Sunday 24 December 2017

Crafting with Gel A Peel

There is something so magical about Christmas, maybe its all the excess booze and twinkling lights. I just think its such a wonderful time of year for family and to remember that Jesus was born and what a wonderful story that was. We love to craft in our house and in the lead up to Christmas we have been making lots of decorations and basically anything with glitter. We were lucky enough to be sent some decorations from Gel A Peel in which we cracked on with straight away.


If you have not heard of Gel a Peel its a lot of fun. It comes in different coloured tubes and you can use it to make jewellery or as we done crafting. The wonderful thing is when it dries it becomes like a rubbery texture. Each set comes with different shaped nozzles that attach on the Gel a Peel tubes to create different shales and textures. The set comes with moulds that you can use to stick on your designs or make into creations themselves.


 The Gel takes a few hours to fully dry so we found it was best making the moulds the night before and sticking on the next day. Although Ami is 5 she can be impatient at times. Son Son also got involved and had quite a bit of fun making Christmas characters. He mainly liked trying the different nozzles like he was decorating a cupcake. For us I found creating a design on something is the best thing we have done with the sets. The finished product is different to a coloured in it adds a different 3D edge to the design. 

Ami's friend Harry come over and loved creating all the different Christmas characters. He had never used it before but enjoyed using something a bit different. 


This set retails at £19.99 and is perfect for crafting onto cards. I say the results came out much better than I originally thought. Why not get  Gel-A-Peel set and have a go yourself.





Friday 15 December 2017

Milestone Myths

As a  mother of three children I was often bombarded with advice on when and what's my children should be doing at what age. I was only a teenager when I became a mum so therefore didn't really have a clue on what to expect. All I had was the handy Emma's Diary books to see me through. Sometimes it can almost be a competition on who's baby could do what first. We were recently sent a Baby Annabel Learns to walk Doll and its got me thinking about my own children's milestones.




Sleeping through the Night


All three of my children where all so different. The first Milestone I heard ALL about was sleeping. "My child slept through the night after 2 weeks yours should do to". I was 17 and had a colicky baby that didn't sleep that was not what I wanted to hear. Thankfully when he reached 12 weeks he just slept and then became the best sleeper ever. I knew when I had my daughter many years later I might not be so lucky but 6 weeks down the line she was sleeping well. The Son Son came along and he did not enjoy sleeping at night and would be up all hours until he was six month old. Other people tell me there babies still don't sleep at night and they are 3/4 year old. The most important thing with sleep is that you do what's right for you, you can be bombarded with information about what's wrong and what's right.




Sitting Up


Another milestone all threw different ages. Aston was the average of 6 months where as Ami at 3 months she was strong and trying to sit up. People did not believe me but she could hold her self up and by 4 months she could sit well. Son Son was 6 months also he didn't like to be put down from risk of Ami trampling on him.




Crawling


My Asti never crawled properly he kind of commando / dragged him self to where he wanted to go. Ami was a bout 7 months she wasn't too fussed with crawling, she was a very chubby baby so just rolled around. Son Son crawled about 8 months he too wasn't bothered and much rather walk than crawl.




Walking


Another important competition milestone is walking. Its the one people get most excited about then realise oh crap my baby wont stay still. My Asti Took his first steps at 12 months and 4 days. He had got his walker for his birthday then there was no stopping him. Ami who was pulling her self up from 8 months took her first unaided steps at 10 months by the time Son Son was born (she was 15 months). Son Son beat the lot and got up and walked at 9 months. I can tell you that was hard work one running toddler and one walking baby. No wonder I was so TIRED ALL THE TIME.


First Words


This is another Milestone people love to go on about. I cant quite remember my children's first works but both Asti and Ami were early talkers still now they don't stop talking. where as my little Son Son didn't say much at all, I believe that was down to older siblings talking for him,


See all children are so different but do you know they all even out at school don't they. I was lucky to have three healthy children. The most important thing is to not listen to Barbara who's baby slept through the night since birth and spoke French at 1 years old. I think its the worst thing anyone can tell you when your child doesn't sleep. Quite frankly Barbs you can take your comments and shove them up your.....


This was post was written in Collaboration with Baby Annabel learns to walk. A Doll  who learns to crawl and walk. My kids had great fun playing with this doll. Ami was besotted with teaching it to walk.

Tuesday 12 December 2017

Dreamland Frosted Fairground Day Out


I spent my childhood and teenage years at Dreamland. I remember once going on the big wheel on my own my poor parents were out of there mind with worry about where I was and where I was going high in the sky. Thankfully the Dreamland team now are more vigilant and won't let any random 8 year old on the ride. Dreamland reopened a few years back as a vintage theme park. It has a wonderful collection of classic rides along with a refurbished rollercoaster. 


We popped along to Dreamland see the Frosted Fairground in an attempt to get in the Christmas Spirit after a busy week. The day we went was rather cold but we wrapped up warm. My husband hasn't been to Dreamland in two years since it opened and was impressed with the progress so far. Ami just wanted to go on the Walzers and to show Daddy which number was the fastest. 


We went as it just had opened so was first on all the rides. The queues were only short so the children got to go on a lot of rides in a short time. The whole place was decorated with Real Christmas trees with sparkly lights everywhere. As we came in there was a chance for the children to write a letter to Father Christmas and have their photos taken where you could purchase the photo for £5 or £6 in a bauble. 


There's a lot going on for Christmas one thing they have opened is a Christmas Grotto where you can meet the big man himself. You get to meet other characters like Elvis the singing Elf and also help father Christmas find his Snow Jo. Each session is 30 minutes and the children get a chance to create some craft and make special VIP badges. The tickets for the Grotto come with ride wristbands so what better way to make a full day of it. 

New this year at Dreamland is the Ice rink which is an indoor 450-metre ice rink. You can book sessions for an hour and feel all festive whilst whizzing around on the ice rink. I have never been ice skating so am looking forward to popping back in the holidays with the kids. Its open until the 3rd of January so there is still plenty of time to book. 


We popped back in the evening to see all the lights in their splendour and we were not disappointed. It looked somewhat more magical in the darkness. The night was rather a quiet one I think because the temperature had fallen a lot but it made it even more special. We had the first choice of all the rides and the children got to experience the rides in the dark. 


All in all, we had a wonderful day whilst at Dreamland. The children enjoy going and they can get on to most rides. The only thing we were disappointed was that they were too small for the dodgems a firm fave with Son Son. It's a great day out for all the family its bright, its cheery and the sea air will make you feel refreshed also. 

Heres Some more photos of our day as I couldn't find a favourite. Thanks Dreamland for giving us some passes so we could enjoy all the Christmas Joy. 










Tuesday 21 November 2017

Buggaloop Board Game Review


We love a good board game in our house and my little ones are at the age where they are starting to get a little bit completetive. We recently were sent a game called buggaloop. As soon as it came the kids were so excited to play the game. They had seen an advert for it on the tv and ever since have been going on about Hex bugs.


Buggaloop looks like a simple game but it has a twist. The aim of the game is to get your bugs safely across to the other side. Sounds simple right? Well Every now and then the Hex bug cockroach comes up through the loop and disrupts the gameplay. The kids loved it when the bug came to the top it looks so lifelike climbing through the loop the loop.


We had a great time playing the game and somehow the cockroach took a great dislike to my pieces and I lost all my game. I like how the bug is so unpredictable so you are always on tender hook till the bug comes above from underground. The game is for 2-4 players aimed at six-plus but Ami and Son Son who are 4 and 5 played the game with no trouble.


With Christmas coming I see this being a great game to play on those cosy days. Buggaloop retails at £29.99 and is available at most stores. The kids have had such a fun time playing Buggaloop I can see it being on many Christmas lists this year.

Friday 17 November 2017

Ready Brek and Despicable Me 3 Review


It sure is getting cold these last few weeks and we have had to dig out our winter coats and hats. There is one thing I love about the weather getting colder is a good hearty breakfast. My little ones love porridge and see it as such a treat in the mornings. I love to make a massive bowl and we all have some each with our different flavours and toppings. For me, I love a little bit of sugar but the kids they love to mix fruit in there's (they are obviously a lot more healthy than me).

Ready Brek have recently launched a despicable me 3 range where there is the chance to win prizes every hour. With this, we were recently sent the new film and toy to try along with some more ready brek. Which my daughter was more excited about the porridge than the toys and film.


I remember eating Ready Brek before school when I was younger the taste of it still reminds me of the long cold walk we had to school. The good thing about ready brek is that it provides such long-lasting energy which keeps the little ones going all day at school and nursery. I sometimes have it before work as a nurse I start early in the morning so need all the energy I can get. Since looking online I have seen ready brek can be used for smoothies and cakes too so its a definite cupboard must have.


The Toy we were sent was the Despicable Me 3 Fiz and Surprise toy. Which as a child who loves any surprise egg toy video went down a treat. The toy contains a bath bomb like the egg which inside revealed a sibutramine with 2 Mineez collectable toys. It works by putting in icy cold water then you watch it fizz until it reveals the hidden toys. The toys also change colour in cold water. There's plenty of characters to add to the collection too. 


My little ones absolutely love Despicable me actually we all do. My daughter cant sleep without her unicorn that we won in the arcades when she was 2, it is no longer fluffy like the film and more of a grey colour but she loves it all the same. Despicable Me 3 sees the characters we all love with some added new ones too such (spoiler alert)  as Gru's long lost twin brother. We see our loved Minions get into trouble and start a prison gang. It is a perfect film to watch as a family as its full of parts that make you all laugh and jokes aimed at adults that go over the kids' heads.



All in all, we love Ready Brek and Despicable me. Ready brek is available in most supermarkets and food stores and if you haven't had ready brek this year then get it in the shopping.

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Family Games night - Boom Blast Stix's and Friday night at Freddys Board game review


Children are growing up so fast these days I know my children love to play board games. Its one of the only times they want to get off a screen. We were recently sent some games to have some fun and have a family games night. We were sent two games to try Five nights at Freddy's and Boom Blast Stix. 



The first game was Five nights at Freddys's me being down with the youth didn't know that five nights at Freddy's was a scary video game. The older boys were all well aware of the game although they hadn't played it before they were eager to try the game out.


The idea of the game is to steal the tokens from Freddy without him waking up. My nephew Louie came and played the game and he was hilarious every time he had a go the bear would jump up at him. Whilst you are playing some creepy suspense music comes from the game building suspense in the game.


The game works by spinning the dial to decide how many turns you have and which colour token to get. If you wake Freddy he screams and jumps up from his slumber. If you see the photo below of my poor nephew getting scared. We played it for the little ones that you had to take it in turns to take Freddy's dinner. 


We loved Five nights at Freddy's it was great fun if a little scary. The game retails at £24.99 and is suitable for ages 8 plus. Although my little ones at ages 4 and 5 played too and enjoyed the game also.


The next game we played was Boom Blast Stix which is an explosive game that the idea is to see how high you can stack the pieces. The pieces aren't any old shapes they are plastic springs that ping up at any time.


We started the game by playing it on the lid so it would be easier for the little ones. Everyone enjoyed the suspense and often they would ping straight away causing eruptions of laughter.


The game is so simple yet addictive. Before we knew it we had the lid on the top and the springs flying all over the kitchen. Its almost like an exploding game of Jenga where the pieces end up flying in the air.


Boom Blast Stixs retails at £14.99 and I think its the perfect game for Christmas I can just imagine the springs flying everywhere and people having a good laugh together as they play it.


We loved both the games although I did prefer the Boom Blast one the Friday night at freddys made me scream and jump out my seat. It was really nice having a family games night. Especially as we are all so busy during the week it really made a difference than our usual routine.


Tuesday 14 November 2017

Batman Stretch Justice League Character Review

This week is little Son Son's Fourth birthday and all we have heard for the last few month's is how much he wants a stretch toy. He has seen the Stretch armstrong adverts and has not stopped going on about it. Little did we know that a, stretch armstrong had been reborn from the past and b, even better than stretch armstrong you can get Justice League stretch toys too. So lucky Son Son got to try one of his favourite superhero Batman.


All I can say if you have a superhero obsessed child than this is the toy for you. Son Son has not put it down he has taken it to bed with him and even snuck it in his nursery bag. As soon as we opened it from the packet he and his sister took it in turns to see who could pull it the furthest. They were facilitated to see Batman always go back to his original shape.


Son Son is really into fighting at the moment and having one of the justice league he has been in his element. Its not just Batman you can also get flash and superman too. Not just a toy for boys Ami has loved it just as much although she hasn't been able to play it because its been heavily guarded by Son Son .


The justice League toys retail at £12.99 and are availbe in all good toy retailers. I think it



would make the perfect christmas present or even a stocking filler. Me and my husband have had a go to see how far we could pull it. Its actually rather therapeutic a good stress reliever for parents also.


Friday 3 November 2017

Peppa's Interactive Playmat Review


Peppa Pig has been a big name in our house over the last ten years and all three of my children have loved that cheeky pig. So i knew they would love our latest review of the Peppa Pig Interactive Playmat. I knew Son Son would love it as he loves Peppa and recently has loved recently telling me every number that he sees.



The one thing I love about the mat is that you have to be active to use it. My son Son is like a duracell bunny he just keeps on going so something that can keep him engaged and burn some of the endless energy is something we approve of. The Mat has Peppa and all her family on friends so there and they really haven't missed any of Peppas little friends. The mat has four different modes that you can play.

The modes include a sing along mode with 5 popular songs from the TV show. Son Son loved this mode and enjoyed singing along with his favourite songs. The mat has some of everyone favourite songs including the Bing Bong song that we all know and love. The instructions are very clear and its very east to set up. The voices also sound very life like. The mat encourages developmental learning as it can help children to learn numbers and colours.


Technology is such a big part of children's life now so something like this mat can help get children used to technology though to be honest I already think my children are more clued up than me on somethings. The mat retails at £19.99 and is a must for any Peppa fan. It is sutible for ages 3 plus but I think younger children could benefit also from the mat.