An extra Day...

So it's February 29th and this day only comes around once every four years. (But I don't need to tell you that because like myself you probably will have been subjected to not much else in the media today! #slownewsday ).

Now I don't know anyone with a birthday on this notable date and I've not heard of any special proposals today but I have seen lots of 'extra' day promotions and offers! Which is always a good thing of course, I love a good deal!

But all this talk of a 'free day' got me thinking. What would I do with a genuinely 'Free' day?

If I had an extra 24 hours that no-one else got, how would I use it?

I'm always moaning about not having enough hours in the day and fitting in family life with a full time job and my 'hobbies' (such as blogging, managing the local madeformums network and being involved in other local groups). I regularly find myself wishing that time would stop so I could get more done! (Does any one remember watch a show called Benard's Watch as a child? I want that watch!)

I feel like I miss out on so much with my two little monsters now that I'm back at work full time. By the time I get the bus to nursery to pick Elizabeth up, then walk twenty minutes to pick Ben up from after school club, before walking home and making dinner I'm lucky if I get to actually spend an hour of quality time with them on a week day... Although nothing can get in the way of bedtime story time, that takes priority over everything! And is often the most enjoyable half hour of my day!

Then there's the simple things like finding time get a hair cut (not been done since last June, and very badly needed...) or even having a bath with some of the gorgeous smellies that I was given at Christmas and was so excited about at the time but two months later are still in their packaging on the bathroom shelf...

Or sleep... When I've been over committed a bit recently (my hubby says I take too much on and I'm inclined to agree with him at the moment!) I've found myself up till 4am catching up on writing and then up again at 6am to get the children ready and go to work., Obviously this is not good!!

And then the boring things like catching up on the housework, tackling the mountain of ironing, strip washing the nappies, sorting out the spare room or putting together the IKEA wardrobe we bought nearly two months ago, not very exciting to think about but still things taking up a large part of my 'to do' list...

Not too mention finding some alone time with my husband, who works equally as hard. It feels like we are ships passing in the night at the moment, both constantly on the go until we go to bed , me often having to stay up to finish bits of and on the few occasions we do go to bed together we're that exhausted we fall asleep before our heads even hit the pillow!


So rambling aside and going back to my original thoughts what would I do with a 'Free' day all to myself?

How would I prioritise all of the above? Knowing me I would probably end up procrastinating all day and spend the entire time on facebook and twitter!!!!

Competition to Win a Red Toolbox Mini Case and Tools!

My four year old Ben has a love of building things. From simple towers and bridges with his Lego to 'helping' Daddy put the IKEA furniture together! He has his own sets of wooden and plastic 'play' tools but he is fascinated by Daddy's real ones!

So I was very excited to discover Red Toolbox! They offer a complete world of tools specifically designed to suit a child's grip, complemented by a wide selection of original woodworking kits and a workbench. Their woodworking projects for kids teach and apply various skills according to the level of difficulty.

Red Toolbox creates the perfect environment for parent child bonding surrounding fun-filled building games for kids. Parents and kids work together as a creative team, learn from each other, communicate and achieve real-life accomplishments!

Although the range currently available is a little old for Ben yet, some of these kits will definitely be on my wish list for the future!

You can check out the extensive range on their website www.red-toolbox.com and you can keep up to date with news and offers on twitter: www.twitter.com/redtoolboxfan and facebook www.facebook.com/redtoolboxUkIrl

The lovely folks at Red toolbox have very kindly offered Mymummyspennies a Red Toolbox Mini Case and Tools to give away to one very lucky reader!

Here's what the Red Toolbox website has to say about this fabulous prize...

'Quality family time in a box'

This mini case will keep all your things safe and sound. It has two drawers and a top shelf for all your prized possessions! From jewellery to notes, junk to knicknacks, this is the place for them! Also included in the kit are REAL tools, specially made to suit a childs grip.Level 2 Suitable for Age 8+

Competition now closed! The very lucky winner is...    cpoir


Please email your address details to mymummyspennies@gmail.com and I will pass them on to the lovely folks at Red Toolbox to have your fabulous prize sent out!!!

If you weren't lucky this time don't forget we still have 3 fantastic competitions running on the mymummyspennis blog! You could Win...

-Two lovely red cornish daisy bibs

-a family ticket to the London Dungeons (also valid for York, Blackpool, Edinburgh!)

-a stunning new season Pink Lining Bag!

So why not take a moment to enter these and next time it could be your name!! :0)


To enter to WIN this fantastic prize that will make one child (and their Daddy) very happy on Christmas Day just follow the simple steps below...



-'like' Red Toolbox - UK and Irl on facebook

-'like' mymummyspennies on facebook

-Red Toolbox call their 'kits' 'Quality family time in a box.' Comment below with your favourite way of spending quality time with your family!


Doing the above will give you ONE entry (please only leave one comment for all of the above)

For EXTRA entries you can share this competition on facebook, twitter, or forums, please leave one extra comment below per share

• winner will be selected by random draw
• open to residents of UK only.
• Facebook is no way affiliated with this competition.
• If the winner does not contact me within 3 days of their name being chosen another winner will be drawn.
• Competition will close 9pm 20th November 2011 and will be announced on here shortly afterwards
• only entries that have complied with therules of entry will be valid.