Inside the Wendy House

Forget the Easter Chick...Here's the Angry Birds!!

2012-03-01T20:13:00.000Z

Easter usually heralds the arrival of the cute, little yellow Easter chicks synonymous with Spring time. However, this year there is a new bird in town...the Angry Bird! No one could have failed to see the emergence of the phenomena of these feathered fellas with anger management issues. With millions of fans of all ages, the new Angry Bird toys from Character Online are sure to fly off the shelves!

This Easter, why not take a break from the traditional and buy one of the Angry Bird plush toys. Their very survival is at stake and they are dishing out revenge on the Green Pigs who have stolen their eggs. You can now catapult your own Angry Birds at Green Pigs bringing all the fun of the addictive app into real life.

The range includes Backpack Clip Keyrings and 4" and 5" plush with sound and 8" plush toys.

We were sent a pig and a bird to try out. Pressing their heads gives a cacophonous noise of squawks and grunts which 2 year old Freddy thought was hilarious! He immediately catapulted his Angry Bird at his sister who was holding a Green Pig and thus ensued a re-enactment of the game.

Making the Sounds

Green Pig!

Let The Battle Commence!!

For any Angry Bird fans, from little kids who enjoy all the fun of the frantic game to grown-ups who might enjoy venting their own frustrations by throwing an Angry Bird across the office at work, these plush toys will prove a huge hit! They'd definitely be brilliant Easter presents and provide hours of Angry Bird fun if you are looking for something a bit different this year.

You can buy Angry Bird toys from Amazon. Prices start at just £3.99.

World Book Day with Harper Collins

2012-03-01T12:57:00.000Z

One of the greatest gifts you can give a young child is a love of reading. Books open up a whole world of imagination where anything is possible. They can transport you to magical destinations where you can embark on amazing adventures. Books can also provide a source of comfort with familiar settings that help make sense of your own experiences. World Book Day allows us to celebrate the literary world. Schools encourage children to dress up, take part in activities and every child is given a £1 book token to spend on a book of their choice.

Harper Collins has been a publisher of quality books for over 200 years. With titles spanning all genres, Harper Collins publish a brilliant range of children's picture books. We have been lucky enough to receive a bumper bundle of books which my kids have enjoyed pouring through together. This is what we thought of the titles we received.

Nick Butterworth's gorgeous board books for tiny tots, When We Play Together and When There's Work To Do depict familiar situations to little ones with beautiful illustrations and simple text. The life of a toddler is brought to life, as Sam plays with his toys and helps out with the chores. The six toy characters are really appealing and they love joining in with Sam's activities.

They are due for release later in the year and will be priced at £4.99 each. They are perfect for little hands and are strong and sturdy.

My Henry is a a magical and moving book by Judith Kerr that actually made me sob. The poignant tale is a celebration of the love between an old lady and her husband Henry who died and is now in Heaven. Everyday the old lady sits in her chair, but in her mind she is having amazing adventures with Henry such as going on dinosaur rides, climbing Mount Everest or having a tea party in the jungle.

Rhyming text describes the magical adventures and lively illustrations depict the charming imaginings of the widow. In the end, however, her most exotic daydreams can never quite compare to the real life they shared together before he died. I adore this book...I'm welling up now as it write this! It's one to treasure. It is available now for £6.99.

Up and Down sees the return of Boy and Penguin, characters from Oliver Jeffers hugely successful book Lost and Found.

Penguin decides he wants to fly and goes in search of a way to take to the skies and runs away. He eventually finds a way to achieve his dream but soon realises that without the boy with him, flying suddenly isn't as important as he had thought. In fact he is terrified and just wants the boy to help him.

This is a tale of friendship and reaching for your dreams. It is a heart warming story with great illustrations.

It comes with a CD read by Richard E.Grant and costs £7.99.

The Lorax is another classic from Dr Suess and is about to become a major motion picture at the cinemas, following in the footsteps of The Grinch and Horton Hears a Hoo. The Lorax is the ultimate eco-warrier and his message is as relevant today as ever. The Lorax tries to save the brightly coloured Truffala trees from the axe of the greedy Once-ler who is getting rich selling Truffula-tuft knitted Thneeds. His factory is polluting the air, water and land, and he is destroying the forests.

The story is narrated by the greedy Once-ler who gets overcome with greed as his business grows and grows. He destroys the forest and causes all the creatures to leave. But by the end he realises the error of his ways and knows that unless someone cares, things will never get better. The Lorax was right all along.

The fun, rhyming verse, nonsense words and illustrations are all typically Suess and I am a big fan. This book is part of a new "Essential Suess" range bringing the wonderful stories to a whole new generation. The film is due for release in Summer and I'm sure we'll all be going Lorax mad! The book comes with a CD read by the brilliant Rik Mayall...and is worth every penny of the £7.99 price tag.

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon is bringing comic book heroes to young children. The big glossy picture book is packed with cool illustrations of this awesome superhero.

His adventures include battling his arch-nemesis The Flaming Eyeball. When he gets cross he worries about destroying cities. Awesome Man has a very secret identity and when he retreats back to his Fortress of Awesome, we find out exactly who he is and what it is that makes him feel awesome.

This lovely book would make a great gift for your little superhero and costs £6.99.

These books are all lovely and would make excellent alternatives to Easter Eggs for little ones this year. My top recommendations would have to be The Lorax and My Henry. Both very different, but both set to be family favourites, each with their own poignant message. Remember you can use your child's book token against any children's book and bring home a classic to delight, inspire or entertain your family!

Healthier Meals With Quorn

2012-02-29T16:17:00.000Z

Everyone wants to give their family a healthy diet, but at the same time we still want to give our partners and children the foods they love. With Quorn you can do both! Cutting out the meat in your diet, needn't mean compromising on meal choice or losing out on a key source of protein, vitamins and minerals. All you need to do is swap the meat in most recipes for Quorn. It is not only delicious, it is a good source of essential nutrients and is low in saturated fat and has no cholesterol. You can cook all sorts of recipes from scratch and discover new dishes, expanding your repertoire of fabulous, tasty and healthy family favourites. What's more, you can hardly tell the difference so there is no compromise on taste at all! It's an easy change to make.

Whether you are a seasoned vegetarian or someone looking to cut down on meat, the Quorn website is full of recipe ideas to give you inspiration. From family favourites such as Cottage Pie and Spaghetti Bolgnese using Quorn Mince to an exciting Risotto or Thai Green Curry using Quorn Pieces, there are plenty of suggestions for feeding your family healthier, tastier dinners. Quorn also makes a range of ready meals, deli products and snacks giving a wide range of options for all mealtimes.

Quorn Tikka Masala

You can share your own recipes and photos of Quorn dishes on their Facebook Page and share your favourite meals to inspire other families who are trying to make the change to a healthier lifestyle.

Thai Green Curry

My family has been vegetarian for over 10 years. My two youngest children have been vegetarian since they were in-utero! Quorn products make it so easy to serve up healthy, interesting and delicious dinners for us all. I can cook in confidence knowing my family are getting all the protein and nutrients they need. I love the extensive range which means that I can feed my children many traditional kids' favourites such as burgers, nuggets, sausages, meatballs and the incredibly yummy Fishless Fingers! The mince and the pieces are so versatile that I enjoy being experimental. Our family favourite cuisine is Mexican and we love making Fajitas, Enchiladas and Tacos using Quorn products. I swear by it!

Fishless Fingers

Quorn really is a great choice and is many things to many people.

For the food lover it is a simple way to make favourite dishes ...healthier.
For anyone looking to reduce their meat intake Quorn means you don't need to give up choice or taste.
For the weight watcher it drastically reduces the fat and calorie content of meals without compromising on favourite meals.
For the healthy eater it is a cholesterol free source of protein, fibre and essential nutrients.
For vegetarians it is a great source of protein which causes no suffering to animals.
For the busy mum like me, it is convenient, versatile, easy to use, nutritious and delicious...who could ask for more?!

Find out more at Quorn.co.uk

The Joys of Being a Toy Tester

2012-02-29T13:36:00.000Z

When Kizzy was named as the new Princess Galt, she was awarded £250 of Galt Toys as part of the prize. Having the chance to choose her favourites from the whole range of art, craft, activity, science and discovery sets was a dream come true. The Girl Club offered her loads of items befitting her princess status! Kizzy particularly loved the sets that combined her two favourite things...science and beauty...and picked out sets to make her own perfume, bath bombs and lip glosses! She also loved the girlie secret diary, jewellery making sets and fashion designer sets.

She has enough activities to keep her going for a whole year and we'll report back on her favourite items. What a lucky little girl she is!! Just look at the two huge boxes that arrived for her!

I really like the fact that my little princess loves her science. The Disgusting Science set really got her excited as did the Horrible Science range. I predict lots of messy experiments will soon be carried out in my kitchen!

We are so grateful to the lovely people of Galt for holding such a lovely competition for the kids, with such amazing prizes. Kizzy considers herself to be a very privileged young lady and intends to carry out her royal duties to the best of her ability!

Take a look at Galt's website if you are looking for ideas for really innovative and inspiring arts, crafts, science and activity sets for both girls and boys.

Spring Cleaning the Natural & Clean Way

2012-02-28T14:22:00.000Z

Natural & Clean are cleaning specialists who offer a wide range of innovative and environmentally friendly travel, pet and household cleaning products, to make our homes fresh, clean and odour free.

With Spring Cleaning season fast approaching, and with us about to put our house on the market, I was very pleased to be sent a selection of these products to test out. The company ethos is to create, distribute and sell the finest quality cleaning products that respect the Earth. The products do not contain any animal based products and are not tested on animals. Made without harsh chemicals, they are also kind to those of us who live in the house being cleaned, which is really important when you have children.

The Natural & Clean range includes carpet and upholstery cleaning products. I was particularly pleased to receive these as our beige stairway and hall carpet is looking slightly worse for wear and would benefit from a good clean.

The Dry Carpet Cleaner is a really innovative product. Millions of tiny sponge like granules absorb dirt when agitated into the carpet. The pack comes with a brush to work it into the pile. The granules absorb dirt from the carpet fibres and change colour. They can then be simply vacuumed away. It is very easy to use and leaves the carpet smelling fresh and looking cleaner. Knowing there is nothing unnatural in the product is very reassuring with a toddler in the house. The cleaner looks a lot like damp sand, which goes to work straight away. After about 10 minutes you can hoover it up. The carpet definitely looks better for the treatment and looks less aged. It currently costs £5.19 for a 500g pouch.

The Spot Remover Spray targets tough spots and spills directly. Made with high quality natural ingredients means it is free from solvents, bleach or phosphates. To use, you spray onto an absorbent cloth and rub over the spill. It is even suitable on wool. The discolouration is lifted from the carpet. It is an effective and safe way to tackle stains. I tried it on a muddy print on my stair carpet and it lifted a lot of the discolouration very quickly and easily. I'll be targeting more of my carpet with this later, and hopefully make it look much cleaner for any prospective buyers! There are also Spot Remover Wipes for extra convenience. They are effective on coffee, tea, food grease, pet accidents, soft drinks etc and can be used on most fabrics. With messy kids, these are a must have! The wipes foam up when you use them, but quickly dry to a powder meaning there is no sticky residue. Each wipe goes a long way so one would tackle a spill effectively. Both the spray and 25 pack of wipes each cost £3.43.

The Bin Deodoriser is a powerful formulation which attacks the cause of unwanted odours, neutralising and removing them. You simply spray it onto offending areas such as the kitchen bin, wheelie bins, cat litter trays, nappy bins or waste disposal units. You can also spray the internal surfaces of bins after each bag change to keep them smelling fresh. Powerful active microbes neutralise the pong instantly. I was really impressed by this product. It didn't mask the stink with an artificial fragrance, it made the smell disappear. It is safe for pets and people so you don't have to worry about harsh chemicals in your home. It is just £3.39 for a 300ml trigger spray bottle. It is perfect for freshening up every bin in the house. I wish I'd had this when Fred was still in nappies because they made the bin reek!

All the products have performed really effectively. The packaging has good information and clear instructions for each product's use. I love that they are environmentally friendly, not tested on animals and safe. I was impressed to find a brand that does not compromise on its company ethos or the quality of its products! I'd recommend taking a look online for the full range of pet, baby, travel and household cleaning products.

You can purchase directly from the Natural and Clean website and orders over £50 are free.

What Was Number One When Your Kids Were Born?

2012-02-28T11:04:00.003Z

I just saw Chelsea Mamma 's meme on her blog and thought it was a lovely idea. I did a What Was Number One When You Were Born post myself a few weeks ago and it seems like the logical progression so here are my five kids' number one singles from the day they were born.

Joseph
U2 "Desire"

Megan
Vic Reeves and the Wonder Stuff "Dizzy"

Ella
Mark Morrison "Return of the Mack"

Kezia
Will Young and Gareth Gates "Long and Winding Road"

Freddy
Cascada "Evacuate the Dancefloor"

I did not remember one of these songs being number one when my babies were born. I must have been too busy being 9 months pregnant to have cared about the charts! I think they are mostly quite fitting. Having my first baby became my "desire" as a mixed up teenager, and having Joe really did put me on the path to becoming a better person. Megan really is my wonderfully 'dizzy' daughter who makes me laugh and fills my life with laughs and all manner of 'wonder stuff'! After Ella was born we started the process of changing our family name to McDonald...hence "Return of the Mack"! Kizzy's birth gave us the beautiful song "The Long and Winding Road" which is a good metaphor for our journey together as a family, forever evolving and travelling but our road will always lead us back to the door of home. However, Freddy's number one song has no relevance at all..it's a rubbish dance track. So I'll choose the song we listened to while I was in the labour room waiting for my contractions to start. The local radio station seemed to play the same few songs over and over again at 3am, but I found this one most poignant to my situation....

Take That "Patience"

What was number one when your babies were born?

Vote for Kiddicare's New Arrival and Win a £1500 Spending Spree

2012-02-27T18:30:00.000Z

Kiddicare is planning a new arrival! This Autumn, they will be opening a brand new superstore and they are putting their customers in the driving seat giving them the chance to decide on the location through the power of social media. They are giving YOU the chance to vote for your preferred location by visiting their Facebook Page. Voters can also take part in a special competition to win a pre-opening £1,500 personal spree at the new store! Enter the competition and if the store you voted for wins, you are in the draw for this once in a lifetime prize.

I am championing the Birmingham Store, one of the six stores that are in the running to become the new Kiddicare Superstore. Stocking thousands of baby and nursery essentials under one roof and offering exceptional service including free car seat fittings and product repairs, Kiddicare is the one stop shop for every family's needs.

www.kiddicare.com/facebook

You have until the 9th March to vote and enter into this amazing competition. Share the news among your friends and follow @kiddicare on Twitter and use the hashtag #NewArrival to spread the word.

So don't forget to VOTE BIRMINGHAM and bring Kiddicare to the West midlands in Autumn!

When My Husband's Away....

2012-02-27T15:37:00.000Z

This week Ian is away on business. He left at the weekend and will be returning next Friday night. He is only a couple of hundred miles away staying in Windsor, near to where we used to live. But he may as well be on the other side of the world.

When we first moved to Shropshire, Ian still worked down south. His shifts were four days on, four days off so he stayed with my parents when he was working, and drove home after his last shift to spend his days off with us. It was a gruelling lifestyle for him, especially as he alternated between day shifts and night shifts and his body clock didn't have a clue whether it was day time or night time. He often fell asleep on the kitchen table in the middle of his dinner. Those were difficult days for us all and I'm glad to see the back of them.

Since then things have improved. His current job is in Birmingham which is 60 miles away from here and so is a commutable distance. He is however on call 24 hours a day which means he can get home after a slow drive up the M6 and be called straight back in again to fix a broken computer. It's sometimes really frustrating, but it is why he is paid so well so we can't complain.

This week he is on a course which will diversify his role, making him (hopefully) more useful to the company which is always a big plus in times of redundancies and cutbacks. It is great that they are still investing in him and giving him the kind of career progression he wants. But, how I hate him being away!

I feel like such a fraud. Millions of women cope with husbands that work away day in and day out. I seriously don't think I could handle that. I admire the strength of military wives raising a family while their husbands fight for their country. When Ian's away I feel like part of me is missing. We are such an old married couple, that I sometimes think we have just merged into one.

When it comes to division of labour, Ian does so much of the housework and childcare that I am spoilt! When he isn't here however, I become much more dynamic and ~~less lazy~~ more efficient. I think it's because I am at heart a control freak so if I don't do it 100% myself, I prefer to simply delegate the whole job responsibility to someone else. Ian's attempts at 'helping' over the years have landed him a whole load of personal chores. In his absence, I do everything with gusto and in my own way, which is actually quite satisfying. Plus, it's good for me to have to step away from the laptop and do some housework!

But I do miss my right hand man. I miss his hugs. I miss him making me cups of coffee. I miss his wake-up call in the morning. I miss him being there for a chat. I miss him helping look after Freddy and the girls. I miss him taxi-ing the kids around. I miss my best friend. However, the one thing that I totally do not miss at all is his snoring!! So it's not all bad ;)

Me and My Man x

Mixed Load Laundry with Colour Catcher

2012-02-27T10:38:00.000Z

When the laundry mountain is threatening to take over your house, the prospect of fastidiously sorting through every item according to the washing instructions and colour can prove daunting. With Colour Catcher from Dylon, you have one less thing to worry about as you can confidently do mixed coloured loads without fear of colour runs.

Less sorting also means you can do fewer loads. No need to wait for a full load of whites or running a load that is half empty. This reduces the amount of water, electricity and detergent you use...good for the pocket and the planet!

Just pop one sheet of Colour Catcher in with your mixed load and wash in the usual way.

Each sheet acts like a magnet, drawing away the traces of dirt and dye that bleed from coloured clothes and trapping them during the wash. This keeps the dyes away from the other clothing in the wash avoiding the grubby, grey appearance that can build up over time.

The proof is on the sheet!

I was sent a box to test for this review. Ella has a black and white dress which I hate washing! I never know whether to treat it as a 'light' or a 'dark'. With a Colour Catcher sheet in the wash, I was confident that I could I put it in a mixed coloured load and not worry about it. It came out perfectly. It is these type of items that benefit most from using a Colour Catcher, giving you peace of mind. With the fashion for colour blocking or monochrome clothing, it is reassuring to have a product that enables you to wash the garment without worrying that you'll ruin it. *Care still needs to be taken when doing laundry (see the Precautions list below).

Colour Catcher is available in three sizes 12, 24 and 40 sheet packs priced at £2.89, £3.65 and £4.99 RRP respectively. Available at Tesco, Asda, Wilkinson, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

*Precautions:

Certain fabrics are more susceptible to colour runs; red or dark coloured fabrics and cotton garments. To ensure maximum effectiveness for items with poor colour fastness use 2 or 3 sheets
New coloured garments should be washed separately for at least the first 5 or 6 washes whilst certain large dark coloured items, such as jeans and towels, should always be washed separately
Effectiveness cannot be guaranteed where large quantities of dye run from non-colourfast garments
Reasonable care should be taken if mixing colours with whites
Always follow the washing machine manufacturer’s instructions

Fun With Wigs Week 8/52

2012-02-26T11:40:00.000Z

One of the fun things about sorting out the house is discovering all the mad things hidden in the garage...such as our wig collection!! Looking good kids!

Silent Sunday

2012-02-26T11:34:00.000Z

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Digital Thermometer

2012-02-25T22:04:00.000Z

A few weeks ago Freddy was very poorly with a virus that caused his temperature to shoot up rapidly causing him to have a convulsion. We had a frantic phone call with the out of hours doctor who gave us some advice which he followed. Thankfully we managed to bring his temperature down and he bounced back over the next few days. Having a child who is not well is extremely stressful and upsetting.

A rise in temperature is a tell-tale sign that your little one could be poorly. When you are nursing them at home, it is reassuring to be able to keep a close eye on their temperature. It gives peace of mind and can alert us to any changes in their condition.

Tommee Tippee has launched the new closer to nature® Digital Ear Thermometer to give parents that peace of mind. It is a real must-have for the medicine cabinet, ensuring that we can check our children's temperatures quickly, easily and accurately whenever necessary.

The speedy thermometer keeps track of baby’s temperature quickly and accurately; simply place the tip in your little one’s ear and press the scan button - then after just 1 second, an accurate temperature reading will show clearly on the easy to read LCD display. It has a tiny tip making it safe for everyone from newborn babies to grown-ups and is also really easy to operate - giving you one less thing to worry about!

Other great features of the closer to nature® Digital Ear Thermometer include:

A fever alert which alarms when baby’s temperature is too high, leaving you in no doubt.

Stores 9 memory readings so you can monitor baby’s temperature with ease.

Complete with 8 replacement hygiene covers (replacements are available to purchase separately).

We were sent a digital thermometer to try out. Thankfully, my children are all well at the moment but we had a go taking each other's temperatures. The thermometer is comfortable to hold and very easy to use. The design is very user friendly.

The fever alert is a great feature of the thermometer. It is easy to forget what the norm is for body temperature, so the alarm is a fool proof way of knowing when your little one is getting too hot. The memory feature lets you keep track of your child's temperature, which would be really useful when monitoring their symptoms. Knowing an accurate reading of your child's temperature means you can provide relevant information when you seek medical advice. The closer to nature® Digital Ear Thermometer means you have one less thing to worry about when your child is poorly.

For the RRP of £34.99, this thermometer is a worthy investment for any household.

tommee tippee® products are available at, Amazon, Asda, Argos, Boots, Mothercare, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco, Toys R Us or online at www.tommeetippee.co.uk .

www.facebook.com/tommeetippee

www.twitter.com/tommeetippee

The Tooth Fairy 2

2012-02-25T20:43:00.000Z

Whenever any of my children lose a tooth, we leave it under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy. But never do we imagine the Tooth Fairy to look like the star of the new movie from 20th Century Fox. Available on DVD on March 12th, The Tooth Fairy 2 introduces us to an all new and very unlikely Tooth Fairy played by Larry the CableGuy.

When Larry Guthrie loses his first love to the sleazy town hot shot, he decides to try and win her back by tugging at her heart strings. He volunteers at the local kids' after school club but soon slips up when he tells the kids that the Tooth Fairy is not real. He then becomes magically transformed into a pink-winged, tutu-clad fairy in order for him to learn his lesson. He is sentenced to collect ten children's teeth in ten days. If he fails he loses his best ever memory.

The story is heart warming as you see Larry becoming a better man through his experiences and see his first love warming to him again. Her fiancée does all he can to sabotage Larry at every possible opportunity, creating some funny moments.

There were loads of funny moments which kept both Kizzy and Freddy entertained. We were all rooting for Larry on his journey of self discovery. It is a good fun-filled family film with some touching moments. The cute kids definitely added the 'cute' element to the film.

The Tooth Fairy 2 DVD is jam packed with extra special features...including an introduction to 'Larry The Hairy Fairy'. Tooth Fairy 2 is also available as part of a special double-pack that includes the original Tooth Fairy film starring Dwayne Johnson.

Release Date 12th March 2012
Running Time 86 minutes
Certificate PG
DVD Price RRP £15.99
DVD Double Pack RRP £19.99

Princess Galt is in the Papers

2012-02-24T13:17:00.000Z

From Shropshire Star Group Newspapers

Albelli Photo Books

2012-02-24T09:54:00.000Z

Albelli produce the most incredible photo books for every occasion. I like to regularly get my digital photos made into photo books, which are a wonderful way of preserving our memories. So far, this February has given us some unexpected snow days, half term and Valentine's Day. With so many fabulous photo opportunities I've got lots of lovely photographs of my family that deserve to be on display for everyone to look at. So I was very pleased when Albelli offered me the chance to make my own photo book.

I love the Albelli site. You can make photo books instantly by choosing which pictures you want including and letting the programme do the rest. But I love the freedom of making my own.

Page layouts, backgrounds, number of photos per page, text and photo sizes can be played around with to create your own unique design. I loved the creative freedom, dragging, dropping and cropping my pictures in my own way, picking colour schemes and adding text boxes.

It is quite intuitive and user friendly and regular save prompts ensure you don't lose your work!

Creating my Albelli Photo Book

When you have created your book you can choose optional extras such as a full photo front cover and extra thick glossy pages. These make your creation even more special.

My Photo Book arrived a week after I made it which is a great turnaround time. Email messages kept me informed of its progress along the way. The books are sent in sturdy cardboard packaging and are wrapped in plastic so they don't get damaged.

I have to confess that I let out a little gasp of joy when I saw my book. It was so glossy and colourful. No wonder Albelli were voted as the No1 Photo Book by The Gadget Show!

My Valentine's Cupcakes on the Cover

Different Layouts

Thick, glossy pages

Valentine's Day Photos

Funky Backgrounds

Prices start at just £6.95.

They would make a fabulous, unique and thoughtful gift for Mother's Day filled with family photos.

Find out more at Albelli.co.uk

Midnight in Paris

2012-02-24T09:32:00.000Z

It's the Oscars this weekend, and we LOVE The Oscars!! This year however, I hadn't seen any of the films nominated for Best Picture which was a bit of a shame. However, Warner Bros came to the rescue when they sent me Midnight In Paris to review as part of my rom-com package for Valentine's Day.

Directed by Woody Allen, the film tells the story of a young engaged couple, dreamer Gil (Owen Wilson) and materialistic, shallow Inez (Rachel McAdams) who travel to France with Inez's unpleasant parents who are on a business trip. Gil is a writer, fed up with his unfulfilling career in Hollywood but struggling with his first novel, who finds the ultimate inspiration in the city as he goes on midnight walks filled with fantasy. But the closer he gets to the heart of the city, the further away he gets from the woman he thought he loved.

Woody Allen embodies the charm and magic of Paris and the golden age of the Bohemian era of the '20s. Literary and artistic greats from the past are brought to life as Gil magically transports back in time night after night. He becomes involved with all these characters causing him to reassess his life. Inez accuses Gil of "being in love with a fantasy" and this becomes the theme of this movie. Searching for the Golden Age and seeking appreciation for his art becomes an obsession that changes his future and leads him to his destiny.

Why Gil time travels is never explained, but if you just accept that he does and go along with it, then you can share his journey into these bygone eras. I particularly liked his encounter with the Surrealists!

The cinematography is sumptuous, showing the sights of Paris in the romantic way we imagine and wish them to be. The script is sharp with some genuinely witty moments especially as Gil's double life alienates him further and further from reality and his fiancée. My only real problem is the casting. I love Rachel McAdams but felt she was very under-used. Owen Wilson's character seems to be the same in every film he acts in. I almost expected Marley to come bounding in at any moment wagging his tail at the sight of his master! I failed to see him as a struggling novelist willing to deconstruct his life of privilege in favour of the realisation of his Golden Age Notion. Someone with more intensity would have worked better for me. But even though I found his character unbelievable, he is likeable nevertheless.

As far a romantic comedies go, this doesn't fall into the 'laugh out loud' sub-genre. The humour is more subtle, playful and gentle. The twist in the story at the end was quite predictable, but still made you smile as Gil gets his girl. It is definitely a more intelligent 'rom-com' as you would expect from Woody Allen's directorship. One for the more mature audience, who still enjoy a touch of fantasy and romance on screen!

You can buy Midnight in Paris at Amazon for £9.99 and keep an eye out for it at the Oscars on the 26th!

Reasons To Be Cheerful

2012-02-23T20:06:00.000Z

I can't believe we are racing towards the end of another week. Time to take stock again and give thanks for all the good bits!
1: The sun shining today gave us a taste of Springtime, which I hope will soon be upon us for real. The sunshine always makes things feel better! It was the first day that I didn't crank the heating up in the car on the school run. It'll soon be air con time :)
2: Kizzy was announced as the Face of Princess Galt. We attended an official photoshoot where some absolutely stunning professional photos were taken. She was an absolute star and did her mummy (and Galt Toys) proud!
3: Operation De-Clutter went off to a flying start with a car boot sale held at the local sports hall. We did really well making over £100 on the kids' old toys and other bits and bobs that we'd sorted out. The thing that I liked best was seeing our pre-loved toys re-housed with new boys and girls. Lots of children were made very happy getting something new to play with. It is recycling at its very best!Plus it takes us one step further towards our ultimate goal of moving house. We've seen some amazing homes in our price range in a lovely little town close to Northampton. It makes me believe that it is an achievable plan!
4: Freddy's new glasses are proving a bit of a challenge, but he is getting better at keeping them on with every passing hour. This makes me think they must be doing some good and getting his eye working. He looks so cute in them too!

Kizzy is The Face of Princess Galt

2012-02-23T14:04:00.000Z

A while ago I spotted a competition where you had to submit a video of your child showing why they should become the Face of Galt. There were four categories: Scientist, Artist, Baby and Princess. Kizzy embraced the idea of the contest and here is the video we submitted.

Earlier this year we had an email to say that Kizzy was to be crowned as Princess Galt! A photoshoot was organised at the Marriott Hotel in Derby, which is the oldest Marriott in the world with the charm of an olde worlde castle.

We met the other category winners which included Lisa, a long standing friend of mine from the Facebook who is a fellow comping blogger, mum to the gorgeous Dexter and a very lovely lady! We had a room which was filled with Galt products for the kids to play with while they waited for their turn in the limelight.

Galt Sequin Art

Kizzy was given a lovely princess outfit to wear which made her look absolutely gorgeous...like a real princess! She really was perfect!!

My Princess

Kizzy's photo shoot was very fairytale like. Brown toned filters and a smoke machine created a soft focused effect. The settings included a secret staircase and an ornate window sill. Kizzy followed the instructions of the photographer really well although that meant holding quite uncomfortable positions perched on the edge of a very narrow wooden step. She was a star!

Setting up the shot.

We had a lovely lunch and then the kids did a group shot. I felt so relieved that I had a 9 year old daughter who was able to hold her pose while all around her things were chaotic. The other three little ones and their parents had quite a time trying to get them to sit still and look at the camera. Getting them all looking in the right direction and smiling was a real challenge. I could just sit back and relax as Kizzy sat like a little angel, even when Baby Galt stuck his rattle in her eye!

We had a great day. Kizzy did so well and I was very proud of her. Freddy was pretty well behaved even though he ate four pieces of cake, crawling halfway across the table to get them...but he had a great time supporting Kizzy! Even big sister Ella enjoyed playing with all the arts and crafts sets that Galt had provided.

I can't wait to see the finished photos used by Galt...they were incredible. The photographer had such a great vision and the models were all gorgeous!

Take a look at Galt's website to see all of the Face of Galt winners.

How To Make a Toddler Wear Glasses

2012-02-23T12:57:00.000Z

Yesterday we picked up Freddy's new glasses! The trendy Mr Bump blue frames are very smart and stylish, a million miles away from the old NHS specs from my childhood. They make Freddy look very cute.

The right lens is just clear glass and I was shocked that the left lens was quite so strong and magnified. My poor little man has soldiered on with really poor vision in that eye. It is remarkable how well children can adapt to something that an adult would struggle with and moan about!

At first Fred was not interested in putting them on. He liked it when his toys put them on, when we put them on and even when the apple he had for his mid-morning snack put them on. But he was not impressed having to look through them himself. Ella, Kizzy, Nana and Grandad all put on their glasses to show Freddy how cool they looked, but he was still reluctant to wear them. I'm sure they must make his poor eye feel strained as it tries to start working again. It must seem very odd to a 2 year old who doesn't fully understand what it's all about.

Not Quite Right

As ever, my lovely virtual friends on Facebook offered me solutions, ideas and advice and just discussing the problem really helped. Thank you all for your much appreciated support :)

I've discovered that doing an activity with him that requires close-up vision is the best way to get him to comply. I tell him that if he looks through the 'magic windows' he'll see things better. I get him to look at things and describe colours and shapes to focus his eyes. We did a whole hour playing with Duplo in his glasses this morning which is a real positive step. Lots of praise and encouragement is the key...along with lots of distraction. He is getting less opposed to them and the odd ~~bribe~~ reward seems to work well too. I'm not going to make a huge deal out of it as I don't want him to become spectacle-phobic! So I'm being relaxed and giving him breaks and not pressuring him. Afterall it's early days!

My New Glasses

His next appointment is for six weeks time. I really hope it shows that his left eye has had its vision kick-started. We've caught it early and time is on our side. Eyesight is such a valuable thing and I''l do all I can to get Freddy's problem resolved....even resorting to Jelly Tot rewards for keeping his specs on!

Pillow Pets...Is It A Pillow? Is It A Pet?

2012-02-22T21:35:00.000Z

Everyone loves snuggling up to something warm, soft and cosy. If that warm, soft and cosy thing just happens to also be a cute, friendly and playful pal, then all the better!

Mookie Toys have brought the original Pillow Pets to the UK. They are premium quality, ultra-soft and cuddly chenille plush toys that double up as lovely soft pillows. Perfect for nap time, travelling in the car or playtime!

We were sent a Playful Penguin to try out. He had a very appealing little face that just cried out to be hugged! I really like the idea of a cuddly toy that also has a practical function, making it more than just another 'teddy'. It is really well made and the fabric is a great quality...beware of cheap imitations on the market!

A velcro-strap underneath the Pillow Pet is released to transform the cuddly toy into a pillow. It is quick and easy to switch between pillow and pal. The pillow really is super soft and very comfy!

Both two year old Freddy and nine year old Kizzy loved their Playful Penguin Pillow Pet. All ages can enjoy cuddling up with one, from toddlers to grandparents! I even enjoyed a snuggle! Catching a cheeky forty winks has never been such fun!

The range includes Silly Monkey, Playful Penguin, Comfy Panda, Snuggly Puppy, Magical Unicorn, Wiggly Pig, Ms Ladybug and Bumbly Bee! And especially for Easter, Cuddly Bunny, Thumpy Bunny, Puffy Duck and Fluffy Bunny will be joining the gang. They are all cute, colourful and fun!

Find out more at pillowpets.co.uk. The Original Pillow Pets are priced at £19.99 RRP and available from Toys ‘R’ Us and Amazon. They'd make a great Easter Gift Idea!

When Your Best Is Just Not Good Enough

2012-02-22T15:24:00.000Z

When once asked by one of my children what you should do if your best just isn't good enough, I replied that you should say bollocks to those who don't think you are good enough and carry on doing exactly what you're doing regardless. Sage advice I thought and congratulated myself on my words of wisdom.

However, I have been contemplating whether or not this is actually right. Is just doing your best really enough? Or should we be honest enough about our limitations to see that sometimes we simply aren't good enough for the job in hand and concede defeat. Should we take the pressure off ourselves and pass the challenge on to someone better equipped?

What about when the thing that you are doing is really important? What about if it is a matter of life and death and your best attempts fall short? If 'your best' really isn't good enough, how do you reconcile the fact that you are letting someone down or causing potential harm? Would it better to not try at all?

Suppose a plumber did his best, but still flooded your house? Or an inexperienced, sleep deprived junior doctor nicked an artery during surgery? Or a hairdresser, who in spite of trying her very best, managed to botch your cut and colour leaving you looking like a clown? Does the fact that they 'did their best' really help the situation?

We live in a target and results led society. Children are continually tested in schools, they are judged, they are made to sit exams, they are expected to reach a minimum requirement by the end of their education. If their best doesn't meet this criteria they are deemed to have failed. In the workplace we are given targets which need to be met. Pay rises, promotions or potential redundancies rely on these targets. Like it or not, we are constantly put in situations where we have to perform. Failure to do so, however hard we may have tried, is going to have repurcussions.

I think that this also applies to a certain extent to the art of parenting. I define myself first and foremost as being a mother. Motherhood takes precedent over all my other roles and I feel it is the most important thing I've ever done and will continue to do. I try with every molecule of my being to make my children happy in all aspects of their lives. I strive to be the one who can help them overcome all their obstacles. I try to empower them to find the solutions to their problems. I want to be the one who can fix anything that they need fixing.

Unfortunately, sometimes I can't 'fix' things. Realistically, there will always be problems that are beyond my control. It is human nature to feel somehow to blame if anything goes wrong, even if it is completely out of our control. As a mother we have to juggle so many balls at once. When one of those balls is dropped should we feel guilty or blame ourselves? The logical side of me says no, of course we shouldn't, but the emotional side starts doubting my abilities and my worthiness of being a mother. Maternal guilt is a powerful thing!

The universe blessed me with five amazing, inspiring and incredible children. I hope I'll be 'good enough' to allow them to realise their true potential. I hope they'll grow up knowing how loved, adored and cherished they are, and how they really are the centre of my universe. I hope they will learn from me, but make their own choices, forging their own path into the world. And if there are some things that I can't fix for them myself...I will be honest enough to face up to my limitations and admit that I can't simply wave a magic wand and make everything better for them. But I'll be resourceful enough to find someone better equipped who can help...and that's my promise to my babies!

Maybe it's admitting that we're sometimes 'not good enough' that makes us so much better than we think we are!

2012-02-22T12:36:00.000Z

Treasure Island Toys (www.treasureislandtoys.co.uk) has been a popular online store for many parents in the UK since 2008, but as of November 2011 the site became an entirely different sort of online experience.

Treasure Island has created what they like to call a ‘Fun and Party Search Engine’ and is unique in the fact that not only can parents buy toys, furniture and birthday presents from the website, they can now arrange parties and days out for the kids, by finding children’s entertainers, party venues, kids attractions, evening classes, workshops and much, much more - all in one place!

By entering a postcode or place name, parents can find a whole range of child friendly activities and more which are in their local area. They then have the ability to refine their search by using hundreds of different keywords ranging from Ballet, Balloon Modelling and Paintball, right through to Peddle Boats, African Drumming, Theatres and everything inbetween.

The website uses the latest technologies to make it super quick and utilises great features like ‘Favourites’ lists, videos of entertainers, date ranges for events, reviews, social networking (Facebook/Twitter/Google+) integration and much more.

The website is also what is known as a ‘wiki’ site, meaning that anyone can add a listing to the website for FREE, quickly and easily by themselves. So if you are an entertainer or are a parent that knows of any great kids’ attractions and local events in your local area, you have the ability to add them in seconds and let other parents benefit from your knowledge.

With thousands of listings already on the website, and more being added each day, we are confident that Treasure Island is the place for parents to go when in need for some great ideas to keep the kids entertained.

For parties see www.treasureislandtoys.co.uk/parties.aspx
For fun days out see www.treasureislandtoys.co.uk/fun.aspx

Information thanks to Blog Match.

Pancake Day!

2012-02-21T21:07:00.000Z

I have eaten my body weight in pancakes. Chocolate pancakes with Nutella and Scotch pancakes with maple syrup and ice cream. What a lot of stodgy, batter-y goodness! I've over indulged but my belly is happy...it's the little pleasures that make life worth living!

Pancakes with Maple Syrup

I love getting in the kitchen with the kids and getting our pancake production line in full swing: mixing, frying, tossing, topping and eating! Fred wasn't too impressed with his pancake, but I think he was expecting cupcakes making the flat little offering a disappointment!

However, the rest of us had his share!

Pancakes!

I hope you had a good Pancake Day and enjoyed your own carb-laden treats today, however you enjoyed them! Next stop....Lent!

Enjoy the Flavours of Real Italy with Sacla

2012-02-21T18:08:00.001Z

Sacla have always been a brand that has graced the shelves in my kitchen cupboard. Sacla gives us a mix of convenience and authenticity, allowing us to rustle up great tasting Italian meals with ease. The latest addition to the range, is a selection of fresh pasta, pesto and sauces. Using the finest ingredients and traditional recipes, Sacla have produced authentic tasting products with the big, bold flavours of real Italy! Fresh from the fields and sunshine of Italy, this range can be found in the chiller cabinet of supermarkets or from Ocado.

We were delighted to try out Sacla's Intensely Italian Classic Basil Pesto with Intensely Italian Trofie Pasta.

The packaging is very sophisticated and you can see at a glance that this is a quality range.

Pesto is a timeless and versatile Italian sauce. Made with fragrant basil grown in Asti, Sacla blends the herb with Italian cheese, pine nuts and olive oil. You simply stir it through steaming pasta for a very quick and easy meal for 2. Pesto delivers a burst of Italian flavour and adds colour and glory to cooked pasta, transforming it into a delicious dish.

The Trofie Pasta is lovingly made in Italy. The Ligurian shape is really different to the usual twists and shells that I use. It is designed to make sauce cling to its spiral shape. It goes perfectly with Pesto...a real match made in culinary heaven!

It is incredibly easy to make a fabulous authentic meal using these two ingredients. The pasta cooks in just 9-10 minutes, the pesto is simply stirred through the drained pasta. Simple!

I had my 20 year old daughter home from university at the weekend and we made ourselves a little Italian feast. She is a huge fan of pesto and really enjoyed the Sacla classic variety. I found there was a bit too much pesto for the quantity of pasta when using the whole pack for two, but that is purely my personal taste.

Pesto can be used as an ingredient to make other Italian dishes adding flavour and richness. It is very versatile. For inspiration check out the Italian Recipes on Sacla's website.

Other products in the chilled range include fiery chilli pesto, tomato pesto, spicy roasted pepper sauce, asparagus and white wine sauce, olive and tomato sauce, cherry tomato and basil sauce, cherry tomato and chilli sauce, tomato and marscapone sauce, tomato and wild garlic sauce and Orecchiette pasta.

From Sacla's Intensely Italian range.

Gardening and the Joys of Growing-Your-Own!

2012-02-21T11:03:00.002Z

I have never been the most green fingered person in the world, but I do try hard when it comes to gardening. It isn't through want of trying that I fail to have an amazing and well stocked garden. I fantasize about having a garden with an orchard growing apples, plums and pears. I imagine myself making delicious pies and crumbles using my home grown fruit. I'd love rows of carrots and onions and potatoes, giving my family the freshest possible veggies. A greenhouse growing fresh chillis and vine tomatoes would keep us in homemade salsa all year. Embracing the concept of 'grow your own' would be a wonderful way to live a more sustainable existence in this modern world.

When I was growing up, we lived in a house with a huge garden. I didn't appreciate it at the time, nor did I realise how amazing it was that my dad grew all his own vegetables. Row upon row of plants tied up to bamboo canes, tethered using a leg from a pair of my mum's old tights stood in a regimental fashion over three quarters of our garden. As a child I remember longing for beds of beautiful, bright flowers, but my dad's ethos was if you couldn't eat it, he wouldn't grow it! I recall helping him harvest peas, beans, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, cabbages, onions and my own personal favourite, purple sprouting broccoli! In hindsight it seems quite idyllic and I'm sure even during times of austerity it meant we always had food on our table.

The reality of gardening for me is however a very different story. We moved into a brand new house, and although our home is lovely, we had to compromise on the garden. It is a very uniform square plot with high fences on every side. The sunlight doesn't reach into all the corners and the soil is very poor. In fact, the layer of top soil is so thin you can see the rubble left over from when they were building the estate through the turf. It is not a great garden, but I was not going to let it dampen my determination to grow my own!

Last year my gardening project got under way and with the children's help we set out to make a potted herb garden. Using troughs and terracotta pots, we planted up Parsley, Basil, Chives, Oregano and Mint from seed. We also sowed an array of fabulous sounding salad leaves in a gro-bag. We tended our seedlings and watered them everyday. We were very proud of our work and quickly we began to see the pots fill up with the aromatic plants.

Snipping our first handful of chives was a real revelation! Picking a baby salad leaf and eating it fresh from the soil was more exciting than it really should have been. We had worked with what he had and were reaping the reward of having some wonderful ingredients ready to use straight from our garden.

The end of this tale is sadly not a happy one. One day a few weeks ago high winds battered our garden causing the next door neighbour's six foot fence panel to crash over, crushing and smashing our herb garden. My foray into growing-my-own was over. However, all was not lost. As I look forward to the time when I move to a new house, the garden will be a big consideration. A little sunny space with fertile soil to grow some plants is now a definite priority!

Image from Love the Garden.com

Xia Xia Interactive Hermit Crabs

2012-02-20T09:11:00.000Z

The latest collectable has hit the stores in the form of the new Xia Xia Hermit Crabs from Character. These fun, cute crustaceans have scuttled all the way from the Caribbean to delight children with their crab like movements and interchangeable shells.

We were sent the pretty little Bimini crab and the Confetti Cottage to try out. Kizzy loves micro toys so she was really impressed by the Xia Xia Crabs (although she didn't have a clue how to pronounce it.) I really liked the packaging that the crab came in, it looked really attractive and interesting. It would make a really nice alternative to an Easter Egg if you want to avoid buying chocolate for your children.

The crabs move around with scuttling movements. They interact with their environment and if they hit an object in their way they scuttle off in a different direction. The movement is really erratic and 2 year old Freddy was giggling his head off after watching Bimini negotiate the obstacles on the kitchen floor. The fun motion makes the Xia Xia Crabs much more interesting than many of the other similar plastic toys on the market.

The crabs come with a removable shell and hiding underneath is a little micro-toy. Bimini had a cute cupcake. They are very small and probably best kept away from younger siblings. New shells can be purchased separately or swapped from other Xia Xia crabs to mix and match the designs.

The Confetti Cottage habitat is a little home for the crabs. It is also a convenient carrier and storage for your collection. It has a little door, window in the roof and a drop down front. The roof has a handle to carry it around. It is a playset for the crabs to play in, although it is a bit of a squeeze getting Bimini in upright with her shell on, which I'm sure would be a source of frustration to younger children. Kizzy ended up lying her down to fit her in. The Confetti Cottage can be attached to other playsets to build the ultimate Crab City. The cottage seems quite robust and I like the design and colours which are very appealing.

The Xia Xia Crabs are another collectable from the company that brought us Zhu-Zhu pets. As with all collectables, the potential to spend a fortune can be a huge pitfall to some parents. At approximately £10 each they are quite an expensive product for something so small. However, as far as collectables go, they are colourful, fun, cute and original. The quirky movement really is entertaining and quite unique.

Find out more at the Xia Xia Pets website.

My Son #Project 52

2012-02-19T22:01:00.000Z

My Son

Crazy Stupid Love

2012-02-19T18:15:00.001Z

Crazy Stupid Love was the film I chose to watch last night from my Valentine's Package from Warner Bros. with my daughters Megan 20 and Ella 15. I didn't know anything about this film, other than it starred Ryan Gosling who we all love, so had no expectations whatsoever. I would now rate it as one of my favourite films in the romantic comedy genre ever!

The all-star cast includes Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling and the adorably quirky Emma Stone.

Middle-aged Cal Weaver is living the American dream with a beautiful wife who was his high school sweetheart, a lovely home and great kids. Suddenly, his life is turned upside down as his wife admits to having an affair and asks him for a divorce. His 'perfect' life unravels as he realises he has forgotten who he is and is completely out of his depth as a singleton. A meeting with handsome player and serial womaniser Jacob Palmer in a bar, leads to Cal finding himself a mentor. New clothes, new hairstyle, new confidence and new opportunities with women open Cal's eyes to a whole new world. But the one thing he can't change is his heart.

Meanwhile, Cal's teenage son is harbouring a crush on the babysitter, but the babysitter has a crush of her own. Other characters are having their own dilemmas, seeking love in all the wrong places. Then ladies' man Jacob eventually finds what he has always been looking for leaving Cal feeling abandoned. When all the loose ends come together it culminates in a fantastically funny confrontation, with the characters having to face up to the reality of "Crazy, Stupid Love".

The intertwined story, the inspired performances and the beautifully written script make this an absolute gem. I laughed out loud so many times and found myself totally rooting for the characters!

I genuinely loved this film. My girls loved it too and are now even more in love with the very sexy Ryan Gosling.

Buy "Crazy, Stupid Love" now at Amazon on Triple Play for just £13.99.

Sweet Corn Bites

2012-02-19T17:29:00.000Z

As a mum, I'm always on the look out for healthy and exciting snacks to entice my toddler and fill him up between meals. So when I was offered the chance of trying some new Sweet Corn Bites I hoped they would be something that Freddy would enjoy.

Each pack contains eight bitesize cobbettes of 100% fresh, natural corn on the cob. The size is perfect for a quick snack or can be used as a side vegetable. The cobbettes are far more manageable and convenient than a full sized corn on the cob.

The corn can be microwaved, boiled, steamed, roasted or barbecued making it very versatile. You can serve it covered in butter, but it is so sweet and tender, it doesn't need anything added at all. it is a real taste of sunshine!

They are grown on Barfoots Farm in West Sussex with love! The farmers practice sustainable farming and have a fabulous philosophy. They say:

"Our farming is all about respect. We love the land because we know happy soil makes happy corn! We have a simple philosophy and that’s to grow the tastiest, juiciest, freshest veggies we can. We do this in an innovative and sustainable way, which is why the land loves us back."

I love the idea of the Sweetcorn Bites being the right size for little hands. Freddy does like corn on the cob but struggles to hold a whole one, and then only eats a fraction of it creating waste. The bites were perfect for him.

It was very easy to microwave a pack of Sweetcorn Bites, just 4 minutes in the microwave with a tablespoon of water in the bag, and you have delicious sweet, crispy, juicy corn.

We served them with dinner and Freddy absolutely loved them! They really are incredibly sweet and so fresh. I enjoyed them too and four bites contribute one of an adults five a day.

Freddy with a Sweetcorn Bite

Fresh sweetcorn is so much better than frozen or canned corn, and these bites make it so much more convenient. It is completely natural and a brilliant source of nutrition, containing carotenoids, vitamins A, B3 and C, plus Folic Acid, fibre, carbohydrates, sugars and protein for energy.

They are available from Ocado, and selected Tesco, Waitrose and Co-Op stores.

Perfect for Little Hands

Find out more from the Sweetcornbites.com or on their Facebook page.

Pancakes are Flipping Great!

2012-02-18T12:25:00.000Z

Get Shrove Tuesday off to a cracking start with Aldi's range of great value pancake goodies. Whether you go traditional and opt for lemon and sugar, or if you prefer a sweeter, stickier topping of Golden Syrup, Aldi has a fabulous selection of treats to top your pancake. They also have pancake mixes or ready made pancakes to make things as simple as possible on Pancake Day!

Special Buys on sale from 16^th February for as long as stocks last:

Classic Pancakes – 99p, 480g (pack of 8)

Classic Pancake Mix – 69p, 232g (10 servings)

Fiddes Payne Vanilla Sugar – £1.09,

Golden Syrup – £1.19, 680g

Lemon Juice – 29p, 200ml

Available in stores nationwide all year round:

Dairyfine Milk Chocolate Buttons – 35p, 70g

Grandessa Pure Canadian Maple Syrup – £2.99, 250ml

Grandessa Hazelnut Chocolate Spread – 99p, 350g

We had a trial run for Pancake Day using the Aldi goodies and we had a go at their Flipping Good Fun Pancake Challenge. Take a look at the Aldi Video to find out more and take part for yourself!

Here is our Pancake Challenge video...see how I got on! How many flips did I do?

Find out more about Aldi's offers at Aldi.co.uk.

I hope you have Flipping good fun on Tuesday!!

No Tantrums Just Tiaras

2012-02-17T19:55:00.001Z

My Beautiful Freddy!

Love Life You Count

2012-02-17T17:50:00.000Z

The new Waitrose LOVE Life You Count… range, including tasty breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacking options, is the simple way to watch what you eat – and relish every mouthful.

The range is based on the principles of healthy weight loss - eat a bit less and move a bit more. Selecting products from the LOVE Life You Count... range at each meal occasion will make sure that you eat around 500 fewer calories than you normally would, which, when combined with our regular exercise, should help you to shift any excess pounds.

The new range boasts lower fat versions and calorie controlled portions of favourites including a tasty Macaroni Cheese, creamy yogurts and indulgent chocolate puddings. With brightly coloured calorie counts on the front of the packs – you can literally count the calories as you do your shopping.

I was treated to some of the products to try out. I was very impressed with the packaging which clearly showed the calorie content and nutritional details of each and every product. This made it easy to see exactly what each product contained. If you are trying to stick to the recommended 2000 calories a day for a woman, the information made it very easy to tally up your intake. It keeps it simple yet really informative.

The range is very extensive and covers both chilled and ambient products so you can find a Love Life You Count...option in most aisles! There are quite a few veggie options which is really pleasing!

This is what I thought of the products that I tried:

The Soup in a Cup makes a nice hot snack, perfect for this chilly weather and at only approximately 60 calories it is not going to contribute too much to your daily intake!
At just 44 calories per serving the Cottage Cheese is a great filling for a jacket spud for a wholesome lunch. The Macaroni Cheese was pretty good, but I prefer a more vegetable based meal meal that would contribute towards my five a day and would be less calorie heavy. It was good comfort food though.
The Chocolate Sponge at only 198 calories is a lower calorie alternative to stodgy puddings if you want to indulge your sweet tooth. They are not as good as a luxury cake oozing in cream, but they are a fraction of the calories.
The yoghurts were good and creamy and fruity. A good light dessert or snack.
The cereal bars are under 100 calories and are quite filling. I liked the flavour varieties on offer and the kids enjoyed them.
My favourite product overall was the Crustless Cheese Quiche which was delicious! As the thick pastry crust was not present, the calories were reduced to just 277 calories. It was moist, cheesy and full of flavour. Perfect for lunch with some salad.

The website contains lots of information to help you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, with meal planners, exercises and recipes. You can also catch up on news from three people including sportsman Sir Matthew Pinsent, who have taken on the Love Life Challenge.

Bloggers' Q & A

2012-02-16T19:27:00.001Z

The lovely Heather from SAHM Loving It has tagged me in a Q & A meme. The idea is that the person who tags you makes their own set of questions that they want answered. Then once you've answered them, you get to make up your own questions and tag your own favourite bloggers to answer them! That way...it never gets stale!

So, here are the questions Heather wants me and her other taggees to answer:

What's the worst present you've ever been given? Oh dear, this is a tricky one as I always try to be very diplomatic about the receipt of gifts. It's the thought that counts after all! However, my lovely old Nan was the sweetest lady, but her present buying was always a bit awry. Age inappropriate pressies for the kids, more than one of the same gift in a year or secondhand items were the norm. But the very worst gift was a second hand vanity set, brought from a Bring & Buy Sale, that included a hair brush full of old lady, white hairs. EW!!
If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I am a rubbish traveller which has meant that holidaying tends not to extend beyond France. If a teleport machine was invented I would love to 'do Florida' with the whole family as I am embarrassingly excited by theme parks and attractions. I'd also love to see turtles swimming around in the sea in Bora Bora and pet an Orang-Utan in Borneo.
What's your most embarrassing moment? I haven't embarrassed myself easily for a while thank goodness. Apart from occasionally flashing the postman when I've answered the door to him with a boob out, which is an occupational hazard of breastfeeding, I can't think of much else. I've probably blocked all the other mortifying moments from my mind in an attempt to retain what little dignity I have left.
If you won £45m on the Euro Lottery (like that young couple did the other week), what would you do with the money? The amount of times that I have fantasized about winning a vast fortune on the lottery means that I can answer this without having to even think about it! I would do all the practical things first, like make my older children millionaires and buy an amazing house for the family. Then I'd hire out the top floor of the Disneyland Hotel and invite everyone that I love to the ultimate Disney party. I'd donate some money to hand picked charities and individuals. I'd bank a load (because I'm very sensible like that). I'd see that my parents and my in-laws never wanted for anything in their old age. I'd pay off the mortgages on my sister and sister-in-law's houses. I'd see that my nephews and nieces had a nice nest egg. Then I'd host a competition on my blog with a £10,000 prize and sell all my old things at a car boot sale with everything costing 1p regardless of what it was...how cool would that be! One thing for sure though...I wouldn't want a yacht, or a flash car or ridiculously priced designer clothes and jewellery...I'm just not that fancy!
If you weren't with your partner/boyfriend/husband/significant other (or, if you aren't with anyone right now - bonus!) and you could have one date night with someone else, who would it be and what would you do? I'd go to the Oscars as Brad Pitt's date. (Angelina can stay at home and babysit!)
Football or rugby? I get equally into football and rugby when a big match or a World Cup is on. All other times I am equally not arsed about either. With a husband who does not follow or play sport, this is easy to do.
If there was a film made about your life, which actor/actress would play you? That'd be the aforementioned Angelina Jolie. She could go a bit 'Girl Interrupted' for the teenage years and then she can harness the harassed mother inside her to portray my present day vibe.
Do you prefer a wild night out or a quiet night in? I've not done a night out for years! But then again, nights in aren't exactly quiet with my family around. So I'll go for a wild night in!!
Is there one television programme that you couldn't live without in your life? Oh dear, I feel a confession coming on! For me I couldn't do without Playing It Straight, True Blood, Glee, American Horror Story, How I Met Your Mother, One Tree Hill, Desperate Housewives or Weeds. Me and my big girls love our Mummy/Daughter TV shows!!
If you could turn back time, what would you do differently? I can't answer this, because I am a firm believer that every action that I've ever taken has directed me down the path to where I am now with the five most amazing children and the most wonderful husband I could wish for. I wouldn't change a thing....but if I could guarantee that it wouldn't alter the space/ time continuum in anyway I would most definitely love to go back in time with the knowledge, confidence and wherewithal that I have now and handle some of the situations that I got myself into differently. All those abusive blokes would not know what hit them!
What's your guilty pleasure? Apart from the huge list of TV programmes above, my guilty pleasure has to be toilet humour. A good diarrhoea, skid mark or sharting story has me in hysterics. I'm sorry :(

The Rules:

You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about herself on their blog.
Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
Choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post.
Let each blogger know that you have tagged them.

So, here are the questions I would like the people I've tagged to answer:

1: If you could be anyone else for the day, who would you choose and why?
2: What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
3: If you could time travel to any period of history what era would you visit?
4: If you had to live without either cheese or chocolate, which one would you never have again?
5: If you were an animal....what animal would you be?
6: What super power would you most want to have?
7: If you had to be genetically modified, would you rather have a third arm, a third leg, a second head or some other modification???
8: Which song do you think you sing best? (...in my mind, when I crack out Total Eclipse of the Heart I believe I could sell out stadiums!!)
9: On a scale of 1-10, how good a dancer do you rate yourself to be?
10: Which film have you watched the most times? (Do not include films played over and over to appease your kids!)
11: Which Disney character can you most relate to? (I like to think I'm most like geeky, bookish, brunette Belle...which technically makes Ian a beast! Rawr!!)

I am tagging:
Bloggomy
The Crazy Kitchen
Real Suburban Mummy
Red Rose Mummy
Not Met Megan
Emma and Three
Blog By Baby
Kate On Thin Ice
Mummy Loves

As ever, no pressure to join in, but if you do, I'm looking forward to your answers!! xxx

Peppa's My First Laptop

2012-02-16T18:58:00.000Z

I don't think there are many toddlers out there that aren't fans of Peppa Pig. The Porcine Prima Donna may have received some negative press attention recently for encouraging bratty behaviour in pre-schoolers, but in our house the antics of Peppa and George are thoroughly enjoyed (and thankfully none of Peppa's 'chocolate cake for breakfast' tantrums are emulated!)

The Peppa Pig merchandise lends itself beautifully to the colours and imagery of the show. The characters are instantly recognisable and appeal to little ones. We were lucky enough to be sent the Peppa Pig's My First Laptop from Inspiration Works for Freddy to try out.

The laptop toy has a flip up screen which lights up various images that are displayed on it. There are four built in activities that encourage interactive play. Little ones can learn colours, numbers, phonics, music and new words. The laptop 'talks' to the child, giving instructions for each activity.

"It's Peppa Pig!"

As soon as Freddy flipped open the lid and heard the welcome tune he was hooked! The colours and shapes on the keyboard are intriguing and inviting, encouraging further exploration. Freddy enjoyed pressing, turning, sliding various keys which made tunes and sound effects, named items, colours and numbers. The laptop has a lot going on and keeps youngsters engaged.

At two and a half, Freddy is not really old enough to completely interact independently with the Quiz modes where children are challenged to find specific objects by colour, quantity or starting letter. However his big sister helps him and you can see him learning as he plays. Having the different modes means this toy grows with your child and will last until school age.

The laptop is sturdy, strong and robust. The buttons are chunky for little hands. There is a carry case so little ones can carry their laptop around, perfect for the car, holidays or visits to the grandparents' house!

Perfect for little hands.

Freddy really enjoys his Peppa Pig My First Laptop. I like the fact that it is a self-contained toy with no little pieces or removable parts (always a plus!) and it is educational and fun. Batteries are included so you can play straight away (another big plus!) For more information, see the details below.

Peppa Pig My First Laptop, RRP £19.99

24months – 5 years

Explore the world of Peppa with the exciting My First Laptop. Use the 4 game modes to learn colours, numbers, the alphabet and more! Peppa Pig’s Laptop allows children to learn and play in the most exciting way possible. Open up the screen to reveal the colourful picture of Peppa Pig with her brother George and press the buttons to play music. My First Laptop also has a large chunky handle that makes it easy to carry around with you. Available at Amazon, Mothercare, John Lewis, The Entertainer, Morrisons.

Also available:

Peppa Pig Fun Phonics 2, RRP £19.99

3 years +

Have fun learning with Peppa and friends. Peppa Pig Fun Phonics has 8 great activities to keep all three year olds entertained! The great memory games, melodies and colourful illustrations are not only educational but also enormous amounts of fun! Available at Amazon, Tesco, Boots, Smyths, Sainsburys, ELC, Next, Morrisons

#Win A £50 Experience Days Voucher

2012-02-16T17:57:00.003Z

Have you ever fancied having a go at indoor sky diving?

What about having a fantastic makeover and photoshoot?

Or maybe you'd rather make your own chocolates!

Well, now you have the opportunity to try one of these, or one of the other great experiences from Experience Days, as readers of Inside the Wendy House have a chance to win themselves a £50 voucher!

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter Entry Form below and keep your fingers crossed that you will be the lucky winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Best Chocolate Mousse Recipe Ever!

2012-02-16T15:19:00.000Z

If, like me, you like your chocolate mousse like Cheryl Cole likes her men...dark, rich, smooth and a bit dense, then this is the ultimate recipe that is so easy, but so luscious!

Chocolate Mousse

100g bar of dark chocolate (I used Green and Black's 70% dark chocolate with raspberry, but Bournville works equally well)
2 Free Range Eggs - separated

Melt chocolate in the microwave.
Meanwhile whisk the egg whites until stiff.
When chocolate is melted and slightly cooled, beat in egg yolks.
Fold together.
Pour into two individual serving dishes and chill until set.
Serve with fresh whipped cream, chocolate drops (I used Beyond Dark) and a strawberry cut into a fan.

Chocolate Mousse

Half-Term Film Fun with Warner Bros

2012-02-15T18:38:00.000Z

My children are very, very lucky! A parcel arrived from Warner Bros Kids to keep them entertained over half term, and what a lot of lovely things it contained!

Two Scooby Doo Mystery Incoporated DVD's arrived along with an activity book, some sweets and an alien head. Scooby, Shaggy and the gang are extremely loved in our household. Me and Ian feel nostalgic as we enjoy Scooby Doo with our little ones. These titles are updated animations full of paranormal events and monsters centred around Crystal Cove. I love how Scooby Doo spans the generations. These two volumes include eight full episodes of spook hunting antics!

We also received a fabulous Warner Bros Kids Bumper Box of Toons, ten full length DVDs in a Big Faces Box Set! Including favourites from Road Runner, Tom & Jerry, Tweetie Pie, Taz, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Speedy Gonzales, Porky Pig and Wile E. Coyote, this set introduces the classic characters from my childhood to a whole new generation.

Ian was extremely excited to rediscover the cartoons from his youth and took huge delight sharing his favourites with Freddy. He used to enjoy watching them with his own dad as a child, now he gets to do it with his youngest son! I was surprised how much my toddler enjoyed watching the episodes of the classic toons and giggled his way through the DVDs. They contain scenes of cartoon comedy violence which really tickled him. As Wile E. Coyote got buried alive by falling rocks, Freddy chuckled away! It never did me any harm watching them, so I have no qualms about him doing so. He loved the characters, proving that they are ageless and appeal to old and young alike.

We spent a lovely afternoon watching cartoons with the children. It is a lovely way to spend a few hours during a grey, wet and windy half term holiday. It is great to have some classic titles in the DVD collection, especially ones that appeal to both us parents and our little ones. When it comes to Scooby Doo and Looney Toons there is no such thing as a generation gap.

Valentine's Day...Did You or Didn't You?

2012-02-15T13:23:00.000Z

Another Valentine's Day has been and gone and I've seen the arguments for and against this celebration posted across the internet.

Personally I am all for any excuse for a celebration...Chinese New Year, Burn's Night, Winter Solstice or St George's Day are all on our calendar for celebrating, Valentine's Day is no different. We use the day in question as a theme to make an ordinary day a little bit more special. They influence what we do, what we eat and give us a focus for craft activities or days out. It's a fun way to punctuate the year.

Valentine's Day is one of the more contentious days of the year. On one hand, couples can feel pressured into spending extortionate amounts of cash on overpriced bouquets, meals out charged at premium rates in fancy restaurants or fancy (and pointless) novelty items. But on the other hand, it feels like a kick in the teeth for all singletons, or a reminder that partners might be totally unromantic, causing one to question the whole basis of their relationship. Some men think that if they order a dozen red roses for February 14th, then it justifies them doing nothing sentimental for the remaining 364 days of the year. To some, ordering flowers is almost a reflex action with no deep emotion attached to it, making it no more than a meaningless gesture. Only the florists truly come out on top!

A Valentine's Bouquet

For me, however, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to make home made cards festooned with hearts and filled with hand written poetry. The children join in and get creative with 'love' being the focus of their activity. We don't often have flowers in the house, but again, it's an excuse to do so. We don't spend a fortune, Ian chooses a bunch from the supermarket that he likes the look of and delivers them to me in person after work on the 13th. They brighten up our house and set the scene for the day ahead. Together with the kids we bake cakes and prepare our favourite family meal with added Valentine's embellishments, just for fun. We dress up and the kids drink pop from a wine glass. It is just a lovely celebration of the love we share all year round.
Ian is a soppy soul and tells me he loves me numerous times everyday. He is demonstrative and loving and extremely thoughtful so nothing changes on Valentine's Day. There is no fake display of affection, so I know that everything he does is 100% genuine. We don't need a commercially based celebration to tell us how to behave for one day a year, but we enjoy the prompt to ham it up a bit!

Valentine's Goodies

February 14th is just another day, and no-one should feel pressured or disappointed because of it. (We've only just got over the stress of Christmas, we don't need to put ourselves under any more pressure!) But, whether you are single, in a new relationship or parent of little ones, I believe it makes a nice opportunity for a bit of fun in the middle of the miserable, grey months of winter. Don't let Hallmark or Interflora or Goldsmiths tell you how to celebrate, do it your way!

I hope you all had a lovely day yesterday however you celebrated and whoever you celebrated with!

Valentine's Giggles

E.ON Innovation

2012-02-15T12:22:00.000Z

E.ON Innovation is an nationwide online innovation community for ideas creation encouraging the UK public to come together to help generate fresh innovative ideas; find the next generation of energy products and services; and design the next big energy idea. E.ON have co-funded the new Channel 4 series Home of the Future. The series shows the transformation in the life of a Sheffield family, as their home is filled from top-to-bottom with futuristic technology and gadgets. Over the weeks, new innovation challenges will be introduced on the themes of rest, work, play, food and wellbeing. The first innovation challenge is on the theme of rest and asks participants to come up with an answer to how the home could ‘learn’ about energy use in order to create a more restful environment?

For example, your home could help you to relax using controls for lighting, temperature and air quality such as humidity, temperature, filtration, fragrancing and ventilation. You could customise energy use in the home to suit you and lower the bills too. The home could even have different energy zones.

E.ON is looking for new energy ideas that will be popular and profitable, but also practical, making a real difference to the future of energy.

Taking part is quick and easy and there are three ways in which you can get involved:

Submit ideas: If you have an idea, big or small, see it transformed into a reality and get rewarded for it too.
Comment: Help others develop their ideas by commenting on their submissions and co-creating to develop even better ideas.
Vote: Have your say on which ideas you like the most and which ones you think should be delivered with E.ON.

There will also be live online events for community members to get to know each other, and to encourage collaborations.

An expert panel will be assessing the best submissions and the winning ideas will be announced on 25th June 2012.

If you submit an idea that is chosen as the winning idea for one of the five challenges, you'll win a home energy makeover worth up to £2,000. This could include some really exciting gadgets featured on the Channel 4 series, 'Home of the Future with E.ON' to help make your home energy fit for the future.

The judges will choose one of these five challenge winners to receive the overall 'shining star' prize of a home energy makeover worth up to £10,000 and this could also include some of the gadgets featured in the show.

All five winning ideas will be developed by E.ON, with the intention of starting to make the products and services a reality in 2012 - it is truly a 'money can't buy' prize.

In addition, there will be two runners-up rewards of £100 worth of Homebase vouchers per challenge. This is an incredible opportunity for us all to get involved and have our say. We can help shape the future of energy products and think of the things which would make our lives easier or greener or more efficient. This is a competition that could help change lives...imagine knowing that your idea was being used in millions of homes. How about running water pipes through the back of your oven to heat the water for your washing up? Or designing a motion sensitive radiator? Or lights that automatically switch off when you leave the room? Anyone looking for inspiration for their ideas should tune in to ‘Home of the Future’ on Sunday nights on Channel 4.

Follow the conversation about this project by following E.ON on Twitter (@talkingenergy) and looking out for the hashtag #eoninnov. 

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Warner Bros Romantic Movies

2012-02-14T22:26:00.000Z

This morning, a knock on my door heralded the delivery of a wonderful Valentine's Day surprise. It wasn't from Ian or even a secret admirer, it was from the lovely, romantic folk at Warner Brothers!

A big, shiny red box and a scattering of glittery, red heart confetti put me in the perfect mood for Valentine's Day. Inside the box was a selection of chick flicks that will keep me and my daughters in rom-coms for weeks to come!

The titles which we will be enjoying together include:

Midnight in Paris - a 2011 Woody Allen film starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams about an engaged couple facing up to their differing views of a perfect life.
Valentine's Day - an all star cast explore Valentine's Day from the perspective of their characters' experiences. There are make-ups and break-ups as the day goes on.
Casablanca - a classic that is celebrating its 70th year! Bogart and Bergman star in the 1942 movie set in Africa in World War 2.
The Bodyguard - the late, great Whitney Houston stars alongside Kevin Costner in the film that brought us "I will always love you".
Going the Distance - a Drew Barrymore rom-com about a long distance relationship. Drew is the queen of the chick flick!
The Lake House - Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves reduce me to tears in this love story that transcends time itself.
Crazy, Stupid Love- a brand new release starring funny man Steve Carell and the gorgeous Ryan Gosling. When a middle-aged man's life changes dramatically after his wife asks for a divorce, he seeks to rediscover his manhood!

I also received some lovely film merchandise and a bag of Maltesers. Warner Bros really know how to treat a girl on Valentine's Day.

I will be throwing myself into some intense girlie film nights with Megan and Ella. We love watching rom-coms together whenever Meg is home from university. We can quote way too many chick flick scripts! I'm sure we will be finding some great new quotes in these titles! I look forward to introducing my girls to the joys of The Body Guard, The Lake House and Casablanca and I equally can not wait to discover some great new favourites from Warner Bros for myself!

Indulge and Feel Good with Beyond Dark

2012-02-14T17:44:00.000Z

We all love chocolate, but it has until now been a guilty pleasure! But now we don't need to feel any guilt as we indulge ourselves in our favourite treat. Beyond Dark is a new chocolate that is not only delicious but it is also good for you as it is rich in natural antioxidants.

The cocoa bean is a rich source of flavanol antioxidants which are natural goodies that do wonders for our health. However, the production of chocolate can lead to them being destroyed. Thanks to the production process, Beyond Dark 70% chocolate contains up to three times more antioxidants than an ordinary bar of chocolate. That equates to each 35g bag containing the same amount of antioxidants as 25 oranges, 8 bananas or 5 apples!

Antioxidants have a host of health giving benefits:

Indulgence has never been so good for you (as part of a healthy balanced diet of course...man cannot live on chocolate alone!) The production process also results in the cocoa particles in the finished product being smaller than the tongue can detect. This results in a wonderfully smooth mouth feel.

Beyond Dark chocolate is formed into 'drops of pure pleasure' which is the best way to enjoy chocolate. The little buttons melt in the mouth which is the best way to maximize the taste. Two special ingredients: Time and Dedication are used to make the chocolate exceptionally tasty.

We were sent a box of Beyond Dark chocolate to test for ourselves. I have to confess that I usually favour milk chocolate over dark, as dark chocolate can sometimes taste quite bitter. However, I wouldn't be able to review Beyond Dark without having a nibble myself! The little morsels of chocolate are not like any 70% dark chocolate I've tasted before. The texture is so smooth and there is absolutely no bitterness in the aftertaste. They are clean, rich and dark and intensely flavoured, how real chocolate should taste. I was so pleasantly surprised that I polished off a whole bag! Knowing it is doing me good is a real bonus. Ian is a dark chocolate fan and said he found it 'really moreish and pleasant on the palate'.

Beyond Dark's 35g bags are available in Holland and Barratt, Sainsbury's and independent retailers priced at 95p.

For more information visit www.beyonddark.co.uk.

Spend Vouchers, Get Rewards!

2012-02-14T13:02:00.000Z

I have been a huge fan of Tesco for many years, in particular their fantastic reward card and Clubcard Deals. I not only regularly shop at Tesco, I also have a Tesco Credit Card and get my gas and electricity through E.ON (both earning me extra points) which means that my Clubcard points mount up very quickly. Once you've collected 150 points, they will be converted into a voucher worth £1.50 which will be sent with your Clubcard statement. These vouchers can be spent instore or online against your purchases or they can be redeemed against a huge array of Clubcard Rewards. Did you know that Clubcard vouchers are worth up to four times their value when exchanged for rewards meaning you can treat yourself and your family to extras such as days out and meals out...without it costing you a penny!

I love nothing more than going out and about with the children, but as a mum with five children, things like days out can prove incredibly expensive. So every year I redeem my Clubcard points to get Merlin Annual Passes for the family. This allows us all to visit Alton Towers, Legoland, Warwick Castle, Sea Life Centres, Chessington, Thorpe Park, Blackpool Tower, Madame Tussaud's and the London Eye as often as we like for a whole year! It only costs £46.50 in Clubcard vouchers which is amazing value. We get a full twelve months of theme parks and much more, which I would never be able to afford otherwise. We've spent some lovely days enjoying all the attractions without having to worry about the cost!

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers can also be exchanged for rewards tokens to use at major restaurant chains such as Pizza Express, Bella Italia or Prezzo. £10 in Clubard Vouchers can be redeemed for £40 in rewards tokens to feed the family at your restaurant of choice. They can be used in full or part payment against your bill, so you can enjoy a slap up meal without eating up your cash. Or how about a cinema trip to Cineworld? Just £4 in Clubcard Vouchers for an adult and £2.50 for a child's ticket means that watching the latest blockbuster movie does not end up costing a fortune.

I really love the fact that I earn Clubcard points every time I shop which I can collect and then use to treat the family. Other rewards include magazine subscriptions, spa vouchers, holidays, flights plus much, much more. To start earning points with Tesco Clubcard you just need to go in store and complete a form or register online. Visit Tesco Clubcard website for details on ways to collect points and also how to spend them. Start collecting them now and soon you can be enjoying one of the great rewards on offer! What will you spend yours on??

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His and Her Pampering

2012-02-14T12:51:00.000Z

If you are off for a romantic meal for two tonight you are going to want to look and feel your best (and hopefully your other half will do too). For a pre-date pamper you could enjoy a his and hers face mask using some of Montagne Jeunesse's all natural skin care products.

A 'Passion Peel Off' for the ladies and a 'Zap Them Peel Off' for the men will leave skin feeling fresh, clean and radiant. As with all Montagne Jeunesse products you will be nourishing your skin and your soul, naturally. With their cruelty free and vegetarian formulae, these are one of the kindest skin care products out there.

Pomegranate and Passion Flower cleans, purifies and protects the skin. The peel off mask pulls away removing dead skin and leaving the complexion looking radiant. At just £1.09 this is affordable luxury!

Ginger extracts lift away dirt and grime for clean and clear skin. Men can also enjoy the luxury of being pampered and look their best with Montagne Jeunesse for just £1.09.

Montagne Jeunesse sent a pair of masks for me and Ian to enjoy. I really like the peel off masks as they are much less messy than the mud based ones, perfect if you are in a hurry. I've always loved the feeling of peeling them away! It really leaves your face feeling refreshed and toned. Ian found that it stuck in his stubble a bit, but I think he is getting used to being a bit 'meterosexual' and using products. I also think it is fun to indulge in a bit of pampering together!

Available in retailers such as Wilkinsons, Asda, Boots, Superdrug, Claire's, Tesco and Sainsbury's or online at montagnejeunesse.com you can easily pick up a luscious face mask for a store near you.

My Brave Baby Boy!

2012-02-13T21:43:00.000Z

Today was Freddy's hospital appointment with the Ophthalmologist. He was referred after visiting the local optician following a 'white eye photo' scare in December. As it is half term, I had my girls with me to help out with their little brother.

From the moment we arrived, Freddy was absolute charmer saying "Hello Lady," to everyone he met. He melted a rather austere receptionist with his greeting and smiles. It put me in a much more relaxed mood seeing Freddy taking it all in his stride.

We didn't have to wait too long in the communal waiting room with other patients awaiting blood tests, hearing tests and sexual health screenings (a worrying mix!) before being called in. Freddy immediately began pointing at the pictures on the wall naming Peppa Pig, Winnie the Pooh and princesses. I started thinking that we were there under false pretences!

Freddy was so co-operative with all the tests, I was so proud. He had one of his eyes covered to test his vision. He sailed through naming all the pictures that were shown to him, doing a great job even as the images got smaller and smaller. He was praised on his vocabulary as he chatted away about fish, ducks, apples and cars. I thought they would tell me he was fine and send us on our way with a clean bill of 20:20 vision. Then they switched eyes. I was really shocked to discover that he could hardly see a thing out of his left eye. You could see him trying to peep out from under his covered eye. He couldn't recognise the images at all and when prompted said "I can't see it anywhere. It's too hard." It was quite upsetting to see him struggle but he handled it really well and tried hard. His 3D vision is also non-existent.

It made me realise how amazing he is to cope so well in everyday life. He catches balls and runs around as well as any other toddler, but all this time could only really use one eye. His left eye isn't just lazy...it is hibernating.

He was given eye drops to dilate his pupils and he made no fuss. The nurse said the drops really stung and children usually cry. But he didn't complain at all, bless him. After 20 minutes he was seen by the doctor for further tests and she confirmed that one eye was extremely long sighted to the point of being ineffective. She wrote up a prescription for him to get glasses. The right lens is just glass, the left one is going to try to pull up his vision in his bad eye. It is hoped that this will kick start the vision and 'remind' his brain on how his eye should work. It has been caught really early, thankfully. I always have concerns about my children's vision as their paternal grandad is registered blind.

Freddy was fitted for his glasses which we pick up next week. He has to wear them all the time. It will be interesting trying to get him to keep them on!! He'll be assessed again in 8 weeks. He looks very cute in his Mr Men design specs and was very excited to choose them all by himself!

Freddy's New Glasses

I'm so glad that the chain of events led me to get his eyes tested properly, therefore discovering this problem now. No-one can tell us the long term prognosis, but whatever it is, Freddy will handle it with humour, bravery and a sense of fun!

Valentine's Day on a Budget

2012-02-13T20:15:00.000Z

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. The shops are filled with a huge array of enticing products in reds and pinks, adorned with love hearts, flowers and romantic sentiments. You could spend a fortune on your loved one on some huge novelty teddy bearing a giant plush heart, which will end up stuffed in the back of a cupboard by the end of the month. Personally, I think the way to a man's heart (or indeed my heart) is through the stomach. Nothing beats a fantastic meal with all the trimmings!

Valentine's Day to me, is an excuse to really push the boat out and celebrate through the medium of culinary excess! However, I don't think it is a good idea to spend more than you can afford to treat your other half if money is tight. You can enjoy a day of love on a budget. This is where Aldi comes in. They have a great selection of gifts, so whether you are looking for a subtle romantic gesture or wish to sweep your partner off their feet, look no further than Aldi for inspiration at fabulous prices!

This year, Aldi have sent me some items to help celebrate my Valentine's Day with Ian. And if you are quick, you'll be able to get your hands on them in store in time for tomorrow night.

Chocolate and Fizz

Phillippe Michel Cremant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay is a refreshingly dry vintage with citrus notes making it the perfect glass of fizz to drink a toast to love! At just £6.99 for a bottle it is the perfect price too!

Moser Roth Finest Truffles are beautifully presented in a gift box. Available in dark or milk, they are really indulgent and luxurious. Each chocolate shell encases a deliciously rich truffle filling. For just £1.69 they are affordable luxury!

Fondue for Valentine's?

For a fun dessert for two, nothing surpasses the pleasures of molten chocolate. Aldi are selling a brilliant chocolate melting pot for making fabulous fondue. How romantic would it be too dip ripe, red strawberries into melted chocolate and feed them to each other! Or even use the shaped moulds that are included to make your Valentine some home made chocolate hearts! The set comes complete with a removable pan, base unit, spatula, skewers, a cooling rack and heart shaped moulds. It is electric, so no need to mess about with matches or open flames...just plug it in, switch on and chocolate heaven awaits. At £12.99 this is an excellent value set that will come into its own time and time again. It would make an excellent gift. Get it while stocks last!!

For making pralines or chocolate treats.

Aldi are also stocking a great selection of silicone bakeware while stocks last. I was sent a large heart shaped silicone pan in red and I am going to be using it to make a heart shaped strawberry and cream sponge. I'll be posting how I get on with it tomorrow! At just £2.99, the range also includes a six whole muffin pan to make gorgeous heart shaped cup cakes for your other half.

Heart-shaped Pan

So be quick! Pop to your nearest Aldi tomorrow and pick up some bargains for Valentine's Day. They also have amazing red rose bouquets with a dozen roses for just £5. The premium bunch at £15 is exquisite. Either one will definitely make someone's day and is so affordable. A single red rose is just £1.50, so everyone can afford to be romantic tomorrow!

Once Upon A Wartime

2012-02-12T21:56:00.000Z

Today we visited Manchester's Imperial War Museum. The magnificent iconic building is situated on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in the Salford Quays area and is an impressive example of 21st century architecture with its free flowing forms and asymmetric geometry. It's a departure from buildings with traditional vertical lines and right angles! Inside, the building disorientates you with its floor that reflects the curvature of the Earth's surface, but that somehow draws you into the exhibits which are based on the concept of a shattered globe, fragmented by conflict across the years. It really is impressive.

The main exhibition space is home to a wealth of artefacts, documents, artworks and objects displayed around a timeline from 1914 to the present day. Highlights include a Harrier Jump Jet, a T34 Russian Tank and a piece of the Twin Towers, which acts as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict.

Twin Towers Steelwork

The powerful exhibits focus on the human stories, revealing the people, places, ideas and events behind the conflicts. We are challenged to look at war from different perspectives, which enriches our understanding of the cause, course and consequences and the impact on human life.

This half term marks the launch of a major new exhibition Once Upon A Wartime which explores five much loved children's books about war. The interactive and dynamic celebration of storytelling includes special guests, creative activities and performances. Like the rest of the museum, the exhibition is completely free!

Moving tales of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity are brought to life. Adults and children can find out about the true events that inspired these powerful stories. We can climb inside the pages and discover the stories with hands on displays that are both fun and educational.

The five books are Michael Morpurgo's 'War Horse', Nina Bawden's 'Carrie's War', Robert Westall's 'The Machine Gunners', Ian Serrailier's 'The Silver Sword' and Bernard Ashley's 'Little Soldier'. With books to read, things to handle, hideouts to sit in, tunnels to crawl through and weights to pull, you are immersed in the world of the stories.

The Machine Gunners Fortress

Crawling through the Tunnel.

Hepzibah's Kitchen from Carrie's War

Pulling weights like a War Horse

Reading the Books.

The exhibit is really child friendly. My older children were familiar with some of the books already, having read them at home or at school. The exhibits added to their knowledge and fleshed out the words. Freddy who is two, enjoyed the interactive elements of the displays and had the freedom to run around and explore.

From 1-4pm throughout the holidays the museum has a children's craft and storytelling activity which takes place in the purpose built Learning Studio. With a range of toys for even the littlest visitors, the activity session is suitable for all ages. It is a fantastic facility for families. My girls enjoyed a story about the experiences of a girl in the Land Army in WW2. They also made a lovely keepsake book box. Meanwhile Freddy played with traditional wooden toys.

Craft Activity

Wooden Toys

To end our visit we went up the Air Shard, a lift that went up to a 29m viewing platform giving great views of the Salford Quays. Even though it was a foggy day, the view was quite impressive, but the see-through metal grated floor was a bit nerve racking if you have a fear of heights!! (a small fee applies)

The Lift Up The Air Shard

Salford Quays in The Fog

The Imperial War Museum is a great free day out for all ages and is open daily from 10am to 5pm. The Once Upon a Wartime exhibition is open throughout half term and until September 2nd.

Pay and display car parking is available and there is a lovely restaurant with panoramic views of the quays plus a very well stocked shop selling a selection of books, toys, T-Shirts, posters etc.

Toot Toot! Project 52 Week 7

2012-02-12T07:40:00.000Z

Freddy absolutely loves trains and yesterday's visit to the National Railway Museum was met with wonder and excitement from my littlest! His ride on the Hogwart's Express was the highlight of his day. I love to see his face light up and his eyes sparkle with joy. He takes everything in and marvels at the world around him. Giving him new experiences and letting him discover new and exciting things is just so rewarding. Seeing the world through his eyes gives us all the chance to forget our problems and shake off our jaded attitudes and just embrace the beauty of life as only a child can.

All Aboard the Hogwart's Express!

2012-02-11T22:35:00.002Z

It's time to get your cape, hat and broomstick at the ready for the National Railway Museum's Wizard Week this half term until February 19th. Wannabe Wizards will be flying in from miles around for the main attraction...a chance to ride on the Hogwart's Express without having to go to Platform 9 3/4!! The steam train star used in the Harry Potter films is the Olton Hall, an impressive engine that conjures up all the magic from the movies.

Hogwart's Express

The National Railway Museum in York was looking lovely with a spattering of snow and it was very chilly, but that somehow added to the magic! The museum is open from 9.30am to 6pm daily and has a packed programme of spell-binding activities to keep everyone entertained.

All-Action Wizard Duels see good battling evil in exciting daily performances. The Magic Hatter is performing amazing magic tricks and making model balloon wands for the kids. Derek the Dragon is chatting to visitors in the Station Hall. A display of beautiful owls are on display. You might even be lucky enough to hold one of Hedwig's birdie buddies!

There is an opportunity to have your photo taken flying high on a broomstick! With the magic of green screen technology, you and your family can take home a photograph of yourselves soaring over the countryside thanks to the clever people at www.fullframeevents.co.uk (a small fee applies).

Children can get crafty and make their own Wizard ID badge on a lanyard to wear (small fee applies) and reveal their inner wizard! Other activities include the NRM Simulator (small fee applies), the outdoor play area, and the daily shows, talks and demonstrations including the new Science show 'Bubbles'. The Land Train takes you into the heart of York if you want to pay a visit to the Shambles or see Yorkminster.

The highlight of the day was of course climbing aboard the Hogwart's Express for a ride in the carriage used in the Harry Potter films. This is a rare opportunity for fans to experience a taste of Harry Potter mania and ride in the very same train as Harry, Ron and Hermione! The cost is just £2 per person and worth every penny!

Children are encouraged to come dressed as witches and wizards and enter the "Best Dressed Wizard" competition. You could win a magical prize including a magic lesson and an owl experience by uploading your wicked photos to the NRM Facebook page. Winners will be judged by a panel of staff and a magical guest judge. It was lovely to see so many little ones in costume!

Engine Driver

Entry to the museum with its collection of over 100 locomotives is completely free. Small charges apply to some activities during Wizard Week, but it is a great value fun family day out. Perfect to keep the little ones busy over half term. We had a wonderful day!

On smiles onboard the Hogwart's Express

Me and my girls

Lunch in the Restaurant

For full details about the event, check out the website at nrm.org.uk/wizardweek.

*We were treated to a day out at the NRM to try out all the Wizard Week activities*

Breaking The Gender Stereotypes

2012-02-10T12:31:00.000Z

Freddy is an absolute delight. On one hand he is boisterous and likes to throw or kick things around the room. And boy does he have a good chucking arm! He likes trucks and trains and cars and planes. He'll give you a 'death punch' (thanks for teaching him that kids!) He thinks farts and burps are hilarious. He loves active play, climbing, jumping and sliding. He is great at football.

However he also loves dolls...Bratz are his favourites. Pink is his favourite colour. He loves Disney princesses. He absolutely loves to dance. He strikes poses, wiggles his hips in a way that would make Louie Spence proud and does jazz hands! He likes to put on one of his big sister's tops when he dances because he likes how the fabric swishes and billows out as he moves. Just Dance 3 is his favourite game and he now knows a lot of the moves by heart, and performs them while watching himself in the reflection on the oven.

Dancing Boy

I love Freddy's freedom, his lack of inhibitions and his determination to simply be himself. I'm sure in time, when he starts nursery and meets other little lads, he will become more stereotypical in his behaviour. But for now I fully intend to enjoy every moment of my free spirited little boy. He knows noting of society's expectations of him as a male. For him anything goes and he embraces it all.

Society deems any girlish behaviour in males as a sign of weakness or effeminacy. I recently read a post from the USA about an American mum writing in favour of the new pink, girly Lego. She argued that for years Lego has supported the macho stereotypes with their vehicles, cities, spaceships and other boyish designs. Her own 4 year old son preferred all things pink, girlie and fluffy and was very excited about a Lego option that would appeal to his tastes. The piece was warm, loving and articulate. However the comments she received were the exact opposite. An outpouring of hatred, venom and ignorance spewed out from more than half of the commenters. People saying how she was raising a gay child which was abhorrent to God and she should be manning him up before he was damaged and damned to Hell. It was stomach turning to read such terrible things written about a child and a mother who was bringing him up with sensitivity and openness. Whether or not her child turns out to be gay is irrelevant. How can adults be so narrow minded and fail to see the positivity of allowing children to develop their own personalities without the constraints of stereotyping.

The other extreme of this however is the mother who refused to divulge the sex of her newborn and kept his gender secret for five years. She wanted him to develop his personality without the constraints of gender. In effect he was treated both as a boy or a girl at his mother's whim. It certainly didn't seem to be his decision whether or not he was dressed in fairy wings and a tu-tu! I can only imagine how confusing this must have been to the child. Allowing them to discover their own personalities is one thing, imposing your own ideas and values is another. After coming out as the mother of a son, she said she would still encourage him to wear blouses...did she actually want a girl?? Supporting his decision to wear blouses is one thing, but dressing him up because you actively want your son to be in touch with his feminine side defeats the whole object of gender neutral parenting. Let him be!

Many people seem to be opposed to boys being macho, rough and tumble boys or girls being pink, girlie girls who love puppies and rainbows. But if your son or daughter naturally orientates towards these ends of the spectrum, then that too should be supported and respected. My first born son would have been horrified if I'd given him a Barbie for Christmas...he was a real laddish boy. Whereas Kizzy would love the new girlie Lego and has no interest in regular Lego sets. It doesn't interest her, whereas glamour, fashion and make-up does. Anything goes! Let our children be who they are meant to be!

So whether my son turns out to want to be a Prima Ballerina, or whether he ends up a builder, the choices will be there for him to make, not imposed upon him. I'll give him all the opportunities available to give him and I'll support him in the decisions he makes.

Aquarelle…Painting By Numbers has been Re-Invented

2012-02-10T09:25:00.000Z

I am always interested in arts and crafts products as I have some very creative children who enjoy getting crafty. I was offered an Aquarelle set by Ravensburger to try out for UK Mums.tv and was impressed with the fact that it had just won the Best New Toy at the London Toy Fair 2012 in the creative category.

We received a mini set in a cute cat design to try out. It comprises of a pre-printed mini canvas 8.5 x 12cm, a palette, paint brush, dropper and three primary coloured bottles of watercolour paint. A colour chart in the instruction leaflet tells you how to use the paint plus water to make any colour you like to use on the picture.

The design on the canvas looks a lot like a painting by numbers, except there are no numbers! Young artists can be as creative as they like making the picture using whatever colours they wish. They can experiment and personalize the picture however they choose, which gives them much more freedom in their creativity. The watercolour technique is easy to pick up and children can start painting straight away.

The most ingenious thing about the Aquarelle is the fact that the design on the canvas is created using colour repellent lines. They stay visible even when painted over retaining the detail of the picture even if you go over the line. The super fine paint brush makes fine detail quite easy to achieve, and the special lines really do help achieve an impressive finish. The paint is very thin and ink-like and goes on the canvas really well. It mixes well to make a whole range of shades to get the desired result. Sometimes, the more complicated painting kits can lead to frustration as young children attempt to recreate the intricate design as per the instructions. Aquarelle avoids this problem. The cute picture is brought to life with the colours and looks really impressive from the start with each finished piece being a unique work of art.

Aquarelle is aimed at children aged 8-13 and is definitely one of the best sets of this kind we have ever used for ease of use, creativity and end result. The kits are available as Mini, Midi and Maxi sizes with themes such as cats, dolphins or world cities. The watercolour paints are much more user friendly than the heavier oil based paints and give a much nicer finish. Move over Painting By Numbers, Aquarelle is here!

Reasons to be Cheerful

2012-02-09T19:21:00.001Z

This week has been pretty good. I enjoyed an impromptu lunch out with Ian and Freddy at a garden centre as Ian was working from home for the day on Wednesday. We had a buy one get on free voucher so it was a bargain too. Funny how food always tastes better when it's free!

We had a little wander around and bought Freddy a lolly which he thoroughly enjoyed. I remembered how much I hate lollies when he started biting on it, but he loved it and I'm not going to deprive him of a treat!

My Boy Lollipop

I am very cheerful that the snow has melted although more is forecast for tonight. We had fun in the snow, but I'm always glad to see the back of it! Freddy found one of the remaining lumps of snow which he promptly threw at his dad!

The Last Snowball!

We had our house valued yesterday and were quite surprised that it was worth more than we thought. Although that doesn't necessarily mean we will sell it, it is nice to know how much equity we have to play with should it all go ahead. In de-cluttering and tidying, I have re-discovered many of the things I really like about this house, so I'm a lot happier in that respect. Our bedroom had become a dumping ground, but it has been restored into a haven of tranquillity now it's all tidy and uncluttered! Next step is to sell/donate and dump everything we've sorted out to go. Each step we take feels so cathartic and moves us towards where destiny will take us!

My kids continue to delight, amaze and astound me everyday.

Megan has just come back from Paris and survived Arctic temperatures, an attempted pick pocketing and a mis-understanding with a bus driver who thought she had propositioned him when all she asked was whether he had a bin!! It could only happen to my Megs!!

Freddy has had absolutely no potty related accidents and he has stayed dry every night. What a star! I'm such a happy mummy :)

Link up at Michelle's and discover more reasons to be cheerful!

A Taste of Sunshine in the Winter

2012-02-09T10:22:00.000Z

There's no doubt about it, we're definitely gripped in the big winter chill: it's cold, it's grey and the snow is lingering. However, there has been a little ray of sunshine Inside the Wendy House with a fabulous delivery from Sunmagic which has reminded me of that all elusive sunshine which I hope returns to our skies soon.

Sunmagic...a Taste of |Sunshine

Sunmagic is a delicious range of 100% fruit juices, smoothies and juice drinks, which have just been rebranded with a brand new logo, packaging design and new flavours! The bottles and cartons reflect the image of a warm and sunny beach. That is just what we need in this weather, bringing the taste of sunshine into our lives!

New flavours to the range include Blood Orange, Apple & Blackcurrant and Alphonso Mango Juice. There is definitely a Sunmagic favourite for everyone. Sunmagic also has Fairtrade packs of juice so you know the farmers are getting a fair deal.

The juices and drinks are bursting with goodness and contribute to your five a day! So whether you are grabbing yourself a quick drink on the go, or popping a carton into your children's lunch boxes, you can be assured that Sunmagic is providing a delicious, healthy drink!

Sunmagic Apple Juice

Freddy and Kizzy loved the individual cartons of 100% Pure Juice. They also really enjoyed the 40% Juice Tropical Drink which is available in specially marked cartons for 99p or 2 for £1.75! The bottled 60% juice Apple & Blackcurrant drink was another big hit, with its delicious berry flavour. Sunmagic do a lovely selection of juice drinks with real family appeal.

You can find Summagic in Asda, selected Superdrug and Holland and Barratt stores and from independent retailers.

Slurp!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our taste of sunshine in the winter thanks to Sunmagic, and hope that drinking the Vitamin C rich varieties helps to keep any colds at bay!!

Tissues at the Ready for Dolphin Tale

2012-02-09T09:57:00.000Z

It is not often that a family film has each and every one of us completely enthralled, but Dolphin Tale most definitely did. We all sat down together snuggled under blankets and watched the amazing, inspirational story of Winter, a young dolphin who overcame the odds and triumphed over adversity after losing her tail.

The film is a touching story based on the classic premise of 'lonely young boy meets injured animal and forms a life changing friendship'. But what makes Dolphin Tale so special is that it is based on a true story and the real Winter plays herself in the film. It makes it so emotional and draws you in from the onset.

The cast includes Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr, Kris Kristofferson and the wonderful Morgan Freeman. Youngster Nathan Gamble plays Sawyer, the young boy who finds the dolphin tangled in the ropes on a metal crab trap. He cuts the dolphin free whilst waiting for the rescuers from the Clearwater Marine Hospital to arrive. From that point, Sawyer becomes involved in saving the life of the dolphin they name Winter. They cannot save her terribly damaged tail, but Winter does not give up hope. It is Sawyer's idea that they make a prosthetic tail for Winter and with lots of dedication, perseverance and determination, they eventually come up with a fully functional prosthesis. As well as battling to save Winter, they also have to battle to save the Marine Hospital which is broke and under threat of being sold off to hotel developers.

The film touches on the plight of servicemen who have had limbs amputated or have sustained injuries and have to adjust to the change in their lives. Winter's story has parallels with those who are striving to overcome adversity. Her bravery and tenacity has seen Winter become a symbol of inspiration for children and adults with disabilities across the world. In fact, the research done in constructing a new tail for Winter has gone on to improve the lives of amputees as the doctors had to invent a special gel that is super soft and non-irritating for Winter's tail stump. This is now used to make wearing prosthetic limbs much more comfortable for people.

The film ends with real life footage of Winter's rescue and rehabilitation. It also includes scenes of Winter interacting with her visitors who obviously get such joy from meeting such an amazing animal. Her story has touched the souls of millions of people. Winter should have died from her injuries, but she never stopped fighting and never lost her spirit.

I admit that I cried like a baby while watching this film, especially knowing that the real Winter was the star of the show. It was so emotional, beautiful and heart warming. The special features on the Blu Ray were excellent and we watched them all, finding out more about Winter's story, behind the scenes information and more real life footage of this wonderful tale. We even went onto the website at seewinter.com to find out more about this incredible creature and catch a glimpse of her on webcam.

If you want a feel good movie that oozes with hope, inspiration and triumph over adversity, then this is the film for you. Knowing that the animal stars are real rescue animals and that the film was made at the actual hospital where the budget went to improve the facilities, makes you feel even better about the whole project.

We received the Triple Play Blu-Ray, DVD and digital copy of Dolphin Tale for this review from Warner Bros. It is released on Monday and available to pre-order now.

Win 1 of 3 Fisher Price Apptivity Cases and Baby Show Tickets!

2012-02-08T15:16:00.000Z

WIN!
Tickets to The Baby Show & Fisher-Price Apptivity Case

The UK’s most popular shopping event for parents and parents-to-be The Baby Show is back! To celebrate The Baby Show and its headline sponsor Fisher-Price have teamed up to offer three lucky winners an Apptivity Case and a pair of tickets to this year’s ExCeL show running from the 24-26^th February.

With 10 years’ experience of sourcing the best in baby and maternity products, The Baby Show is a unique shopping environment purposefully designed for mums-to-be and parents. There are over 250 must-have brands, including niche, designer products not yet available elsewhere, making it the perfect opportunity to test, try and compare before you buy and save money with exclusive offers. From product specialists to first class speakers, including two midwives from hit show One Born Every Minute, there is expert advice on hand to assist in decision making for you and your baby. With everything in one place you’ll be spoilt for choice at The Baby Show without the stress of the high street. For more information log on to www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

If you fancy a little time of baby free shopping so you can really get to grips with the products at the show, go to the Fisher-Price Crèche where trained supervisors will look after your little one – for free! Be sure to visit the main stage too, where you can enter Fisher-Price’s Win All of This competition.

Fisher-Price is offering four lucky readers the chance to win the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case worth £13. Suitable from 6 months+, this fantastic prize means your techo tot can play their very own apps on your iPhone or iTouch with its specially designed rubberised case. Simply slot your iPhone behind the safe screen to stop baby from accessing your files and protect the phone from dribbles and grubby fingers! The durable case comes with chunky handles perfect for little hands, and when you need your phone back, there are rattles to keep baby busy!

For your chance to win, simply enter using the Rafflecopter enty form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breast Pads and Other Joys

2012-02-07T22:00:00.000Z

Even though I have a walking, talking, potty trained toddler, he still has a secret penchant for bed time breast feeding. The boy will not give up his boob. This is met with revulsion and disgust from some, but frankly I am happy to oblige for as long as my little boy feels the need. He is healthy, strong, bright, intelligent, independent and sociable. It's not doing him any harm. He's not turning out clingy or needy. I can leave him overnight without any problem if necessary and he never feeds away from home. It is also sometimes such a positive thing to be able to do. If he has a fall and hurts himself, or if he is poorly, I can comfort him and provide him nourishment in one loving gesture. It costs nothing and I'm confident that he will self wean shortly. After all none of my other children have ended up as breastfeeding school children!

As my mad de-cluttering continues, with a view to putting our house on the market, I've been unearthing all manner of long forgotten items buried in my clutter. The latest was a box of breast pads. I've been really lucky and have never really suffered from leaky boobs. After feeding five kids I think my seasoned boobs have got their supply and demand worked out. These pads were bought last year when I went to Cybermummy and had visions of waking up after a night in a hotel on my own, swimming in a sea of breast milk. It may have been good enough for Cleopatra to bathe in milk...but I personally prefer a shower! My fears were however unfounded, and I was leak free. Ergo the breast pads were shelved and forgotten till now.

The packet of breast pads became an object of total interest for Kizzy and Freddy who were not sure what they were. It became like a game of Whose Line is it Anyway, with the kids acting out 101 uses for a breast pad. We had hats...everything from berets to skull caps. We had a face mask....Jason Vorhees anyone?? We had a padded bikini (which reminded me of something you could buy in Primark which would spark the whole sexualising our kids debate.) My personal favourite was the pirate's eye patch which was sported whilst shouting the mandatory "Arrrrr"s!

It made a fun distraction from the tedium of tidying. Who'd have thought that something purchased to stem lactation leaks could be such fun to a pair of children with huge imaginations and a penchant for fun?!

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Win 1 of 3 Fisher Price Apptivity Cases and Baby Show Tickets!

Breast Pads and Other Joys