Peter Pan

Peter Pan & Wendy at Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Monday, November 30, 2015


Friday night, Me, Andy and Gracie got to spend some much needed time alone to take Gracie to the theatre for the first time. We were lucky enough to be given tickets to attend Peter Pan & Wendy at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. Adapted by Ella Hickson from the novel by JM Barrie, the show brings the story of Peter Pan & Wendy to life. 

personalised gifts

Christmas Gifts From Photobox

Saturday, November 28, 2015

I love personalised photo gifts and my favourite website to use is Photobox. The quality of their products is much higher than any other I have used and I was thrilled to be given some credit to try out some new products for Christmas. 


christmas 2015

Christmas Gift Guide: Family Stocking Fillers

Friday, November 27, 2015


Stocking fillers are my favourite gifts to buy. I love to shop for little thoughtful gifts that I think will be really appreciated on Christmas day. So with that in mind,  I have put together a list of lovely small token gifts to give you some inspiration.

christmas 2015

Santas Magical Grotto at House of Fraser

Thursday, November 26, 2015


On Tuesday evening, the five of us headed to Birmingham straight from picking up Gracie at school for a special VIP event at House of Fraser. We got to have experience their amazing Santa's Magical Grotto ahead of the opening to the public on Saturday 28th November. The House of Fraser Santa's grotto features traditional style shop fronts and a log cabin which houses Santa himself along with his mischievous elves. 

 The grotto is built entirely by volunteers from the House of Fraser team with all proceeds going to Harry Moseley's charity Help Harry Help Others. It is the third year running that they have supported this charity and even have boxes of bracelets on sale for a £1 donation each on one of the activity tables. 

changing accessories

Review: Diono Travel Changer

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

I have only recently discovered the brand Diono. Diono sell a huge range of products which help busy families, combining safety and convenience to make the perfect baby products. I was recently sent the Diono Travel Changer to try out and see if it is really as handy as it looks.


The Diono Travel Changer is a great space saving nappy changing solution. It is a clutch style bag which contains a foldable change mat, which simply velcro's open or shut for one handed access, and a reusable soft wipes pouch. It has a very handy wrist strap which can obviously hang from your wrist or could also be used to attach to a stroller/trike etc. It also has room inside for 2 or 3 nappies and a full packet of wet wipes. 

I thought this product would be perfect for me to attach to the pushchair on the school run. I have found myself half way to school in the morning to realise Gracie has a mixture of breakfast and toothpaste smudged around her mouth more times than I would like to admit and of course when running out in the morning I never bother picking up the change bag, we have enough to carry and fill the pushchair basket. I have also found myself 'popping in' to a friends or my Grandmas house on the way back from school just for the baby to poo and me have to run home in a panic. So the last few weeks I have tried the travel changer out to see if it makes my life a bit easier. 

I like to wrap the strap around the handle a few times to steady it a little as my pushchair is parent facing and the bag would likely fall near to her and she would helpfully open and empty the contents everywhere. I have only really 'needed' it a few times but those few times I really appreciated it. With Elsie teething and Zach constantly poorly, we quite often have snotty noses and with this cold weather I find they seem to get it worse. So there has been a few occasions where I would usually panic and use whatever I can find to wipe them up and I have quite handily had a pack of wet wipes in the travel changer to use instead. I have made a mental note to add a pack of tissues to the bag too. 

I think the travel changer would be good to keep inside a larger change bag too. If you are out for the day and need to pop to the loo to change the baby you can simply grab the travel changer out of the main change bag to take with you and save rummaging for the things you need in the toilet whilst juggling a baby. I really do like the travel changer and can see us using it a lot. 

 The Diono Travel Changer has a RRP of £20 and is available from Uber Kids.

christmas

Breakfast With Santa at Brewers Fayre

Tuesday, November 24, 2015


On Saturday, Me and the kids were invited to a very special event. This event marked the beginning of our festive activities this year. We were up and out bright and early for a special 'Breakfast With Santa' at The Guild Brewers Fayre pub in Bromsgrove. 

books

Learning To Read

Monday, November 23, 2015


Since Gracie has started Reception, she has been doing so well at reading and writing. I had previously worried about whether she would fall behind at these things as I didn't know how to help teach her at home. 

christmas gifts

Christmas Gift Guide: Gifts For Her

Friday, November 20, 2015



If you are still looking for the perfect gift for any of the women in your life, whether it be your Wife, Girlfriend, Mum, Sister, Daughter, I have lots of great suggestions here for you. It can be so difficult to find the perfect gift so my suggestions include a range of gifts for different tastes.

review

Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends Zooming Along at Brendam Docks

Thursday, November 19, 2015



We have reviewed a few Thomas & Friends items recently as Zach has become a huge fan. We were recently offered the Mega Bloks Zooming Along at Brendam Docks play set to review.
It’s another busy day in Sodor and Thomas is Zooming Along at Brendam Docks by Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends™! Now your little conductor can supervise all the activity at the bustling port, as the new motorised Thomas the Tank Engine actually chuffs along the dock’s looping tracks. Send Thomas through the Sodor Shipping Co. warehouse, past the checkpoints, under the coal chute, and over the elevated bridge! Cranky the Crane is there to help too, with his working lifting hook for heavy loads. But the two are happiest when working together, and when Thomas passes by, Cranky starts to spin! Build the docks and track, and use the stickers to add detail to blocks. It’s all in a day’s work with Thomas and Cranky!

The Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends Zooming Along at Brendam Docks play set is huge! With 107 seperate pieces. It is aimed at children aged 2-5 so the pieces are a good size and not small enough to be swallowed (which is important to us with Elsie getting her hands on everything). It is easy and fun to put together. It did take longer than expected the first time but I did have to add the stickers and step by step follow the instructions with an excited Zach helping me find the right bricks.

 Thomas is motorised which makes it really fun for Zach. He has a motorised Thomas train already so already understands how to use him and make him move around the track. Cranky can actually spin too so your child can make him pick things up and hold them. Zach's favourite part is the coal chute. He is nowhere near quick enough at opening it so that it falls into the empty carriage but finds it very funny to try.

I really like that you can play around and change the bridge and arches. It is like no other train set. Your child can really use their imagination to create something different.

Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends Zooming Along at Brendam Docks has a RRP of £49.99.

competitions

Review & Competition: Ellie Bean Prints A4 Print

Monday, November 16, 2015


I was recently offered a print of my choice from Ellie Beans Prints. As I have recently decorated my bedroom and created myself a nice desk area, I decided that what I really wanted was a nice motivational quote to look at whilst working at my desk. I had almost been tempted by the family prints but I would have liked one in my Kitchen or hall, both of which are still on my decorating to do list so can wait until they are done. I couldn't quite find a quote that I felt suited me on the EllieBean Prints website, although they have lot's of great ones I felt that I wanted something 'different'. So I decided to use their bespoke service and come up with my own.

my little pony

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games

Sunday, November 15, 2015


Gracie is really into My Little Pony Equestria Girls since watching the Rainbow Rocks movie earlier this year. She collects the dolls and has plenty on her list to Santa this year. The Equestria Girls movies are really nice films that she can happily watch alone in her bedroom when she wants to. All of the problems the girls come across can be solved by the power of friendship, which is how we all know My Little Pony to be and is definitely a lesson I want Gracie to take note of!

christmas

Christmas is Coming!

Thursday, November 12, 2015


For some, the Christmas buzz is starting to sink in. For others the words 'Christmas is coming' will strike the same kind of fear as hearing 'Winter is coming' in Game of Thrones. Whichever way you look at it, there is no avoiding that the Christmas season is creeping up on us.

 I for one love Christmas and all the cheesy, over commercialised crap that comes with it. I love Christmas movies and Christmas jumpers. Writing lists to Santa and doing Christmas crafts. I have almost finished all my Christmas shopping after starting in the January sales and so the next 6 weeks is all about the build up and preparation for me. 

 In fact I am now onto helping all my family pick and choose presents for everyone. I love the whole shopping experience and watching people open their presents over Christmas, it is just the best feeling when they really appreciate what you have chosen! 

 Over the next few weeks I have so many ideas for Christmas content to share from gift guides to crafts and fun family activities. So I hereby apologise to all the Scrooges out there for the next few weeks ;)  but we are going to have the best Christmas yet!

book buddies

Parragon Mickey& Friends Storybook Collection

Wednesday, November 11, 2015


Our latest book from Parragon is definitely Zach's favourite yet. Zach loves Mickey Mouse thanks to the Mickey Mouse clubhouse cartoon on Disney Junior. We received 'Mickey & Friends My Storybook Library' a pack of six board books containing different short stories.

competitions

Review & Competition: Fitbug Orb & Kiqplan

Wednesday, November 04, 2015


I have been trying out the Fitbug Orb, fitness, sleep and activity tracker for a while now along with the new Kiqplan Goodbye Baby Bump plan. This year has seen a boom in the popularity of fitness trackers, which has been great as it has also been the year that I decided it was time to beat the bulge and kick start my healthy living regime. After Elsie was born last year I steadily put more weight on until April when I decided it was time to change. I have never been a fan of exercise, not that I dislike it, I just hadn't found a way that suited me and I could fit around looking after the kids. I have found a love of running and go off out whenever I get a chance. I have also grown to love at home exercises and I might sound crazy but I find the aching muscles afterwards so satisfying now!

children's toys

Tiny Tears 50th Anniversary Doll

Monday, November 02, 2015


This year Tiny Tears celebrates her 50th birthday. Tiny Tears is the UK's most recognisable doll. She was the first fully functional, feeding, crying and wetting doll with closing eyes, moveable arms, legs and head. I briefly remember having a Tiny Tears doll when I was around Gracie's age and loved to push her around in my old classic Silvercross dolls pram. To celebrate the special occasion, a 5oth anniversary  special edition doll has been created. We were lucky enough to be sent the 50th anniversary Tiny Tears doll to review.

Halloween

Pumpkin Picking & Carving

Sunday, November 01, 2015


I have always wanted to go pumpkin picking yet it is something I have never done (along with berry picking). This year as I have made so much effort with Halloween I decided it was definitely time to go and pick our own pumpkins and do pumpkin carving with the kids. In fact I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was about 7 or 8 so I was probably just as excited as the kids. We decided to go with my friend and her family as our kids are all such good friends and we thought it would be really fun.

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