Mini First Aid: a review

With Peyton being nine-months-old, I did feel like I was ever so slightly late to the 'First Aid party' when I was invited to try out Mini First Aid: Hull and East Riding.

I had heard of Mini First Aid before. They're a national company with franchises all around the country. Prior to starting baby-led weaning I looked into doing a course with them but couldn't find any that were all that local to me. There were some the other side of York, but as keen as I was to learn First Aid I didn't want to have to travel up to an hour to get to one.

I decided to just watching YouTube videos on what to do when a baby was choking, and clue myself up on the difference between choking and gagging.

But when Jodie, from Mini First Aid: Hull and East Riding, got in touch with me to invite me to one of her classes, I decided it would definitely be worthwhile doing.

The class took place in Brough, although there are also classes in Hull, which was just over half an hour away from where I live.

It was two hours long and was super, super relaxed. I was a bit apprehensive going on my own (I left Peyton with my mum and dad because she'd have been a bloody nightmare, and I'd have learnt nothing!) but I needn't have been.

Peyton was quite happy snoozing at my parent's house while I was gone!

Jodie has just had her second little baby so is currently enjoying the little baby love bubble at home, and a lady called Nicky was running the class instead.

Nicky has loads of First Aid experience, being a first aider at work, managing a children's centre and previously working as a Community First Responder. It was her experience in the latter role that gave us all some top tips on what to do if you do need to call for an ambulance. I'll come back to this later.

The class was a good size. There were three expectant couples - all due within the next month or two - a mum with a four-month-old little boy and her mum, and a mum to a four-year-old.

When I saw the three pregnant ladies I did feel ever so slightly bad, as First Aid is never something I thought of doing when pregnant. We did the hypnobirthing and prepared for birth itself, but nothing really for when she was here.

The girl with the four-month-old was there with her mum, she said as a grandma she panicked more when looking after her grandson than she did when she looked after her own kids so wanted to be clued up.

That's the good thing about the courses, they're for anyone! Mums, dads, siblings, aunties, uncles, grandparents...

The two-hour class covers everything from choking to CPR, bleeding to bumps, breaks and burns, and convulsions to Meningitis awareness.

Before I went, I thought the choking was the main thing I wanted to get out of the class. Now that Peyton has a few more teeth she takes big bites out of her food and, sometimes, I find she gags way more than she did when we first started.

However, after the class, I found choking to be one of the less important things that I took out of the class.

I had no idea how little I actually knew to do.

I had no clue how to do CPR on a baby, or how to check if she was breathing (aside from putting my finger under her nose or feeling her chest). I didn't know what to do if she burnt herself or how to treat her if she goes into shock.

I'm an emergency first aider at work (I'm going on my refresher course this week, actually) so I know the basics of CPR on an adult and how to help an adult who is choking, but it is totally different on a baby/child.

The thing we covered in the most detail was how to check if your baby/child is breathing and how to do CPR on them. There were baby and child sized 'dolls' to practice CPR on, which was really helpful. When you do the chest compressions it's so much harder than you would ever imagine, so it was good to practice that to realise.

Nicky also gave some top tips for if you need to call an ambulance. As a community first responder, she explained how hard it can be to find people's homes; particularly at night. She said to open all your curtains, turn all the lights on at the front of your house and, if you have a car parked outside, put its hazard lights on. That way, when the ambulance turns into your dark street, it can spot your house straight away. I would have never thought of anything like that.

Treating burns is something that had never even crossed my mind; but it's something I am most definitely going to have to do; whether it's a minor burn or more major.

I'll admit, some points of the course absolutely terrified me. I think I was more frightened than I would have been had I been pregnant and doing the course. Mainly because I know how adventurous/daring she can be, so was imagining all the First Aid I'm going to have to administer.

Needless to say, I bought the First Aid kit they were selling at the end of the class!!

Part of that, which is what really sold it to me, was the scissors in there. The scissors are able to cut through material - even denim - so are ideal for burns (although if the clothing isn't removed immediately you just have to cut around the clothing that's stuck to the skin. If you try remove clothing too late it can take the skin off too, which you obviously want to avoid.) They can also cut through the seatbelt strap of the car seat so I will definitely be buying another set to keep in the car. Nicky said they are good to have in the car incase you are in an accident and need to get baby out of the seat quickly. Although, I suppose, if you have concerns about baby maybe being affected by the crash you are best waiting for the paramedics to arrive. Anyway, that aside, I will be buying a pair for the car just incase!

The choking section was really, really handy. It reinforced what I had watched on YouTube but also allowed me to practice my back slaps, chest thrusts/abdominal thrusts on the dolls there. Again, like with CPR, it's amazing how hard you have to be. It definitely helped me to feel more confident, particularly at meal times. I'll still be on edge, watching her carefully, but I feel much more at ease now I have practiced what to do.

I also bought a handy magnet for the fridge which tells you what to do in the event of a choking baby/child.

There were other bits for sale, and I bought it all. I got the paediatric first aid book, which covers in detail everything we learned in the class (I thought this would be good for Tom/my parents to have a look at) and a hot and cold gel pack which can be used, as you've maybe guessed, as a heat source or an ice pack.

I figured if I didn't buy it there and then I would've forgotten when I got home, or wouldn't have got the same things as we'd seen in the class.

All in all, I would most definitely recommend a Mini First Aid class to and parents/carers. For £20 per person it is definitely money well spent, particularly if it teaches you something that helps you to save your, or someone else's, baby's life.

Before yesterday we had nothing like a First Aid kit at home, I'd have been so unprepared had anything happened. Other than Calpol and teething granules we had nothing! Now, however, we've got the contents of the Mini First Aid kit, which includes: two non-adherent wound pads, two conforming bandages, one pair of tough-cut scissors, two adhesive tape (hypoallergenic), two burn gel sachets, 10 uncoloured plasters, two elbow/knee plasters, 20 printed hypoallergenic plasters, two non-alcohol wipes, one pair of metal tweezers (because the ones I use to do my brows would not be all that practical!), six rust-resistant safety pins, and one information leaflet.

And it's all in a pretty green bag. Winning.

If  anyone is interested in booking onto the course, there are dozens all over the country. Just visit the Mini First Aid website and you can search for your local class. You can also arrange private classes in your own home.

It was definitely worth doing and definitely something I wish I had arranged to do before. However, with Peyton becoming more mobile and more of a daredevil with every passing day, I am so glad I did it when I did. Thankfully we've not yet had an experience where we have needed First Aid, but I'm so glad I now know what to do going forward; just incase.

Disclaimer: I was invited to take part in the class free of charge. However, the views and opinions expressed above are entirely my own and are not in any way influenced by anyone affiliated with Mini First Aid.

Putting the smooth in smoothie

Hello - remember me?

I have been so, so crap at keeping my blog updated since honeymoon. The weeks before we went were hectic, rushing round getting everything sorted and the excitement of our trip. And since we've been back it's been just as hectic, catching up on life and getting back into a routine.

However, I feel like my life has resumed some sort of normality again.

Just before I went on honeymoon I was contacted by a company who wanted to send me some samples of a brand of smoothie that they were promoting. I completely forgot all about it, until I got back and the lady had emailed me again. While sorting through my hundreds of emails I found it, and decided that the post-honeymoon detox would kick off nicely with said smoothies.

I was sent a big box with a whole host of flavours in - some of which sounded more appetising than others.

The Savse (pronounced Sav-Say) smoothies are based on authentic family recipes created in the 1980s by Nina, the mother of Savse's founder Guka Tavberidze to help cure an iron deficiency during her pregnancy in the 1980s.

Savse is the ideal fix for those looking for something deliciously healthy and naturally tasty. And, what's even better, is that each low-calorie bottle offers two of your five-a-day.

Savse, mening 'crammed' in Georgian, is filled to the brim with 100 per cent natural super fruits and antioxidant-rich vegetables, to ensure the tastiest, healthiest, raw smoothies - with no added sugars, colourings of water.

I love smoothies, but my main concern is always how much sugar is in them. They're pitched as being so healthy but, often, they are actually worse for you than drinking a big bottle of Coke.

These, however, are completely natural and are all really low in calories.

The first one I tried was the Super orange flavour (which contains mango, passion fruit, orange, carrot, celery, apple and lemon). It smelt beaut and it tasted just like Tropicana. It tasted like it should be so, so naughty and full of sugar.

It also reminded me of the mango and passionfruit iced drinks that they do at Starbucks and Costa - it was really refreshing and really tasty.

I then tried the Super Red one, which was just as nice. This one contained strawberry, kale, orange, broccoli, celery and spinach. I actually made myself a smoothie with similar ingredients at home before these were delivered, and it didn't look (or taste) anywhere near as good as this one.

I have also tried the orange and apple juices - which are beaut. The orange juice tastes just like proper orange juice - which is probably because it is! It also doesn't have 'bits' which is a big win for me, because that always ruins orange juice for me.

The apple juice was really tasty, too. Although, I must admit I preferred the orange out of the two.

The Super Blue (blueberry, blackcurrant, beetroot, strawberry, kale, spinach, orange and apple) at first taste reminded me of a Fruit Pastille ice lolly. It was lovely - very blackcurrant-y. 

The Super Green, which contains kale, spinach, pear, apple, lemon, kiwi, broccoli and banana, was the one I was least looking forward to trying. It looks really healthy, which usually means it isn't as tasty. However, that wasn't the case. It was really refreshing and I really enjoyed it.

The only one I didn't particularly enjoy was the Super Purple (beetroot, apple, lemon, lime and mango). The taste was ok, it was the smell that put me off. It smelt "very earthy" as my friend put it. It didn't taste as bad as it smelt, I will give it that, but it wasn't my favourite.

Other flavours that the range includes are a Protein Blast, a Protein Punch and Protein Smash. These are apparently perfect for pre and post workout - not something I have any experience or knowledge in whatsoever!

Overall, I must say I was really impressed. And I would definitely buy the smoothies in future. You can buy them in Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Co-Op, Boots, Ocado, Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Spar, Nisa, Planet Organic and Wholefoods.

They are priced around £1.75 for a 250ml bottle, depending on where you get them from.

Since its introduction, Savse has shaken up the smoothie market. It's not like other smoothie brands, as it uniquely cold-presses all of its ingredients to retain the essential goodness of the full fruit and vegetables. High pressure processing (HPP) is the sophisticated preservation technique used to ensure that all vital nutrients are locked into each bottle and removes any nasties, without compromising on taste or quality by using heat pasteurisation.

Basically, they're just really, really good for you. And they taste good - which is a double win!

For more information about the brand, you can find them on Facebook by following this link.

REVIEW: Abbey House Restaurant, Selby

Ever since Abbey House Restaurant opened its doors in November 2015, we have been massive fans.

It's our go-to place in town for special occasions. We've celebrated birthdays, Mother's Day, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, the festive season and new jobs there.

So I was absolutely over the moon when I won a Facebook competition (it was a like and share this post, you know the type) which was run by one of Abbey House's local suppliers, Bert's Barrow, for a meal for two.

We booked in for Bank Holiday Monday, knowing full well that after the excitement of a wedding that I really wouldn't want to cook.

I have eaten at Abbey House more times than I can remember, but the reason I wanted to write a review this time was because I feel more people need to know about it. When we told friends where we were going, they hadn't heard of it. People asked what food they served, what it's like inside, how much it is etc.

The restaurant has an AA rosette - which is no easy achievement. They're only given to the real best - and Abbey House is Selby's only AA rosette restaurant. Yet so many people still don't even know about it. That makes me very sad. So, here's my attempt to make more people know about it. (Hopefully not too many that I struggle to get booked in for future occasions, though!)

We were booked in for 7pm, but arrived quite early. We enjoyed a lovely drink outside, taking in the last of the summer sunshine, before our table.

We were given the menu to peruse while we enjoyed our drinks. It's the first time we have been since the menu change, so it was nice to have some time to deliberate.

Our order was taken and we were promptly shown to our table - where we were given homemade wholemeal ciabatta to enjoy. I'm sorry there's no photo of this - we were both starving and dived in before I even had a chance to register!

We were both really impressed with the menu choices. Abbey House has a set menu - £13 for one course, £19 for two courses and £24 for three. It's really good value, especially when you see the quality of the food.

For starter, Tom went for the ox tongue, tomato chutney, Yorkshire blue, garlic, lovage oil.

While I opted for the Beetroot cured bream, chorizo jam, hummus, lime dressing, pickled cucumber.

I had never tried bream before, I did spend some time googling its taste/texture before ordering it. But I have to say, it was beautiful. The chorizo jam and hummus was perfect with it, as was the pickled cucumber.

I normally don't like cucumber, or hummus, but it all worked wonderfully well together for my starter. It's always nice when you try something new and it's a hit.

I can always count on Abbey House to be the place I try something new, because I always know it's going to be the best quality and prepared in the tastiest way.

We ordered a bottle of Merlot - our favourite tipple - to enjoy with the rest of our meal as we waited for our steak.

The atmosphere in Abbey House is lovely. The decor is simple yet elegant, and the vibe is really chilled - but you still feel like you're somewhere fancy.

The restaurant is spread across two floors, a smaller downstairs and a much larger upstairs. There's even a private table at the bottom of the ground floor, away from all the other diners, which is perfect for more intimate occasions.

Everything, even down to the music playing in the restaurant, just ticks all the boxes. The staff are friendly, pleasant and very conscientious. Nothing is ever too much trouble!

For mains, we ordered the flat iron steak (which is only served medium rare) with watercress, shallots, chips and pepper sauce. For good measure, we added a side of onion rings on. And when you see what they look like, you'll see why!

The presentation is impeccable - as you can see.

The chips are out of this world, as are the onion rings. They're proper onion rings in proper batter - just talking about them now is making my mouth water!

The pepper sauce is beaut, too.

I have to say, the steak at Abbey House is up there with the best steak I've had. It's cooked to perfection and is usually always my go-to main course. I really should be more adventurous and try some of the other delights - which include lamb rump, coley and pork - but I know I love the steak so much. And the chips.

We were both a bit stuffed after our main course, but we couldn't not have desserts.

The desserts are out of this world.

I think I must have tried almost every dessert they've done. From an upside down cheesecake when they first opened to an insane brownie.

Their new dessert menu includes chocolate tart, vanilla ice cream, raspberry parfait, a set lemon custard with Italian meringue and white chocolate and lime sorbet; as well as doughnuts.

Tom went for the milk chocolate tart with yoghurt and Tonka ice-cream, mango and cocoa nibs.

While I had the doughnuts with cream cheese, cherries and caramel.

They were proper fresh, homemade doughnuts and were just incredible.

The caramel sauce was out of this world too, and the cream cheese worked really well with the sweetness of the doughnuts and caramel.

They were the perfect way to round off an incredible meal.

As we finished our wine we both said how amazing the meal had been.

A few more tables came in while we were eating, but it wasn't as busy as it should have been.

People of Selby and surrounding areas - you don't know what you are missing!! Abbey House should be booked up weeks in advance - the most sought after tables ever.

If you don't believe me, then perhaps the words of celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager will convince you.

Rosemary was dining at Abbey House the same night as Tom and I, after her appearance at the nearby Sherburn Craft and Food Festival.

When the head chef, Lee, came out of the kitchen to chat to her, she was full of praise for the dishes she tried. She couldn't have complimented Lee, his menu and his creations any more if she had tried.

I felt so proud hearing her speak so highly of the place - and I only hope more people go out and try the place for themselves.

Our meal was part of the competition prize, but our drinks and side orders were to pay for. In total, this came to £34, meaning that were we to pay for our meal too, our bill would have been £82.

For a three course meal for two people, with a bottle of wine, gin and tonic, glass of prosecco and side of onion rings - especially of the calibre it was - I don't think that's at all bad.

The quality of the food speaks for itself - I tried to make my photos look as impressive as possible but, honestly, they don't do the incredible taste justice.

If you don't fancy the set menu on an evening, I can highly recommend Abbey House's Sunday dinner menu. It's one of my favourite places to go for Sunday lunch, purely because it's such good value for money. And, just like the rest of their menu, is excellent quality.

It's also one of my mum's favourite places, too. Being coeliac she struggles to find places that can adapt their menu to her allergies. Abbey House are more than accommodating, often creating gluten free desserts especially for her! They honestly can't do enough for you.

If you don't believe me, try for yourself. I would highly recommend it!