Now my avid readers will know that I love a dumb phone. I am trying to detox, and am only using the internet at work now.

These new models promise a long-lasting battery and are affordable. The Moto E range is a great choice if you are looking for a cheap dumb phone under £150. It is not only affordable, but it also features a rugged design and dual-SIM support.

No tracking, no bullshit

The Light Phone, a futuristic phone, has raised £4.4 Million through crowdfunding and angel investors. The main purpose of the phone is to give people control over their lives. It can only make and receive phone calls at the moment. Other functions, such as sending and receiving text messages and browsing the internet, email, and setting alarms, are not possible. However, developers plan to develop applications that allow Light Phone users to play music and hail a taxi – so perhaps this isn’t quite as “Light” as we think it is.

Sorry but this isn’t what I want from my Dumb Phone.

Punkt – Swiss Brand, Not Cheap…

A new type of dumb phone might appeal to technology junkies who want to digital detox. The Swiss company currently offers a £G phone that is compatible with o2 and other Sim Only networks in the UK. Punkt will likely release a new phone soon in the UK, because the existing model is a bit outdated now. I know, I know, you are getting stuck in the upgrade loop…

Sim Only is definitely the way to go if you are frugal.

But regardless read on to learn more about the MPO2 mobile phone. It is beautiful and provides high-quality audio. Other features include an integrated noise cancellation system, micro USB charging, and a protective anti fingerprint coating on its screen. The phone weighs in at 88 grams.

Dash MP02 “Pigeon”

It is a bit hipster-ish, I’ll freely admit.

https://www.punkt.ch/en/products/mp02-4g-mobile-phone/

The Dash MP02 is a dull-looking dumb phone that has no display and a textured finish. It is splash-proof but not waterproof, which makes it the perfect companion for the beach. The lack of internal storage and apps is another drawback. The phone doesn’t have an annual refresh cycle so new features will be added as soon as possible. It also doesn’t come with the BlackBerry security suite, which offers secure encrypted messaging.

The Amazon reviews are a bit average too, only 3.3/5 which is quite low. I would not be paying £279 for such a posh “dumb phone”. The price is mental.

While the Light Phone 2 lacks a lot, you can’t complain about the convenience that it offers. It doesn’t have any feeds, third party apps, or GPS. However, it can play music and set alarms. This phone is affordable and you won’t need to spend a lot. And the price will be much lower than a regular cell phone, too.

Dash MP02 supports 4G LTE

The Punkt MP02 is a successor to the popular MP02 that defined itself through simplicity. The new device has network connectivity and intelligence to keep pace with the ever-changing cellular infrastructure. The MP02’s compact size, light blue colour and integrated microphone ensure that it remains comfortable to hold and use. It can also share its 4G LTE connection with other compatible devices such as a laptop or tablet.

Dash MP02 has a number pad

The updated dumb phone has a two-inch display, and a variety of design options. It will make your smartphone look bulky. The latest model, the iPhone SE (2022), from Apple, is a 2-inch version of the 4-inch iPhone. The best dumb phone for T-Mobile and Walmart is the Alcatel Go Flip 3.

Dash MP02 has a Wi-Fi hotspot

The Dash MP02, a small T9 phone, will feature a built-in Wi Fi hotspot in 2022. It can be used as a standalone phone, a second phone, or a mini-tablet. You can do more with it than you could with a standard phone because it has a larger screen. Bluetooth 4.0 is also supported by the device. It doesn’t support internet connectivity directly so you will need to connect to it using a laptop.

I am not sure if it’s worth buying the Pigeon. It’s got average reviews, and is pricey. If I do go ahead then I’ll buy Sim Only and keep the existing dumb phone I have, I am only paying £5 a month.

The post The Best Dumb Phone of 2022 – Or not? appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

That thing we talk about all the time. Lack thereof…. We’d owned our Sealy mattress for 9 years and after our fab first night away from the girls at Cotswold Waterpark hotel we came home to our old faithful mattress and both winced. Hubby said it first, “we need a new mattress”. But their reviews are poor. (See here)

The thought and testing that had gone into the Simba mattress, their 10 year warranty, 100 day sleep guarantee (or they’ll pick it up and refund you) all made me think this is the mattress for us. Hubby was delighted as he’d apparently seen an advert for the Simba hybrid mattresses near a business park advertising how they are tested…

I was delighted when Simba allowed us to review a mattress. We were even more thrilled when we found out they’d take away old faithful for us, one less trip to the dump – win! It arrived as planned, within our 2 hour time slot. In fact the driver said he had been early but hadn’t got hold of us, so they came back within the slot. Fab!

Beautiful packaging

I couldn’t believe the size of the box that was meant to hold our kingsize mattress. Tiny!

If you are here because you too want a better night sleep I thought I would not only give you my honest review but a little bit of what Simba has to say about the Hybrid mattress to help give you a more rounded review.

SIMBA’s design experts have created this cutting edge mattress, that houses five luxurious layers to provide support and comfort for every style of sleeper. Featuring 2500 pocket springs in the King Size model, Each spring adjusts individually, mapping to the shape of your posture as you sleep to offer truly tailored comfort.

The SIMBA Hybrid – according to this Simba sleep review – has a hypoallergenic ‘breathe in, breathe out’ cover. Its unique construction allows the mattress fillings to breath and provide you with a cool and comfortable sleep surface. This enhanced breathability promotes thermo regulation helping your body find the perfect temperature for an undisturbed night’s sleep. The third layer is made up of SIMBA’s Visco memory foam, which moulds expertly to your shape as the warmth from your body softens it. It contours to your individual sleeping pose to give you the best comfort and support.

Finally, a perfectly engineered grooved foam foundation is the basis of support on which you’ll sleep. Its seven individual zones ensure different levels of support are provided, and your individual needs are met. Working with the other foam layers and pocket springs, this base filling can provide really responsive support.

Conclusion

Immediately I started Googling for “mattress” and discovered the Simba mattress. Full of amazing reviews, 5*s and best of all its not just memory foam like so many are these days, it has springs too.

I’m not sure about memory foam, maybe I’m old fashioned! The cool top to the memory foam sounded ideal, I hate being hot in bed!

Overall, wonderful! I hope this review has helped you, if you would like to ask me any more questions about the SIMBA mattress please feel free to leave a comment and I will be more than happy to help.

The post My review of a hybrid mattress (since refunded) appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

And those that waffle on about how “life changing” and “positive” lockdown is, are meant to be even more boring than the former.

So I’ll try to keep it sweet and short. I don’t mind the lockdown, because I’ve been spending it in my garden. In fact, I’ve been colossally appreciative for my little DIY plant nursery throughout the most recent few months. I realise that I’m inconceivably fortunate during this abnormal time to have a private outside space that I can disappear to, where I can appreciate the daylight and simply feel like I have a tad of opportunity.

Frequently when I proceed to sit outside a feline or three will accompany me and sit close by.

Most of my recently-acquired plants I got from a few nurseries, but also online. Delivery of course, takes longer during Coronavirus (I promise not to mention it again!). If you are this way inclined, Wilko also do a good set of plants (some not in stock).

Or if you are buying online then don’t forget to use a Harrod Horticultural voucher code from here (10% off), as they are rather pricey otherwise. I can’t afford much of their full-price range – even if it is good quality – so I always look for a coupon for Harrod Horticultural first.

Not very close psyche, sufficiently close for them to know I’m there. It’s a stunning inclination simply staying there, tuning in to the sounds from different gardens and watching the plants rising up out of their winter hibernation.

Something I love most about the plant nursery is the shading. Indeed, even in the winter I like to see shading in the nursery, and I’ve done this in mine in a couple of basic ways, such as painting my pergola an exquisite pink shading, and having part of brilliant plant pots. I’m a devotee of shading inside the home as of now, and outside there’s actually no motivation to keep down is there?

To give us a few thoughts for approaches to bring shading into the nursery I thought I’d start by assembling a Pinterest board. From that I’ve pulled out a couple of thoughts that I think would be anything but difficult to reproduce in any nursery.

Hold that thought, because there will be some more about my motivation in the next post.

PS: Very has lots of outdoor decoration options, including this turquoise planter on legs, which I think is my favourite. I have a few indoors pots like this, sat in a wooden frame, and I like the idea of mirroring that look in the garden.

The post Lockdown gardening ideas – part one (of several no doubt) appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

It might be said by some (but not me!) that new cars, rather than used, are best suited as family cars due to their lower running costs, the wide range of options available and their inclusion of the latest electronic technology (vital to entertaining restless children on long journeys!). Second to a house, buying a new car is probably the most expensive purchase a family will make. So how can the modern family afford a new car every two years?? Well let’s share a secret – it’s called FINANCE. Everyone is up their ears in it nowadays it seems (or rather, it doesn’t seem, as they don’t talk about it!)

Things like Klarna are genuinely dangerous – what ever happened to be just spending money you have, and if you don’t then going without??! I am sorry but you don’t NEED new clothes every week, you don’t NEED a brand new Audi. If you can afford those things then, great. But if you can’t then I don’t really see why people are getting into debt over it.

A lesson learned the expensive way!

I bought my current car as a used, and despite the horror stories, there really wasn’t any need for me to be worried. I don’t like new car dealers any more or less than dodgy used card dealers – they all lie a bit. But if you weigh up the cost savings of me running my same 5-year old car versus buying a new one on finance every 2 years it’s so much cheaper. That kind of money I can put towards a holiday.

A word of warning though, I would recommend to run an HPI check from several of the companies that offer this service before buying. I almost got stung by a stolen car but luckily did my own checks… A good place to start is this website, they even offer a free summary / sample report so you can see exactly what you’re getting. For £8.95 it isn’t exactly expensive – if you compare it to HPI.com they charge 20 quid! And there are loads of similar companies that don’t charge much now.

The post How do people afford to run two cars? appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

There are obviously, serious worries around youngsters having telephones, with the dread of a lot of screen time, access to wrong info, peculiar apps, spending, and web based harassing and fortunately the Family Link (link) application tends to these, guaranteeing kids get the best out of tech while guardians and watchmen can protect them observed.

We both like the security a mobile phone brings and the reality, if necessary, Oliver has an approach to get in touch with me or any other individual, in a crisis. He as of late became mixed up in the play region of a lodging we were remaining at and had the capacity to telephone me immediately. Telephones can likewise be animating, instructive and fun.

Oliver cherishes informing his companions after school by means of the multiplayer amusement, Roblox, and he similarly appreciates Doodle Maths, an instructive application he demands to take a shot at, each and every night (no joke). He is just 4 however so requires instruction in positive telephone use and this is the place the Family Link application comes in.

In the UK, phones are expensive. But hubby works hard so he can afford to gift us with nice things. Luckily in this case the iPhone came with a free gift found on OneCompare.com. It is associated with both of our mobile phones all the while and enables me to stop any applications being purchased without my pre-endorsement, or substance saw without me approving alone telephone first. These valuable notices which spring up when Oliver endeavors to watch/purchase enable me to affirm or square applications from the Google Play Store and oversee in-application buys.

I can even conceal applications from his gadget on account of the Family Link application, and all from my very own mobile (iPhone).

So overall I would say this is a great phone and brilliant idea for kids to get into mobiles safely – without their screen time becoming a huge issue.

The post Bobby’s First Mobile – Reviewed appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

I have and it is a terrifying little thing, which is why each year we get prepared for winter driving and I have produced a winter car checklist.  We live in beautiful rural Herefordshire which means that we have to be prepared when it comes to winter weather.  More so DaddyBoy who often travels over some treacherous roads in the winter. 

Since moving back to the West country we have become much more prepared for bad weather and both have emergency packs in our cars. We recently got snow tyres for our vehicles fitted at Kwik-Fit Tewkesbury, found via CompareTyres.com. All you need to do is go on CompareTyres and put in your postcode and vehicle registration – it will do the rest and save you money.

Now here’s some more tips for you saver mummies. x

Winter Car Checklist

Omg let’s try it.

1. Feline Litter – Don’t giggle yet a sack of feline litter is important. You sprinkle it under the vehicle tyres and over where you have to drive and it assists with footing. When I was growing up my Dad (not my hubby but my real daddy) dependably have a touch of floor covering in the vehicle for a similar reason, yet then he needed to get out and get the rug.
2. Wool/foil Blankets – Fleece covers are so economical and pack up little, they are ideal for cuddling under on the off chance that you do stall out, yet additionally to put under the vehicle tyres once more. I two or three them and furthermore several foil covers too.ter/nourishment – I have a jug of water in the vehicle if there should arise an occurrence of crises. I additionally have a container or two of grain bars and nuts. They are immaculate should we stall out and need something to nibble on.
3. Foldable snow scoop. We have one of these in every one of the carsthat we purchased in the deals two or three years back.
4. Vehicle scrubber with a brush. I am not graced with tallness, so my windscreen scrubber has a long handle and furthermore have a brush at the opposite end. Ideal for substantial snowfalls.
5. Wrap up light – there is nothing more awful than stalling out and going for you burn just to discover the batteries have run out. I adore my little wrap up light therefore. The Daddy Hubby has one that additionally has a radio as well., Perfect for on the off chance that he stalls out.

Make sure that you get a load of these free winter tyre checks and more by subscribing to my email newsletter.

The post Let’s Go Travelling – Part I (And a free Checklist) appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

1. Investigate a story

Keeping things fascinating is the most ideal approach to get the children amped up for time outside. Complete a little research in your picked zone, locate a fascinating story appended to an area whether it’s actual or not it’s continually energizing to recount the story while you walk. Manors, hollows, shorelines would all be able to make for energizing areas when you know the legends and stories that encompass them.

2. Include Friends

It may appear to be overwhelming, taking more than your own children outside, however it’s justified, despite all the trouble as the time will pass faster and be more charming for children with a companion included, particularly in case you’re playing diversions en route.

3. Get Creative with nature

Sticks, leaves, pine cones would all be able to be valuable for making ‘enormous’ work of art in the garden, or gather bits of nature to adhere to a bit of paper and make a fall arrangement.

4. Gather Leaves

Fall is a dazzling cluster of hues, what number of various shading leaves would you be able to discover on your tendency walk?

5. Conquer Conkers

All guardians know the amount they delighted in conkers as a youngster, enable the children to make neighborhood beating conkers. Why not set up your own competition for a prize, or play for the sake of entertainment.

6. Catch an empty spider web

With Halloween around the bend, would you be able to get a genuine cobweb? Ensure there are no insects on the web before doing this. For full guidelines click here.

7. Learn about the Weather

The regularly changing British climate in harvest time is an awesome time to find out about the climate. The people over at Netmums have a magnificent page of thoughts identified with climate learning with kids, and some fun exercises to experiment with.

8. Give nature a home

The RSPB are at present offering packs loaded up with thoughts for how you can help fabricate nature a home in your own back garden. Regardless of whether creepy crawlies, frogs, flying creatures or hedghogs, children will be enthused over building a home for a little creature. They can likewise determine the status of the home from the wellbeing of the house to monitor anything living there. For information on the most proficient method to get your pack, click here.

9. Family Bike rides

Riding a bicycle in a gathering makes everybody have some good times, there’s the calm aggressive edge, there’s taking off investigating with family and companions. As the climate gets somewhat cooler, there’s no better time to ride, than pre-winter. Check for trails neighborhood to you, or take off to a national stop. Give the children a chance to gather their very own sack and lead the way a sheltered separation in front. Ensure a cap is worn however, fallen leaves can be slippy on wetter days.

In case you’re searching for thoughts, look at our article: 15 family-accommodating cycle rides in the UK.

10. Fly a Kite

It’s a work of art, and as I compose this i’m doing whatever it takes not to break into the Mary Poppins tune, but rather flying a kite is a moderately shabby and fun action for anyone, and harvest time sets aside a few minutes to do it.

11. Blackberry Picking

Give the kids their own holders and perceive what number of they can gather (it helps on the off chance that you like Blackberries obviously). The blackberry is in season and tasting awesome, a blackberry disintegrate makes for a phenomenal end of the week dessert.

12. Wildlife walk

Most kids have a characteristic interest with regards to creatures and untamed life, why not take off on a nature stroll with a cushion a pen and perceive what number of you can discover? Isolate the creatures into gatherings of warm blooded creatures, creepy crawlies and so forth and discover more about every creature when you return home.

13. Skimming stones

Show the little ones how to skim stones at the nearby lake or stream, what number of skips would they be able to make?

14. Go Climbing

Climbing is fun at any age, regardless of whether it’s climbing trees, making a beeline for an indoor climbing focus or notwithstanding moving over rocks while out on a walk. Climbing adds genuine experience to any walk and will keep things a good time for children.

15. Visit a nearby Farm

Nearby ranches that acknowledge guests will regularly be an incredible place to visit creatures, purchase neighborhood deliver or meander around getting sloppy in your wellies. A decent decision for a short stroll for littler kids.

The post Things to do with your Kids this Autumn appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

London-based illustrator and animation director Benji Davies reconciles these two contradictory demands with enormous tenderness and thoughtfulness in The Storm Whale (public library) — a beautiful belated addition to the best children’s books of 2014. A quiet meditation on what happens when solitude becomes loneliness, the story welcomes the challenges and rewards of single-parenting, celebrating the redemptive power of attentive love.

One morning, after a violent storm sweeps the island, Noi goes down to the beach and spots something curious in the distance.

It’s a great little book that my little darlings love to be read to! If you want to grab a copy it cost me £5.30 from Amazon including delivery.

The post The Storm Whale – My Review appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

Ultimately, my Daughter is ginger. She is my smaller than normal me and I am genuinely happy that I have passed my carefulness onto her – being ginger is unique, something to be glad for. Such huge numbers of individuals spend their lives attempting to appear as something else, to color their hair and influence themselves to emerge. My Daughter will never need to – She is distinctive as of now.

Tragically, in this life being diverse isn’t constantly celebrated and acknowledged. I was harassed determinedly as a young person and it made my optional school instruction a genuinely awful ordeal. I did well scholastically. I cleared out school with 9 A-C review GCSEs yet additionally with no certainty, no confidence and a genuine contempt of my hair shading. I put in the following couple of years highighting it, going blonder and blonder to attempt and shroud it and to be something else, something I never could be.

I truly trust that my Daughter never encounters the tormenting, exploitation and preference that I persisted for the 5 long stretches of optional school. Shockingly, I can’t ensure that she won’t confront a similar little mindedness and disparagement that I looked as a teenager – chiefly on the grounds that society has imparted in individuals for ages the counter ginger perspectives, making us the brunt of jokes and something to be ridiculed at each chance.

I had thought as of late that this insulting of redheads was vanishing, that it was only a stage I had survived. The last time I had heard anything ‘open’ slating ginger individuals was in 2009 when Tesco needed to expel a Christmas card from deal. It had a photo on it of a ginger tyke sitting on Santa’s knee and the motto ‘Santa Clause cherishes all children. Much ginger ones’. From that point forward I hadn’t generally heard or seen anything in the media proceeding with this pattern. That is until two or three weeks prior.

Two words: Katie Hopkins.

Katie Hopkins is more popular for having intercourse in a field than for her appearance in the Apprentice and somebody that, similar to me, you would presumably need to Google to work out who she really is.

The post Being a Ginger Haired Woman and Mummy! appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.

I can honestly say I love these labels and they have made my life so much easier. No ironing labels on, no marker pen scribbles. They just stick on! Yes, it really is as simple as that.I truly do rate MyNametags and would profoundly suggest them. They will spare you time and ideally cash when you don’t need to purchase substitution uniform! Little Man cherishes his marks as well and knows which names are his. My Nametags have been a tremendous hit all round in my home.

My Nametags have sympathetically allowed you to win a sheet of their Color Sticker Nametags. You can plan them yourself and be good to go for September. You can enter with the Rafflecopter underneath. You can also get them at boots, using a 10% off code from Amazon S3 Vouchers here I managed to get 30% off.

The post MyNameTags Giveaway – with Boots appeared first on Mummy 2 Monkeys.