Maldives - The Scent of Paradise #scentsofadventure

March 28, 2014, 6:53 am

≫ Next: A New Blazer from the Bonmarche Spring Collection

≪ Previous: Country Living - Tweed Jacket from Joules

$

0

0

Kuoni have set a challenge for bloggers to come up with the signature scent of the Maldives, one that ignites thoughts of far flung destinations and captures the essence of a tropical paradise.

How can just one fragrance encapsulate the scent of paradise?  To me, the scent of The Maldives would be a rare confluence of the exotic and the tropical coming together to form a fragrance that would evoke the emotions, transporting us to the place of our dreams.  Far reaching, sun drenched white beaches with crystal turquoise waters, teeming with beautiful marine life, lapping at the shores.  Gently swaying palm trees punctuating the scenery against a backdrop of lush, green vegetation.  Clear azure skies, fresh, clean air and the promise of adventure filling your soul and freeing your spirit.

The signature scent of the Maldives would be a combination of the following fragrances...the beautiful aroma of this island paradise.  Combining the evocative odours of the Maldivian national tree, flower, food and fruit with the other flora of the islands, these are the smells which I imagine when I close my eyes and picture myself lying on the soft, warm sand next to my husband, breathing in the sweet Maldivian air.

Pandanus flowers with their exotic, subtle fragrance, known as the vanilla of the east.

Authentic Maldivian cuisine taking its influences form India and the Middle East. Gentle spice fragrances wafting, tempting and delicious.

Rose petals - Finefenmaa the Maldives national flower- soft pink confetti gently tossed and blown by the sea breeze.

Anbu - the Maldivian Mangoes growing on laden trees in the Southern atolls give off the fragrant aroma of their sweet, sun-ripened flesh.

Dhivehi ruh - coconut palms in the language of the islands, the national fruit rich with its sweet, heavy scent of summer.  Memories of Pina Coladas sipped through a straw from a coconut shell.

Infusions of floral Jasmine, Frangipani, Hibiscus and Bougainvillea - ornamental flowers that grow close to the sun kissed beach.

Sea air, fresh with ozone and the tangy scent of salt.

Exotic, luscious, tropical fruits, bananas, papaya and pineapple, fresh and growing in abundance.

image by freeimageslive.co.uk - scubadiver

But if I had to pinpoint that one single fragrance, which truly captures the tropical paradise of the Maldives it would have to be the scent of the luscious, tropical fruits that grow on the shores combined in a luscious, beachside cocktail.  A Mango Colada!

Image by Open Clip Art

Find out more at the Maldives by visiting the Kuoni site:  http://www.kuoni.co.uk/maldives

---

A New Blazer from the Bonmarche Spring Collection

March 28, 2014, 7:29 am

≫ Next: Heros in a Half Shell - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

≪ Previous: Maldives - The Scent of Paradise #scentsofadventure

$

0

0

The new spring collection from Bonmarche sees a lot of key pieces added to their range, bringing some exciting wardrobe staples to the brand.  Wish a fresher and more modern feel, the new Bonmarche range is aiming at a younger market, bringing abstract prints, vibrant colours and stylish designs to their collection.  With high quality items at affordable prices, Bonmarche is delivering fashion to women in sizes 10-24.

Bonmarche have sent me one of their new arrivals to try out, a black, linen blend jacket, which is a perfect addition to my spring/summer wardrobe.  This single breasted, fully lined jacket comes with some attractive detailing.  The layering and topstitching of the collar and mock pockets adds a decorative element to the design.  The tailoring is flattering and the sizing is good.

Priced at just £30 this jacket is a very versatile piece.  Ideal for workwear, the jacket can be teamed with both skirts or trousers for a smart tailored look.  Worn with jeans, it gives a more casual look, perfect for the season.  I really like its simplicity and versatility, and a black blazer really is a wardrobe must have!

Find this and other jackets and blazers at www.bonmarche.co.uk/shop-by-product/coats+jackets/icat/coatsandjackets/

Heros in a Half Shell - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

March 31, 2014, 4:29 am

≫ Next: My Mother's Day

≪ Previous: A New Blazer from the Bonmarche Spring Collection

$

0

0

I fondly remember my eldest son Joe loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back in the early 90's.  Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael featured heavily in both TV viewing and playtime.  It provided some wonderful nostalgia when Freddy was sent the latest Nickelodeon TMNT toys from Character to try out. Twenty years on and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles still hold the same appeal and excitement!

He received the TMNT Battle Shell Leonardo along with Shredder's underwater thug and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle adversary Fishface!  The blister packed toys were easy to remove from the packaging and the cardboard and plastic separated up nicely for recycling.

The figures stand at around 5" high and are fully articulated with more than 12 points of articulation. They are highly detailed and perfectly replicate the TV characters .  They stand up well, which I think is an important feature.  Freddy gets very frustrated when he can't stand up his action figures ready for battle!  He loved the look of his new toys and was ready and eager to test them out right away.

The Battle Shell Leonardo comes with two long swords that fit into scabbards attached to his shell.  The shell itself opens up to reveal some secondary weaponry, a dagger and two Ninja throwing stars.  Leonardo's hands grip really well, as he keeps the streets of NY city safe armed with his signature weapons. Freddy did find opening the shell a bit tricky with his little fingers, but it opens simply by pulling which is a knack I'm sure he'll master.

Fishface is a fantastic mutant fish villain with his sharp venomous toothed jaws, water-breathing rig and his robotic legs.  He is no fish out of water when it comes to being the turtles most cutthroat enemy! He has a big sword and a small dagger that fit well into into hands. Freddy loves having both heroes and villains in order to play the most imaginative games of good versus evil!

The action figures are really well made with great attention to detail.  They are sturdy and robust for battle action.  Freddy is one of those children who loves to make toys fight and really puts the workmanship to the test as he bashes them around in his games of goodies vs baddies!  He really enjoyed playing as Leonardo whilst his dad played Fishface.  The toys stood up very well to the Freddy's enthusiastic playtime as they practiced the ancient art of Ninjutsu and displayed their Turtle Power!

The action figures cost £9.99 each, are suitable for children aged 4 and up and can be found at Argos, Amazon and other good toy retailers.  They are part of a range of characters and vehicles made in celebration of this iconic kids' show.  I think it's great that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in all their pizza eating, Nunchuck throwing, Ninja fighting glory. It's great to see Freddy enjoying them as much as his big brother did when he was his age.

Freddy was so impressed with his new TMNT toys that he has taken them into school for Show and Tell today.  That shows just how great he thinks these new action figures are!

My Mother's Day

March 31, 2014, 5:23 am

≫ Next: It's time for a new watch!

≪ Previous: Heros in a Half Shell - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

$

0

0

A hand print butterfly card from my precious little schoolboy :)  he had hidden in in the kitchen cupboard since Friday so he could surprise me.

 A card from my three youngest comparing me to Disney characters, which made me cry.  I feel humbled to know that they think of me in these ways.

In the same theme, Freddy drew me this picture saying "Mum is Rapunzel.  She is pretty." More tears!

Freddy also presented me with the most beautiful bunch of flowers...and a Dairylea Dunker as breakfast in bed!  The latter brought back memories of my eldest son bringing me a chocolate Pop Tart spread with Marmite as a breakfast in bed treat when he was about the same age!

Megan made me a video that was just so lovely that I cried some more!  She is doing so tremendously well pursuing her dream career and grasping every opportunity that comes her way.  She is an inspiration. She does us so proud!

A Facebook message from my eldest Joe let me know that he was thinking of me, as he spent a day with his own little family :)

I had a lovely chat on the phone to my own fabulous Mum.  I love her to bits!  She loved all her presents and the Moonpig card I sent her, which featured old family photos of us together alongside photos of her with my kids.

Ella playing her guitar and singing for me whilst I baked some cakes was a wonderful way to spend my afternoon.  We followed it up by catching up on the new series of How I Met Your Mother snuggled under a duvet.  Simple things make me happy.

I adore my brood and feel so blessed.

I love being their mum more than anything else in the world.

They make me so proud everyday.

****

I was also sent a little pamper hamper from Virtual Bathrooms so I could enjoy a lovely scented candelit bubble bath.  Thanks to them too :)

It's time for a new watch!

April 1, 2014, 4:06 am

≫ Next: #GreatBritishHomeChallenge - What's My Style?

≪ Previous: My Mother's Day

$

0

0

A watch is a statement.

It says something about you.

Your style.

Your needs.

Who you are.

It can be practical.

Colourful.

A designer label.

Classy.

Expensive.

Extravagant.

Simple.

It can be super modern or more traditional.

Classic.

Timeless.

So why then do I currently NOT have a watch!!

Growing up I always had a watch.  Some cartoon character with moving hands pointing at the numbers, as I learned how to tell the time. As a teenager my watches were fashion statements with interchangeable colourful straps and face rims, that co-ordinated with my outfits.  The advent of new technology saw us wear digital watches with built in calculators that we thought made us look super intelligent and futuristic.  Over time, this advancing technology saw the mobile phone rise meteorically.  Now everyone has a phone, which as just one of its myriad functions, displays the time.  So when my beautiful antique silver bracelet watch that I loved went missing, I decided that instead of replacing it, I'd make do with using the phone to tell the time.  Oh what a mistake that was.  My naked wrist feels so empty without a watch.  The amount of times I glance to the place where a watch should be, only to be disappointed by its absence makes me realise that my watch needs to be replaced.  Rooting around in my handbag for my phone every time I want to check on the time is just frustrating.  Then 9 out of 10 times, with the phone in my hand I feel compelled to check my social media or play a couple of levels of Plants Vs Zombies, both of which take up the valuable time I was checking up on in the first place.  It's just counter productive!

So I have perused the pages of The Watch Hut, sponsors of the Best Writer category of this year's MAD Blog Awards, eyeing up their gorgeous offerings and found a watch that I love!

The Fossil ladies' watch has a large face with easy to read hands. Both important features to me these days now I'm a 'forty something'!  It is practical but just oozing with style.  I adore the tortoiseshell strap and the row of crystals that add femininity and a hint of luxury to the design.  The brown colour is quite unusual and in my opinion is much nicer than metallic or brightly coloured watches.  I am a fan of brown...it matches my hair and my taste in clothing! Inspired by vintage styles, I think this is just lovely, whilst remaining perefectly practical for a busy, time pressed  mum.  At £76 it's a bargain too, selling at 20% off its RRP.

So, just maybe, if I am very lucky, this lovely timepiece could be finding its way to me, to adorn my naked wrist and save me from the time-telling procrastination of using my mobile phone!

This is my entry for the MAD Blog Awards sponsor The Watch Hut competition.

#GreatBritishHomeChallenge - What's My Style?

April 1, 2014, 4:47 am

≫ Next: Fun at Little Fun Fest

≪ Previous: It's time for a new watch!

$

0

0

So, Victoria Plumb, inspirational designers and purveyors of stylish bathrooms, are asking us to take part in their Great British Home quiz to find out what our homes say about our style.  I duly took part to discover that I am in fact channeling the interior design inspiration of none other than Joey Essex!  Now don't get me wrong, I love Joey, but to compare me to someone who "screams glamour" is probably against the Trade's Description Act! Glamorous I am not!!

At first glance, my home is probably more bland than bling!  However there are some aspects of the results of the quiz that I can relate to...slightly.  I love being snuggled on my sofa but tend to be wrapped in an old sleeping bag rather than a faux fur throw.  I love a good cushion, but there is no embellishment on my practical, plain brown ones. Sequins and embroidery are just too uncomfortable when you lie down for a snooze. I do favour neutral tones such as browns and creams, but would never go metallic and crushed velvets are just too 1980's for my taste.  I've been there and done that already.  Ostentatious soft furnishings are so not my thing.   Family portraits do feature in my decor and I love a good kitchen gadget.  So maybe there is an element of Essex in my style somewhere, I'm just bypassing the glamour and going for a more practical approach. Possibly having five kids has eradicated all attempts of glamorizing my living space and suppressed my inner glamour girl.  Middle aged and practical seems a more befitting description of me these days.

Looking around my living room, I see very little of my personal style.  Everything is most definitely here for practicality. A huge DVD, game and Blu-ray collection has seen a need for a huge storage solution dominating one wall of our living space.  Practical laminate flooring provides a fuss free, easy to clean alternative to carpet.  A huge corner sofa is needed to seat the whole family whenever they all descend, and the punctuation of beige cushions does little in the way of adding any pzazz.  It's a functional room for watching our big TV...but when it is filled with family and the love, fun and laughter that comes with that,  it comes alive! Piles of Freddy's toys that migrate their way into the living room are a constant reminder of the fact that my home is a place where the children feel comfortable and free to have fun.  There are no ornaments, breakables or trinkets on display, no fine fabrics or delicate soft furnishings that could get damaged.  This is a house for relaxing and enjoying some family fun, not for being on your best behaviour.

My kitchen is again modern, practical and functional - although I do dream of a having a country kitchen with a range cooker, a central island workstation and a plethora of matching crockery at my disposal.  It's where I knock up family meals and bake cakes, do the laundry and wash up.  There is no seating so it isn't the hub of the house or the heart of my home.  It's where things get done, which makes me a bit sad.  I'd love one of those kitchens where you can sit around the table with a cup of coffee having a chat while the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air.  Instead it's just me and my utensils doing a job.  But it is a lovely working environment for my solitary pursuits, and sometimes one of the kids will perch themselves on the work surface to keep me company, or Freddy will grab a stool to stand on and be my little kitchen helper.

We recently revamped our bedroom to make it more of a sanctuary and less of a storage facility for everybody else's stuff. Some new paint, new blinds and new bed covers certainly gave my room a new lease of life and brightened up things for the better.  The silky duvet cover does have a touch of glam in its gold and black design, and the silk Roman blinds really open up the space.  I think even Joey Essex may approve of it!  It's nice to have somewhere with a hint of glamour as my own personal space, to unwind in.  Maybe there is a little TOWIE in me after all!

My ensuite bathroom is one of my joys!  I love it, with its big walk in shower unit and mirrored back wall. It's lovely having such a great space attached to my bedroom - but because it is so cool, the kids insist on using my shower and not the bath in their family bathroom.  Consequently, I have a trail of teenagers coming through my bedroom day and night, leaving crumpled, wet towels and a myriad of potions and lotions in their wake!  Perhaps it's time to upgrade their bathroom so I can free up my ensuite!  Maybe the modern, trendy Princeton suite that Victoria Plumb tells me is perfect for adding TOWIE glamour to my home, would suit my three glamour puss daughters!  Definitely something to consider.

At the end of the day, we have a comfortable home where we can relax, kick back and enjoy family life.  It's modern and functional, but still has the touches that make it special to us like our family photo canvases, our big TV and our big, old comfy corner sofa.  It's spacious and light and provides a place for us all to be together in comfort.  For me, my home is a reflection of our family's needs.  It may not be fancy, it may not be glam or adorned in ornamental embellishments, but it is our home.

Our home may be functional...but by golly...we know how to put the FUN in our FUNctional approach to style!

“This post is an entry for #GreatBritishHome Challenge  sponsored by Victoria Plumb, a source of quality bathrooms for every type of home. Take its “What’s Your Celebrity Home Style?” quiz to discover what your home says about you.”

Fun at Little Fun Fest

April 7, 2014, 4:41 am

≫ Next: Flora's Funspiration Activity Guide for Kids

≪ Previous: #GreatBritishHomeChallenge - What's My Style?

$

0

0

Little Fun Fest was held this year on April 5th and 6th at Red House Farm.  It is a festival aimed at families with children under 10, where little ones can see stars from the telly, take part in workshops, enjoy funfair rides and watch exciting fun filled shows.  We were lucky enough to attend as VIPs and in spite of the rainy weather we had a fabulous time.  The venue itself is a lovely find, with a play area, courtyard, tea rooms and shop set in the heart of the Dunham Massey countryside.  When we first arrived we treated ourselves to a vegetarian cooked breakfast to fortify us for the day ahead!  RHF make their own tomato sauce which is incredible!  We will certainly be visiting there again soon when we're en route to Manchester to sample some more of the tea room offerings.

Clad in our raincoats and sensible footwear, we made our way to the field which housed the Big Top.  Freddy was keen to head straight for the fun fair rides and enjoyed trying out everything on offer.  He loved the swing ride, the pirate ship and the plane ride.  With all the rides being included in the price of the ticket, he could ride as often as he liked!

There were also go-carts, a climbing wall and pedal boats for the little ones.  Freddy loved the boats!

He was able to learn some circus skills too.  He tried his hand at tightrope walking, stilt walking and plate spinning and had a lot of fun assisted by his big sisters.

There was a programme of shows running throughout the day at the Big Top and also at the Fun Barn.  Both being undercover meant the weather didn't spoil the fun.  The Big Top hosted shows from stars such as Dr Ranj and Alex Winters, alongside interactive music and dance activities from Baby Ballet, Mr Yipadee and Dene Michael from Black Lace fame  plus many more fun acts.  

There were opportunities to meet the stars of the show and have photos taken with them.  My girls were particularly excited about meeting the everso handsome Dr Ranj!

 They enjoyed catching up with very funny and very lovable Alex Winters too!

 The lovely Cat Sandion from CBeebies was also there telling stories and chatting to the kids.  Fred was very happy that she said hello to him while he was playing in the play area!

Freddy loved the Starkidz Disney princesses in the Fun Barn who kept the crowds entertained all day.  He loved Anna and Elsa from Frozen.

He also loved meeting Flynn Rider and Rapunzel from Tangled, who let him hold Pascal for the photo!  He was delighted to get a cuddle from all the lovely ladies and a handshake from Flynn!  We also saw Spiderman, the Easter Bunny, Hello Kitty, a Despicable Me Minion and the Mad Hatter wandering around.  It is so magical for children to have these experiences, immersing themselves in the excitement of the book, films and TV characters that they love.

The Hogwart's Magic School let little ones plant magic beans and make wands under the guidance of Harry and his friends.  Kids also got to enjoy regular shows and take part in some magic!  The Ford Anglia car,  just like the one in the films, was there to look at and there were plenty of photo opportunities with the lookalike stars of the show.  My girls had a snap with Harry!

There was some brilliant piratey fun to be had in the Fun Barn.  Freddy joined in with some singing and dancing with Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, along with Alex and Mr Yipadee.  It was high energy fun and the kids all loved getting up and doing the actions to the songs.  There were craft activities for the children to take part, storytimes and puppet shows too.

 Red House Farm has a great play area with climbing frames, swings, playhouses and a giant sandpit.  The sandpit was Freddy's favourite thing and he spent a long time playing in it towards the end of the day while singing Let It Go from Frozen.  RHF is a great venue choice for a kids' festival.

Although we weren't blessed with sunshine, instead getting grey skies and rain, lots of the activities were undercover and with appropriate clothing we could enjoy most activities. The fields got very muddy, but the organisers ensured the safety of everyone attending by laying down straw to walk on.

There were lots of places to eat with food ranging from burgers, chips, pizzas, wraps to crepes available on site.  Lots of veggie options were available, which is always good to see. The Little Fun Fest sweet shop had some sweet treats, and the children were able to take part in a Easter treasure hunt to find letters around the festival to make up a word.  Once they had that word they were rewarded with a bag of mini Easter eggs as a prize! 

I love the idea of having a festival for kids, allowing them to experience the fun of live entertainment and activities designed just for them.  Seeing and meeting Alex, Dr Ranj and Cat is a wonderful opportunity for CBeebies fans. They are all so lovely with the kids.  It really is a great day out for Little Funsters...even when it rains!

http://www.littlefunfest.co.uk/

Flora's Funspiration Activity Guide for Kids

April 12, 2014, 9:11 am

≫ Next: Green Science Dynamo Torch Review

≪ Previous: Fun at Little Fun Fest

$

0

0

We all sometimes need a bit of inspiration when it comes to coming up with new, fun ideas for things for the kids to do.  With the Easter holidays here and the prospect of at least a few rainy days, I know I'll be trying to come up with lots of activities to keep my little ones busy.  So I was delighted to find that Flora Buttery have produced their Funspiration Activity Guide filled with simple and fun ideas for keeping children entertained.

With fifteen activities, each needing no more than five things and taking fifteen minutes to prepare, it's an essential guide for busy parents.  Featuring ideas such as cupcake baking to holding a fashion show to launching a rocket, there is so much inspiration for activities that there will never be a dull moment this Easter!

Written by Tanith Carey, award winning journalist and parenting author, the guide is perfect for when you want to spend some quality time with the kids, trying something new. There are also things that the older kids can do independently to keep them busy. Activities can be adapted for doing indoors or outdoors, so if it brightens up you can take it outside. Everything can be adapted to the age and ability of the children.

Mumsnet have challenged me to try out one of the activities with Kizzy and Freddy.

We loved a lot of the activities, especially the recipes and crafts, but the idea of the Kids on the Catwalk challenge really caught their imagination. All you need is a selection of clothing, accessories, some music and a space for the kids to strut their stuff!

The kids decided on the theme of Summer Wear and Kizzy decided to try her hand at upcycling some old clothes, as suggested in the activity guide as something for older kids to try.  She had a pair of knee length denim shorts and a t-shirt that she she wanted to upcycle into something funky and fresh for the fashion show.

Take some old clothing that you want to upcycle.

Mark out where you want to cut down the item.

Carefully cut the clothing, saving the cut off pieces to use for scrunchies, wristbands etc.

Kizzy got creative and made a funky new outfit consisting of a tie-up crop top with denim sleeves, cut down shorts, hair scrunchies and wrist band! Adding a pair of shades, her outfit was complete.

Freddy enjoyed the accessories and posed in sunglasses and hats, harnessing his inner Romeo Beckham!! He loved delving into the pile of scarves, hats and glasses to change his look.

We set up a space to make a runway and put out chairs for the audience.  We played some summer tunes and the children paraded on the catwalk, with walks that they had choreographed themselves.

It was such a simple activity for the children to enjoy, extended to include the upcycling of the clothing, which Kizzy really enjoyed doing.  It's such a confidence boost for children to get up and perform.  Afterwards, we did a modelling session with me as the photographer snapping some lovely photos of Kizzy in her summer outfit.

We will definitely be trying out some more of the activities - next on the list is to 'Put on a Puppet Show' using odd socks to make the puppets.  I have loads of odd socks at the bottom of the airing basket that will lend themselves perfectly to becoming sock puppets!  I particularly enjoy the activities that incorporate a craft activity followed by a performance, because it keeps the kids busy, unleashes their creativity and I get to enjoy the show afterwards!

The Funspiration Activity Guide from Flora is completely free to download from the Mumsnet website:
http://www.mumsnet.com/pdf/flora-buttery-funspiration-guide.pdf


“I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity”.

---

Green Science Dynamo Torch Review

April 12, 2014, 10:46 am

≫ Next: Spring into Summer with Next #NextKids

≪ Previous: Flora's Funspiration Activity Guide for Kids

$

0

0

We were sent a 4M Green Science Dynamo Torch kit to try out from Great Gizmos.  It contains everything needed to make a working, wind-up torch and teaches children about electrical energy in the process.  It's high voltage inspiration and fun!

Comprising of a toy motor, LED lamp, gears and torch casing, cover and accessories, children aged 8 and over can create their own torch.  In doing so, they will learn how to follow instructions, improve their dexterity and gain an understanding of basic electronics.

The clear instruction sheet gives an assembly diagram and step by step guide for making the torch.  Kizzy's first look at the instructions left her a bit confused, but with Dad on hand she soon got stuck in.  Adult supervision is probably advisable unless you have an electronics whizz for a child.

Once her Dad had pointed her in the right direction, she was able to affix the LED to the casing, install the gears, attach the handle and connect the wires to the motor.  You need a small cross head screwdriver to assemble the torch using little screws, which can prove a bit fiddly for a child.  Again, Dad was on hand to assist Kizzy.

Once it is assembled, the handle can be turned which converts hand motion into electrical energy which lights up the green bulb.  Kizzy was very impressed that she had made the torch light up.

The casing can be attached to a plastic bottle to make a unique torch from your favourite pop bottle.  A great use of recycling!  The torch makes a practical and functional emergency light for kids to use in the dark, powered by hand motion.  

The instructions include fun facts about elecricity.  It explains how electric generators work and how the physical power of  winding the handle converts kinetic energy to electrical energy.  Making electricity in this way is a form of renewable energy which gives off no pollution, opening up children's minds to the concept of greener, environmentally friendly energy sources.

Freddy was very interested in the finished product and was very intrigued at how the torch worked.  That is the beauty of these children's science kits.  Kids learn so much from playing, and even from a young age this can spark a real love of science.

The Dynamo Torch set retails at £11.95.

Find out more at:

http://www.greatgizmos.co.uk/green-science-dynamo-torch.html

Spring into Summer with Next #NextKids

April 15, 2014, 9:40 am

≫ Next: What Fred Said This Time!

≪ Previous: Green Science Dynamo Torch Review

$

0

0

I am always delighted to attend the Next events which showcase kids' clothes for the following season. Today, myself, Ella, Kizzy and Freddy headed to Next's HQ in Leicester for a sneak peek at their new ranges of kids'clothes and accessories for Summer.  Unfortunately, due to the M1 being closed and a detour that saw us cover just 5 miles in an hour, we arrived horribly late.  However, we were made to feel very welcome as we were shown to the showroom to admire the latest looks.

I love Next clothes for Freddy so I really enjoyed looking at all the new styles that will be available for him this year. There are some excellent T-shirt designs about to hit the stores, featuring superheroes such as Superman, Batman and the Avengers, vintage Star Wars, The Lego Movie, Ron Burgundy, Angry Birds, bands and Plants vs Zombies (our personal favourite on account of our PvZ addiction!)  The forthcoming World Cup has inspired a range of T-shirts based on the football strips of different teams from across the world, which are really lovely.  It's nice to have a football shirt that is made from soft cotton rather than that shiny material that they are usually made from. The World Cup has also influenced some other designs including one which shows Spiderman in goal, saving the ball with his net! There are also some more traditional England t-shirts and sports' clothes, so little ones can support our team as they compete in Brazil this summer.

I was very impressed with the all-in-one swim suits featuring fun character costumes, transforming the wearer into a little Superman or swashbuckling pirate.  Great fun for the beach!

The kids loved browsing and picking out things they liked.  Kizzy loved the delicate floral prints and sunglasses prints in the girls' section and was pleased to see the sizes go up big enough for her to wear!  She loved the collared playsuit, perfect for fun in the sun.

There were some fabulous accessories and shoes for both boys and girls which will go perfectly with the outfits, from some gorgeous sparkly pumps for little girls to cool trainers for the lads.  

Next's summer lines have a style to suit every child:  preppy, smart, sporty, funky, fun loving or casual.

There were some lovely little boys' suit jackets, shirts and waistcoats which would be perfect for a summer wedding or special occasion, at high street prices.  A great way to save a few pounds if you have a formal function to attend with your little one this year.

After spending some time perusing the new looks from Next, we were treated to a lovely lunch at Cini.  The little ones got to make their own pizzas in the kitchens which were cooked freshly for them. Freddy and Kizzy tucked into their pizzas while Ella and I enjoyed spinach ravioli.

With some fab company and some goodies for the kids thrown in the mix, we had a  lovely time.  Thank you to Next for another lovely #NextKids event!

What Fred Said This Time!

April 16, 2014, 1:30 am

≫ Next: More Sky Entertainment from TalkTalk

≪ Previous: Spring into Summer with Next #NextKids

$

0

0

Freddy has very firm ideas when it comes to his education as this little conversation that he had with his Nana shows:

What did you do at school today?
I played.
Did you do anything else.
Yes but there was something I couldn't do.
What couldn't you do?
Work!

Freddy's view on the dawn of man:

All the cars and people used to be statues and God brought everything to life.  He made statue people into real life people and gave us real hair instead of statue hair.

I loved Freddy's attempt at pronouncing these two American holiday destinations:
Flooridor and Clarriflornia
They sound much nicer than plain old Florida and California.

Freddy is a bit of a Harry Potter fan:

I love Harry Potter because he does awesome spells to set things on fire called Incendio and hang people upside down called Levicorpus and blast things called Stupify and make people forget things called....I've forgotten what that one's called.

More Sky Entertainment from TalkTalk

April 18, 2014, 3:20 am

≫ Next: Keep Calm and Party - Ella is 18!

≪ Previous: What Fred Said This Time!

$

0

0

TalkTalk have seven Sky channels coming to TalkTalk Plus TV: Sky 1, Sky 2, Sky Sports News, Sky Living, Sky Livingit, Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2, which are all in addition to the 70 Freeview channels currently available to TalkTalk's Plus TV customers. The new channels will bring TalkTalk homes some of the very best entertainment shows from Sky, including Modern Family, Elementary, The Smoke and Bones, as well as a hundred hours of on demand shows each month.  

The Sky Movies Boost is available to buy for two months at half price until 23rd April for existing customers, offering 11 Sky Movies channels and on demand films for just £7.50 a month. There are some great films coming to Sky Movies this month including The Lone Ranger, Trance, Man of Steel and Grown Ups 2.  You can catch a whole host of superhero films on the dedicated Superhero channel this month too!  Perfect for the whole family to enjoy this Easter.

Find out more about the TalkTalk services for TV, Broadband, home phone and mobile plus details of their special offers at www.talktalk.co.uk.

Keep Calm and Party - Ella is 18!

April 18, 2014, 9:27 am

≫ Next: Siblings - My Mum and Uncle John

≪ Previous: More Sky Entertainment from TalkTalk

$

0

0

It seems like only yesterday that I brought my beautiful baby girl home from hospital, and now she's officially becoming an adult on the event of her eighteenth birthday next week.  Parenting a teenager can be a challenge in many ways, but it's a challenge I embrace wholeheartedly.  I love having a grown-up daughter who is great company, fun to be around and whose achievements fill me with pride!

Throwing a little party for Ella and her friends, as part of the week long celebrations for her birthday, has been helped along after receiving some brilliant partyware fromThe Partyware Shop.  The Keep Calm range has real popular appeal with its simple, yet eye catching design featuring the iconic phraseology. 

With plates, bowls, napkins, cups, ice cream tubs, cake cases and cake toppers, the range is perfect for teenagers and adults alike.  The bold colours make a strong statement and will make the party table look bright and colourful.

We received from the Keep Calm and Party range:

Paper Cups £2.49 for 8

Paper Bowls £2.75 for 8

Paper Plates £2.75 for 8

Lunch Napkins £2.75 for 20

Treat Tubs £2.99 for 8

Cupcake Cases £3.99 for 100

Cupcake Picks £2.49 for 20

Yesterday, some of Ella's friends came over to have a lunchtime party and to watch a movie together.  

The meal plan consisted of veggie burgers with potato shapes, salad, carrot sticks, hummus, fruit, jellies, sweets and cupcakes.  I kept it simple but the lovely co-ordinating partyware made the table look great and elevated the food into something quite special.

I particularly liked the cupcake cases and picks.  I made some Oreo and some Chocolate Truffle and Berry cupcakes in the cases, decorating some of them with a Keep Calm and Eat Cake pick!  The bowls were perfect for serving up salad, sweets and grapes in as well as using them for eating from.  The treat tubs were used to serve the jelly.

The plates, tubs and bowls were very sturdy and excellent quality, so didn't flop or bend when piled with food. The cups were also very good and were re-used several times.  The napkins were strong enough to deal with minor spills and didn't disintegrate when wet.

Overall, I think the range represents excellent value for money as it is such good quality, is quite unique and looks great.  It is nice to find a design that suits an older child's party (although I don't think Ella would have minded being served her party food up on the new Disney Frozen Deluxe Party Pack which is just £18.99 and contains everything for a party of 8 children).

For a limited time, The Partyware Shop is offering free UK postage and packing on orders (usually £3.95) so it's a perfect time to buy.

Find out more and discover the full range of paper partyware, china and glass serveware and party accessories, games and decorations at thepartywareshop.com.

Siblings - My Mum and Uncle John

April 19, 2014, 1:30 am

≫ Next: Box of OMG and Box of Awseome Review #totallyomg

≪ Previous: Keep Calm and Party - Ella is 18!

$

0

0

Over the years I unfortunately haven't seen much of my extended family, especially since the death of my wonderful Nan Peck six years ago. So I was really thrilled to hear that my Uncle John was coming to stay with my parents and that they would be visiting us.  The last time I saw my uncle was at my Nan's funeral back in 2008, before Freddy was even born.  So we were all really looking forward to seeing him again and introducing Freddy to his Great Uncle.

It was lovely to see him!  My kids all really enjoyed his company and we chatted and reminisced.  I showed John photos of my two eldest, Joe and Megan, my niece Kate, my nephew Tom, my grandson Ted and great nephew Michael, updating him on all the family news.  Freddy proudly showed him all the certificates he had won at school and drew him some pictures to take home. He loved having a new grown-up to impress.

I took some photos of John with my family.  Taking photographs and preserving memories is so important to me, adding some updated images to my collection of family pics, so the children (and their future children) can see their own history through photos.  

I found an old picture of my mum with her little brother taken in about 1940 and compared it to the photo I took last week.  Now, seventy years on, my mum is over 80 and John is just a few years behind. But they are still that same brother and sister that sat for the photographer all those years ago, dressed in their Sunday best.

In hindsight, I wish I'd recreated the original pose, with John looking a bit cheeky and my mum having a protective arm around her little brother...definitely something to do next time!!

Box of OMG and Box of Awseome Review #totallyomg

April 19, 2014, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Ella is 18 Today

≪ Previous: Siblings - My Mum and Uncle John

$

0

0

When our Mega Box of OMG and Mega Box of Awesome arrived, Freddy and Kizzy couldn't wait to get stuck in to find out what treats were inside.  Filled with goodies from top brands such as HARIBO, Plasticine and Nickelodeon, the boxes are packed with things such as stickers, trading cards, toys, sweets and books.  They are great for keeping the kids entertained in the school holidays!

Freddy had a Mega Box of Awesome.  He was instantly delighted to find Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Skylanders and Predasaurs DNA Fusion items among the goodies inside.

The Odd Squad Bully Bait by Michael Fry was a great freebie to find in the Mega Box of Awesome. Although he is a bit young for it now, we'll keep it on his bookshelf for him.  It's a great book to get boys reading.

Kids are always happy to find a treat size pack of HARIBO Starmix to munch on!  Finding one in his Box of Awesome went down very well.

The Predasaurs DNA Fusion pack featured a Stegasaurus/Triceratops hybrid toy, which Freddy thought was really cool.

The Plasticine Squidgems pack was brilliant.  It contained Plasticine, cardboard accessories and instructions needed to make Raphael one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  It was a great activity and of course the Plasticine can be re-used again and again.

The Box of Awesome was definitely a big hit with Freddy filled with things he loved.

Meanwhile Kizzy received her Box of OMG and here she is doing an unboxing video.


                              

Again, her box contained a book which retails at £6.99, as well as HARIBO, a funky nail file, stickers, tattoos and Nickelodeon games gift card.

You can receive boxes of OMG and Awesome completely free if you apply online and are allocated one, or you can guarantee your two monthly boxes of Mega OMG and Awesome by subscribing for £4.99 a box. You can also join the community and become one of the Super Awesome Club where you can increase your chances of winning a box through the post by earning Awesome points by sharing on Twitter and Facebook, getting friends to sign up, uploading unboxing videos or inputting codes from previous boxes.  There also great prizes to be won including iPad minis!  It's a lot of fun and well worth joining in.

Check out BoxofOMG.tv or go to Facebook at boxofomg and sign up for free now.

---

Ella is 18 Today

April 22, 2014, 1:00 am

≫ Next: Zoo News from Paradise Wildlife Park

≪ Previous: Box of OMG and Box of Awseome Review #totallyomg

$

0

0

My beautiful baby girl looked up at me and beamed a huge smile at just 3 days old.  When the skeptical midwife saw her grinning, she said she had never seen a baby so young as responsive.  She admitted that she thought I was mistaking wind for genuine smiles, but was happy to eat her words. Ella really was a special little thing from the word go.

Over the years, my adorable little girl has become a wonderful young woman: talented, sensitive, intelligent, gifted, beautiful.  Life is not always easy for her, but she is strong.  A fighter.  She makes me proud everyday. She can light up any room from the moment she enters.

I am utterly honoured to be her mum.

Ella's YouTube channel.

           

Zoo News from Paradise Wildlife Park

April 23, 2014, 1:00 am

≫ Next: Recreating Old Family Photos for my Birthday

≪ Previous: Ella is 18 Today

$

0

0

This month Zoo News from Paradise Wildlife Park finds out about the Three Banded Armadillo, an amazing creature tough enough to break concrete, who is able to sniff its prey eight inches below soil, and is the only type of Armadillo that can incase itself completely in its amour. It also shows how the Great Grey Owl survives in the Arctic Circle and what adaptations allow it to live in cold conditions.  Check out some brilliant wildlife footage in these monthly videos from Paradise Wildlife Park.

         

Read our review of Paradise Wildlife Park.

Recreating Old Family Photos for my Birthday

April 25, 2014, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Playing Millionaire Genie with 888Ladies

≪ Previous: Zoo News from Paradise Wildlife Park

$

0

0

I have wonderful kids who surprise me, delight me and make me proud everyday. My girls really excelled themselves this year for my birthday by making me a video, which made me bawl my eyes out.

I was aware of a 'secret project' taking place over the last week or so, but I tried to ignore it, not wanting to ruin my own surprise.  To be honest I thought maybe they were maybe taking some photos for a card or something, but their idea was far more elaborate.

They wrote and recorded an original song and made a video featuring recreated family photos.  It was just so beautiful and so very thoughtful.  They did such a great job and included big brother Joe, who contributed to the project remotely, and little brother Freddy too.  I am so lucky to have kids who understand the things that make me happy...and nothing makes me happier than them.

Just seeing how much they have all grown, but how the relationship between them is still as close and how their personalities still shine through is just beautiful.  I'm definitely going to get involved in more recreations with them and am looking forward to joining in with the posing as we re-imagine precious memories.

Here is the video that they played for me on my birthday :)


                            

Playing Millionaire Genie with 888Ladies

April 25, 2014, 2:47 pm

≫ Next: A Foodie Review Round Up

≪ Previous: Recreating Old Family Photos for my Birthday

$

0

0

I've never been much of a gambler, so have very little experience with online gambling and bingo sites.  But when I was asked to have a go at the new Millionaire Genie game at 888Ladies I thought it was time to give it a try, especially as this game lures players in with the prospect of big cash prizes for lucky spins.  I could, after all, get lucky!

Millionaire Genie is a sumptuous looking slots game filled with imagery befitting the Arabian Nights with genies, magic lamps, ancient manuscripts, bejewelled cobras, ornate keys and bags of gold coins spinning around on the reels.  It is very atmospheric with music playing as the animated genie guards the jackpot and oversees the play.

                               


There's a lot to take in with the option of autoplays, different bets and 15 paylines with the option of having up to 75 games in motion at once.  To win you need to match combinations of symbols. There are wild cards, bonus spins and scatter symbols to be won, as well as a bonus game.  As a novice the jargon all goes over my head, but the visuals made it all look quite straightforward and user friendly.

Rather than trying to understand it all in theory, I dived right in with my £5 credit to see what happened, hoping to get some beginner's luck, which might have allowed me to get a slice of the huge jackpot! Basically it was a case of setting my bet and hitting 'Spin'.

I used the minimum bet of 1p per line across 15 lines and set my play into motion.  I really didn't get how you won, but occasionally a gold line was drawn across the screen connecting the symbols and telling me I had won anything from 3p to my highest win 55p.  These amounts were added back onto my balance.

I'm obviously not a very lucky lady because I exhausted my £5.00 balance in just 9 minutes.  I chose to spin manually rather than clicking autoplay which extended my playing time and I used the minimum stakes, so I made it last for as long as possible. Yet I was quickly left with just 13p in my account, which was insufficient funds for playing on.  So my dalliance into online gambling was over very swiftly.

I was impressed that I wasn't allowed to play on once my balance was exhausted, and that my balance was clearly displayed at all times.  Hopefully this means no-one will inadvertently run up debts or overspend.  If you pay in what you are prepared to lose, and use that sum to play, without being tempted to pay in any more money, then you will know exactly where you stand.  If you get lucky and win, that's a bonus that you can use for playing more games or cash in.  But if you are like me, you can bow out gracefully when the money runs out.

To be very honest, I was quite shocked at how easy it is to lose money and how quickly my balance dwindled away.  I'm sure there are ways to learn techniques and methods to improve your strategies and win more, and of course someone will get lucky and win the jackpot which stood at over half a million pounds during my time playing. That would be a fantastic return on a £5 bet, and you've got to be in it to win it!  

I know some people find the idea of gambling with real cash exciting, and yes, there is a buzz when you see a winning line appear and the anticipation that with one more spin the jackpot could be won does get the adrenaline flowing. And being able to play 24/7 from the comfort of your own home or on the go using the app makes it a very accessible pastime for many. 

But for me, my wins were minimal and my balance just kept going down - no beginner's luck for me. It was fun while it lasted, watching the animations and hoping for a winning line to appear, but it was over very quickly. The few wins I did get did not make me think it was worth investing more money into the game in the hope of making my money back or breaking even.  This was a finite, one time only experience for the purpose of this review, because with my luck I couldn't afford to lose £5 every 9 minutes!

I hope if you ever play, you have better luck than I did!

You can vote for your favourite bingo sites at the Which Bingo Awards.

Sponsored post.  

A Foodie Review Round Up

April 28, 2014, 6:44 am

≫ Next: The Big Adventure with Mothercare and ELC

≪ Previous: Playing Millionaire Genie with 888Ladies

$

0

0

Luxury Drinking Chocolate from Hans Sloane

This award winning drinking chocolate from Hans Sloane London is something very special indeed!  The exquisitely shined 100% real chocolate beads are designed to melt into milk or water to create a unique drinking experience.

This rich, creamy, velvety chocolate drink exceeds any other drinking chocolate I have ever tasted.  The pure chocolate taste is exquisite and exactly how you want hot chocolate to taste.  The Rich Dark Drinking Chocolate is dairy free, so when combined with almond or soya milk makes a wonderfully indulgent vegan hot chocolate drink. I love to find a dairy free product that is as good as this! The Milk Chocolate variety is sweeter and lighter, perfect for the kids.

Three tablespoons of chocolate into a 200g mug of milk, water or a combination of both (according to taste) makes the perfect drink.  You can add extras such as cinnamon, salted caramel or flavoured syrups to make your own perfect drink.

Hans Sloane Drinking Chocolates are available in Waitrose and Tesco nationwide with an RRP of £4.99. 

McCain Roasted Garlic Wedges

When you have a family to feed, it is really handy to have some quick and easy standby foods in the freezer for mealtimes.  McCain Wedges are one such product, which make a great accompaniment to dinners that my kids enjoy.  They also make a good savoury sharing snack for movie nights or parties. They are so convenient when you are short of time: just pop them on a tray in the oven to cook.

For this summer, McCain have launched a limited edition Roasted Garlic flavour to the range.  The tasty, garlicky coating adds a depth of flavour.  They are perfect for dipping in ketchup or mayo.

McCain Roasted Garlic Wedges are available in the freezer aisle of stores now with a 750g bag costing £2 RRP.

Get Your 7 a day with a little help from Princes Tinned Fruit

We are now being told to up our 5 a day to 7 portions of fruit and vegetables daily.  Government guidelines include tinned fruit in juice as a serving, so having a few tins handy can help to achieve this quota, especially as they are so convenient and don't go off like fresh fruits.  Princes have a range of fruit such as peaches, pears, mandarin segments, grapefruit and prunes, which can make a quick pudding or be used to add some fruit to breakfast time.

Serving some tinned fruit on yogurt, on porridge, with granola or with your cereals in the morning is an easy way to get an extra portion of fruit  into your diet. You could even incorporate a can into a fruity smoothie. The kids will enjoy it too, giving them a nutritious boost to their breakfast.  It's definitely worth keeping a couple in the store cupboard for a convenient way of adding extra fruit to mealtimes.

A 290g can of Californian Pitted Prunes or a 415g can of Peach Slices retail at 99p in major supermarkets.