Kony 2012 Campaign

An 'international justice' internet campaign by humanitarian group Invisible Children has become a huge online hit, with their KONY 2012 documentary about a little known Ugandan conflict.

The movement was started to raise awareness about the alleged war crimes committed by Ugandan military group the Lord's Resistance Army under the leadership of Joseph Kony.

Invisible Children aim to make international fugitive Kony famous around the globe, 'not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice'.

For over 26 years Joseph Koni has been abducting children in Uganda and is wanted for crimes against humanity  and charges including murder, enslavement and rape.  He has been named as the world's most wanted terrorist.

The hard hitting documentary shows war-torn Uganda through the eyes of Jacob, a former LRA child soldier.   The man behind the camera is an inspiration.

The video is being shared across social media and celebrities such as Rihanna and Stephen Fry are showing their support by Tweeting using #Koni2012 to spread the word.

We can all help by sharing the video and using the internet to talk about Koni.  This can help shape the future of humanity, pressuring world leaders to act and set a precedent for justice in future atrocities.

If you do nothing more than watch this video or send a tweet, then you have helped keep Koni in the media.  You have helped make Koni visible in 2012.

You can sign a petition to support the international effort to arrest Kony at www.invisiblechildren.com

Our First Glasses Disaster

It was inevitable that it was going to happen at some point, and today it did.  One month to the day since Freddy got his glasses.  For four weeks his Mr Bump specs have withstood the rigours of being launched across the room, hidden under the sofa and being driven over by toy cars.  But this morning Freddy finally got the better of them and managed to rip one of the arms clean off.  It wasn't done in temper, he just bent it back and snap!

Thankfully, there is a Specsavers in our local town and so we rang up and headed in.  The staff were fabulous and replaced the frames while we waited.  Freddy entertained all the old folk who were waiting for eye tests and was adorable singing and smiling at his audience of pensioners.

With his glasses fixed, and put on for him by the very lovely optician, Freddy proudly kept them on as we walked back to the car.  I let him pick a treat from Gregg's and he chose a Spiky Mikey, which for anyone who is not a connoisseur of Gregg's pies and cakes, is a star shaped, chocolate coated shortbread with Smarties for eyes.  Freddy deserved a treat for being so well behaved and lovely.

He kept his glasses on all the way home and I thought that maybe this was a turning point in our battle to correct Fred's vision.  However, the second he was home he removed them and flung them across the living room!

I hope this pair survive longer than the originals and that Fred soon understands why we keep encouraging him to wear them.  The battle continues!

National Science and Engineering Week

March the 9th heralds the start of National Science and Engineering Week.  With my little scientist Kizzy, this is the perfect opportunity for her and other children to get scientific and have fun , learning about the world around them in new and exciting ways.

We were sent some great science sets for her to try out and she was thrilled to take on the role as chief tester. The first product to really catch her eye was the Perfect Perfume Laboratory from Wild Science.  It is one of their range of sets targeted at young girls combining science with beauty...a winning combination in Kizzy's eyes!

The set includes everything you need to extract fragranced oils and use them to make crystals, scented slime and vials of perfume.

The instruction booklet was very clear and well illustrated, taking you step by step through the process.  Jasmine, Rose, Mint and Eucalyptus infused cards can be used to extract their essential oils to be used in some simple, fun experiments.

My Scientist

Kizzy donned her safety goggles and enjoyed getting into experimental mode.  The experiment to make sublime scented slime was Kizzy's favourite one.  It involved extracting the scent and filtering the solution before mixing with the special slime powder.

Following Instructions

After stirring for quite a while, the slime begins to come away from the side of the beaker and is then ready to transfer into eager hands for squishing, stretching and oozing between the fingers!

Stirring the Slime

It is an intriguing substance encouraging the young scientists to explore states of matter, evoke their senses and test the elasticity of the gooey slime!  There is plenty in the set to do more experiments and ideas to expand your activities.

Multi-Sensory Science Fun

Next up for testing was the Green Science Weather Station which allows children to explore the nation's favourite conversational topic...the weather!  Recycling an old pop bottle, the kit allows you to build your own mini weather station.

The contents include a mini weather vane, an anemometer, a thermometer, a compass and a rain gauge which fit together and go onto the lid of an empty bottle.  There is instructions on how to turn the bottle into a mini-greenhouse by planting a suitable plant in it.  This looks really effective and is pictured on the lid of the box.  It is something we may do later, to explore the world of plants with a terrarium in a bottle!  For now we've filled the bottle with water to weigh it down.

Kizzy's Weather Station

This is much more of a long term project allowing a child to record the weather conditions over a period of time.  They can learn lots of weather facts and take a very hands on approach to a fascinating subject.  The Greenhouse effect can be explored with some further experiments to show the effects of global warming.  It may encourage a future environmentalist or meteorologist!

Ready for Recording the Weather

Taking the Temperature...12 degrees!

Our final kit to try out was the Electric Plane Launcher from 4M.  This piece of kit is a serious piece of equipment designed for teens.  Once built, it has the power to launch a paper aeroplane at 50kmh!  It lets children look at aerodynamics and design the perfect plane!

A series of spinning motors and plastic disks create the method of launching the aeroplane.  Ian was really excited about this one!  It took some skill and know how to build the launcher, so Ian helped Kizzy make the circuit and construct the mechanism to propel the paper planes.

Building the Launcher

The two rubber discs spin around so that when you push a paper aeroplane through them, they grip on and propel them through, launching them at a great speed across the room!  It was quite impressive seeing them shoot around.  Kizzy researched paper aeroplanes and tried out various designs including some that looped the loop!

These sets are all excellent ways of getting children involved in science, technology and engineering.  I loved how they captured Kizzy's imagination and got her excited about experimenting with perfumery, aerodynamics  and meteorology.  She had a lot of fun and learned a lot of facts and practised scientific techniques.

Kizzy said "Science is sometimes seen as a subject that boys like, but girls can enjoy science just as much.  I really loved playing with the sets and exploring all the different things in a fun way.  We do science at school but I think it is good to be able to learn more about it at home too.  I love science!"

How will you be celebrating National Science and Engineering Week with your little ones?

Casa di Mama Pizza

Dr Oetker has introduced an authentic thin crust pizzeria style pizza that rises around the edges. A great solution for making a quick and easy family meal straight from the freezer that everyone will love.

The frozen fresh dough base is topped with a rich tomato sauce and four cheeses.

The dough cooks for the first time and rises in the oven giving delicious soft, fluffy crusts that are delicious right to the very edge.  It has a fabulous fresh baked taste and aroma.

The traditional, full flavoured taste gives a perfect pizza experience down to the last slice!  We all thought it was very, very good and it tasted fresh and authentic.  Perfect with potato wedges and coleslaw.

Find Casa di Mama in the freezer aisle of your local supermarket  RRP: £2.79.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Asda

Mother's Day is on Sunday March 18th.  If you have a mum like mine, who isn't really a lover of cut flowers, but who does love pot plants and flowers in the garden, then Asda have a great range at great prices that will be just perfect!  

I remember when I was a little girl and I bought my mum a Purple Flowering African Violet for Mothering Sunday.  She was so delighted because it would last all year round and not have to be thrown away after a week or so like cut flowers.  My mum has always been very practical like that!

'The Garden' range includes a selection of  grow your own plants, all beautifully presented in presentation boxes especially for Mother's Day.  Mums can plant Lilies in a basket, Freesia in a Ceramic Pot or Irises in a Planter.  If your Mum enjoys cookery too, you can also buy a Herb Trio consisting of three pretty pots to grow basil, chives and parsley on the windowsill.

These gifts are all just £5 each which is great value.

Grow Your Own Flowers

The Garden Range also offers some fun gifts for gardening mums to keep outdoors looking 'blooming lovely'  including a pretty 'Welcome to My Garden' sign, gorgeous metal bucket tea-light holders and a handy tin for storing bits and bobs.

Garden Tin £5

The tin would make a lovely gift filled with packets of seeds, a ball of twine, plant labels and maybe some of mum's favourite sweets so she can have a treat while she works in the garden.  It is very pretty and sturdy.  The bucket tealight holders have a heart shaped cut out on the front.  They will look lovely alight on a spring evening.

Tealight holders £3

Asda have a whole host of other great Mother's Day Gifts including a fun 'Breakfast in Bed' range, a lovely kitchen range for mums that love to bake and they even have pocket money priced pressies for little ones who want to raid their piggy banks to buy something special for Mummy! 

This cute mug is just £1 and is bound to make mum's cuppa taste perfect on Mother's Day!

With an amazing selection of gifts to choose from, at affordable prices, you can get your mum something she'll really love.  Head to your local Asda or go online at asda.co.uk to find out more.

**Asda kindly gifted me some Mother's Day goodies to make my mum's day!  But no compensation was received for this post**

Cracking Easter Bargains with Poundworld

Poundworld is one of the UK's leading single priced retailers, selling everything for just £1.  With over 120 stores nationwide, there's sure to be one near you, which is great news as they have some amazing Easter bargains going "cheep"!

We were sent a brilliant bag filled with Easter goodies and I was really impressed with the quality and range.

Whether you are looking for traditional chocolate eggs, arts and crafts sets to keep the kids busy or fun novelty Easter gifts you will find everything you could wish for, all for the bargain price of just a pound.

We loved the fancy straw hat and the Easter bonnet decorating kit, both £1 each.  The cute straw style hat is the perfect size for little heads.  The ribbon trim detail is very pretty.  You can add your own personal touch to it to create an Easter bonnet using the decorating kit which contains embellishments, ribbon and bits and bobs.  A fun activity for children to do over Easter.

The Make Your Own Easter Cards Kit has everything you need to make six cards to give to family and friends.  The cute toppers are really lovely.  The Easter Poster Art Set comes with a palette of paints, a brush and a pre-printed canvas so your children can create their very own Easter themed works of art.  The Easter Egg Hunt set comes with cardboard baskets to collect goodies.  A real fun traditional Easter activity!

The Easter Eggs feature a whole host of lovable characters that kids will love from Peppa Pig to Disney Princesses.  You can buy four eggs for just £3. The kids will love them.

Or how about this cute foil wrapped chocolate Easter bunny?  Kids will love to find him on Easter Sunday.  

Your little ones can dress up as an Easter Bunny themselves with these fluffy and fun bunny ears.  They are available in pink or yellow.  They are so cute.

Easter is not complete without Easter chicks!  This collection of fluffy, yellow chicks make perfect decorations, cake toppers or can be used in an egg hunt.  Going 'cheep' at just £1 for a dozen.

With so many lovely things you'll be able to throw a fabulous Easter party or simply give the kids an Easter filled with fun activities, without spending a fortune.  My children love spending the long Easter weekend doing arts and crafts, taking part in Easter Egg hunts and munching on chocolate treats.  With our Poundworld goodies they will have an amazing time.

*No compensation was received for this post.*

Looking For Something Deliciously Different?

I have tasted the future of confectionery and it tastes very much like popcorn!  But not just any popcorn...it's handmade gourmet popcorn.  Never has a snack product created such a buzz in my household as when we taste tested the amazing award winning  Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn.  I cannot convey just how delicious this stuff is...but I'll try!

The pouches contain the finest air popped mushroom corn which has been thickly coated with exquisite real butter caramel and then flavoured by infusing natural ingredients into the recipe.

Especially for Easter, Joe & Seph have created two incredible flavours.  Caramel with a pinch of Ginger and Caramel with Cookies & Cream, Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate.  The egg shaped labels have been specially designed to celebrate Easter, complete with a little picture of an Easter bunny.

The Ginger infused Caramel popcorn is exquisite.  The sweetness of the caramel gives way to pure taste of stem ginger.  The effect is like eating gingerbread but it is lighter.  The popcorn morsels have a crisp, crunchy yet chewy texture.  I've never tasted anything quite like it.  The kids also loved it and tucked into handfuls of the moreish and delicious treat.  

If you are a chocoholic then this chocolate trio is for you.  The smooth, creamy caramel is perfectly combined with cookies and cream, white chocolate and Belgian milk chocolate.  The result is a comforting taste sensation which melts in the mouth.  Delicious!  This is a serious contender to chocolate bars.

I am not surprised that Joe & Seph have won awards for their gourmet popcorn range which includes both sweet and savoury flavours.  They are available in pouches or in gift tins or jars, making a wonderful Easter gift for a loved one!  They can be purchased on line at joeandsephs.co.uk and delivered free to your door in the UK.  The popcorn costs £12 for 3 pouches or £19.95 for 6 pouches.

The popcorn is also available at selected stockists such as Harvey Nicholl's and Selfridges food halls and independent retailers of fine foods.

Joe and Seph's Gourmet Popcorn offers a unique taste experience that totally beats any other popcorn I've ever tasted.  It is indulgent, rich, creamy and luxurious.   The flavour choices are inventive and quirky.  I'm definitely going to buy some...especially as the kids and I polished off both packets and didn't save any for poor old daddy!  I think he'd love the Caramel Macchiato and Whisky flavour or maybe the Caramel and Espresso flavour.  Then again there is Goat's Cheese and Black Pepper or Blue Cheese, Walnut and Celery.  Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Mike The Knight...A Knight in Training

Set in the exciting and enchanting Medieval times of castles, dragons, Vikings and trolls, Mike the Knight is a new CG animated CBeebies show for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Glendragon is home to a cheeky, energetic and helpful young knight in training.  While his father is away, young Mike helps his mother Queen Martha protect their homeland.  This gives rise to some exciting adventures and marvellous missions.

With his motto "Be a Knight, Do It Right", Mike learns how to do things the right way and learns the power of responsibility.  With a blend of visual comedy, music and fabulous characters, Mike the knight is a real hit with my two year old Freddy.  He was sent the brand new Knight in Training DVD which is due for release on March 19th from HIT Entertainment.

The 65 minute DVD is packed with exciting episodes as we join Mike and his merry band of friends Sparkie and Squirt the dragons and Gallahad his trusty steed.  Mike's sister Evie is a wizard in  training and is never far from the action.  Evie has cast a spell on Mike's sword and so he never knows what it will become when he draws it!  Freddy thinks it is very funny when Mike pulls his sword out and finds a feather duster in his hand!  But whatever Evie's magic conjures up, plays a part in completing Mike's missions.

For me, Fernando the Bard is one of the real stars of the show.  His witty ditties that start and end each show are very funny.  He is the storyteller who keeps the chivalrous tales moving along in an upbeat fun-filled tempo.

Mike the Knight is bringing the chivalry, adventure and excitement of Medieval times to a generation of modern pre-schoolers who will love the antics of Mike as he rescues princesses, guards the castle or defeats trolls...all in the cutest way.  The moral of the stories teaches children the power of their responsibilities; inspires them to be the best they can be and go the extra mile to help out; understand the importance of friendship and loyalty; be considerate; realise the importance of teamwork and appreciate their own self-development.

We really enjoyed watching the fun packed adventures of Mike and his friends.  Mike is a very likeable and cheeky character and his attempts at carrying out his missions are very entertaining.  At the heart of the show, Mike is just a little lad who enjoys adventures and tries to do his best.  The Medieval setting and characters make the show quite unique.

If you haven't discovered the joys of Glendragon and Mike the Knight, keep an eye on CBeebies or treat your little one to the DVD for fun, adventures and 'doing it right!'

A Knight in Training is available to pre-order now.

*No compensation was received for this post*

Lalaloopsy Comes to DVD!

The brand new Lalaloopsy movie is here!  A full length feature Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land: The Search for Pillow is available to own on DVD from the 26th of March.  We've been lucky enough to have a sneaky peek at this magical adventure!

Sew Cute!

Lalaloopsy are magical rag dolls who come to life when their last stitch is sewn.  With button eyes and woollen hair, each doll is completely unique and special in her own way and their personalities are created by the fabrics used to make them. They live in a magical, whimsical world full of fun and surprises.  Each doll has her own rag doll pet and a quirky, little house that perfectly matches her personality and talents..

Peanut Big Top, the circus rag doll, has a big surprise for everyone and they are all very excited.  But they realise that one of the gang is missing. Pillow Featherbed is the sleepiest of the ragdolls and has wandered off for a nap and has got lost along with her pet sheep. A storm is approaching!   The Lalaloopsy girls set off to find Pillow, each having their own idea on how to go about it.  They split up and search for their missing friend using their own unique talents.  They soon realise however that if they work together their plans work best.  The hunt for pillow is on!!  Will they make it in time for Peanut's surprise?  And will Pillow stay awake long enough to enjoy it even if they do find her?!

The Lalaloopsy Girls

The animation of the film is lovely.  Everything, even the landscape and the clouds in the sky, is made from fabric, stitching and buttons. The colours are vibrant and the characters are very appealing.  It is really quite magical.

The story progresses at a gentle pace which is perfect for little ones to follow.  There are lots of funny moments along the way which gets the little ones giggling.  The tale reminds us of the importance of friendship and teamwork, and it celebrates everyone's unique and individual abilities.

Here is an adorable clip of Peanut and Squirt to give you a taste of  the movie!

The DVD also includes a selection of short Mini Adventures, each one about one of the Lalaloopsy dolls.  We have watched them over and over again!  There is lots to keep little ones entertained.  Although it is very girly, Freddy still liked watching the cute, button-eyed rag dolls and their funny adventures!

You can pre-order Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land...the Search for Pillow now. The RRP is £15.99.  Keep an eye out for an extra special limited edition exclusive toy pack which includes a double-sided colouring poster and your very own Pillow Lalaloopsy Doll also with an RRP of £15.99!

**I have a fabulous competition to win one of three lovely Lalaloopsy 'Search for Pillow' DVDs coming soon so keep an eye out for that!!**

Keeping Toddlers Safe with a Kool Kangaroos Boomerein

Keeping toddlers safe is a concern for all mums and dads.  It only takes a second for an adventurous little one to slip away from your side, which can be terrifying.  Kool Kangaroos have come up with a solution to child safety with the UK's first hands free retractable toddler safety system.

The Boomerein consists of two parts: an adjustable belt for the parent to wear which attaches to a waist strap that your toddler wears.  A retractable rein keeps your toddler safely attached to you, while giving them the freedom to toddle beside you.

Adult Belt with Retractable Rein

Toddler Belt

The belts are made from strong elasticated fabric and are adjustable. The fasteners are secure and easy to use, clicking together when you want your toddler safely secured to you. There is space to put your child's name on the casing.

Adjusts to fit your waist

Being hands free means you can carry your shopping, load your car, push a pushchair and do all the other million and one things that a busy parent has to do, all the while knowing your child is safely attached to you.  Parents of multiples or childminders can attach 2 or 3 Boomereins on the belt, giving peace of mind when out and about with more than one toddler at a time.

Freddy sometimes resents feeling restrained when out walking, but the Boomerein, being around his waist, was less restrictive and he seemed to enjoy the extra freedom it gave him.  The retractable rein allowed him to walk at his own pace but stay within arm's reach.

Perfect for the supermarket, the beach, the park, the school run or crossing the road, it offers safe, reliable and innovative help to parents on the go.  I love the concept of hands-free reins, especially when my mobile phone needs to be answered!  It is one less thing to have to juggle when out and about with a small child.

This is Kool Kangaroos' shocking promotional video which highlights the importance of child safety and the danger of road accidents to toddlers.  It is a stark reminder of the importance of keeping our little ones safe.

You can buy a Boomerein and other child safety products at KoolKangaroos.com.  The Boomerein costs £15.95 with the choice of a blue or pink sticker on the rein casing.  It would be lovely to see the childs' belts available in different colours too, or perhaps having them made out of a hi-viz material for extra visibility. 

*We were sent a Boomerein to try but no other compensation was given.*

Messy Cooking with Kids and Cleaning Up

Cooking with kids can make a big mess of the kitchen!  Work surfaces, bowls, baking trays and stove tops can end up splattered in food residue and covered in stubborn stains. Cillit Bang have come up with an All In 1 Dish and Surface Cleaner which promises to make cleaning up quicker and easier.

The convenient automatic dispenser delivers the right dose of the intelligent cleaning agent direct to your sponge, ready to tackle any surface you wish to tackle.  There are 160 doses of the concentrated liquid, which is twice as efficient as regular washing up liquids.  The solution removes burnt on grease and food residue without the need for scrubbing.  However the formula is gentle on hands and the scent leaves the kitchen smelling fresh. 

We put the Cillit Band All In 1 to the test with a baking session!  Holly Bell, the Great British Bake Off runner-up has come up with some very messy recipes.  The cleaning up afterwards puts this product to the test with sticky work surfaces and bowls to contend with!

Cornish Ginger Fairing Biscuits

4oz butter

6oz SR flour

3oz caster sugar

1 tblspn golden syrup

1 tspn ground ginger

1/2 tspn bicarbonate of soda

Preheat oven to GM5.

Line two baking sheets.

Melt the butter and syrup in a pan.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

Now here is the fun bit...

Form the Play-Doh type mixture into walnut sized balls.

Put them well spread out onto the baking sheet.

Put into oven for 12-15 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack.

Take a look at our video to see how we got on baking and cleaning up afterwards!

The Cillit Bang really did the job!  It cut through all our messy pans and bowls and brought the surfaces up sparkling clean.  The dispenser gives you a measured dose of the cleaner so you don't waste any or make a mess squeezing too much out.  It looks good by the sink and as it does the job of various cleaning products it is space saving too.  Check out www.facebook.com/CillitbangUK for more information.

The biscuits that we made were delicious too! It's a fabulous recipe, give it a try if you like melt in the mouth cookies that are dangerously moreish!

Starter Kit includes automatic dispenser, 3 X AA batteries, 250ml Lemon Burst refill.  RRP £9.99 for a limited time.  A pack of three refills are £7.99.

***WIN ONE OF FIVE CILLIT BANG ALL IN 1 STARTER SETS HERE!***

CLOSED #WIN One of Five Cillit Bang All in 1 Dispensers

Now it's your chance to win one of five Cillit Bang All in 1 Dish and Surface Starter Sets worth £9.99.  It will make your messiest kitchen clean-ups easier!  Take a look at our Cillit Bang All in 1 Review to see what you could win and how we got on after a particularly messy baking session!

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form.  Click the "DO IT" button and leave a quick comment then tell me you've done it using the "ENTER" button.  There are five optional entries giving you a maximum of six entries.  Good luck!!