thousands upon thousands, and you still wouldn’t get a clear picture of how shocking this number is.

‘Do you care about world hunger? Then get up out of your seat and do something about it!’

This was the rallying cry of Joy, an impassioned and funny activist from Kenya who spoke at the Action Aid Blogger Meet Up earlier this week.

Joy gave a heartfelt and moving account of her first-hand experiences of people in her community dying because of access to basic life needs, particularly food.

Fact: There is enough food in this world to feed everyone on the planet. Yet 1 in 8 people don’t have enough to eat.

At the event, we also heard from former Cold Feet actress and food writer Fay Ripley about what food means to her and about why she and her family decided to forgo lavish birthdays and sponsor a child through Action Aid instead.

The Action Aid Blogger Meet Up, involving several food, lifestyle and parenting bloggers, was an evening of discussion about how we can get involved in the Enough Food IF campaign.

3 Things I Love about the Enough Food IF campaign

1. More than 200 charities and international aid organisations are joining forces to end global hunger. This is groundbreaking stuff.

2. Africans are at the forefront of this campaign, from Graca Michel (Mandela’s wife) and singer Angelique Kidjo who are appearing in Hyde Park, to the grassroots African activists telling their stories including at a roundtable on Saturday.

3. The campaign focuses on Making a Joyful Noise and a Positive Difference, by Empowering local communities to help themselves and tackling 4 key issues that could affect millions worldwide. The IF message is fun and focused — it’s not about images of starving kids covered in flies!

Read more about the Enough Food IF campaign and the 4 Big IFs that could end world hunger!

COME TO THE BIG IF RALLY IN HYDE PARK ON SATURDAY

Bring your friends and loved ones along to Hyde Park this Saturday for what promises to be a historic day out. The Big IF will see thousands of people from all over coming to make our voices heard, including famous faces like Graca Michel (Mandela’s wife), Bill Gates, Angelique Kidjo, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Beardyman and Myleene Klass.

We are demanding that David Cameron and the G8 summit leaders take action now to tackle the causes of global hunger.

The Big IF is a family-friendly event with activity tents for kids, crafts, storytellers, musicians, inspirational speakers ad a Make IF Happen area with busking, spoken word and fun photo ops.

All visitors are invited to make a spinning flower to add to a giant spinning flower icon symbolising the millions of children who die from hunger each year.

I’ll be taking the boys along and I hope to see you there!

Big IF is happening this Saturday Jun 8 from 2-5pm in Hyde Park, W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)

Visit enoughfoodif.org, follow @EnoughIF on Twitter and/or like www.facebook.com/Enoughfoodif