Disney On Ice presents Worlds Of Enchantment is coming to Birmingham

The Disney on Ice show Worlds of Enchantment is coming to Birmingham’s Genting Arena on March 28^th 2018! Four favourite Disney stories will  magically come to life on the ice to delight Disney fans of all ages.

Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney Pixar’s Cars will be revving their engines and racing across the ice with some exciting, high octane action! Dive into Ariel’s enchanted undersea kingdom where you get to meet the sea-witch Ursula, Prince Eric and The Little Mermaid’s aquatic friends. The toys are back in town when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the tots of Sunnyside Daycare in their most daring adventure ever! Plus, enter the wintry world of Arendelle with Frozen's Anna and Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff, as they learn that true love comes from within. With wonderful costumes, super talented ice skaters and magical Disney music, Disney on Ice is family entertainment at its best!

What’s more there is a chance to warm up at the Fit to Dance pre-show party giving kids a chance to create their own wonderful stories and share them through dance. Children will be inspired to get up and get active with a Disney twist.

Find out more and book tickets to the show at www.disneyonice.com. Disney On Ice presents Worlds Of Enchantment will be at Genting Arena Birmingham until April 1st so book quickly if you want to experience the magic. 

Nothing says Easter like Cadbury

Easter will soon be upon us. I love Easter because it means we have yet another excuse to do some fun things together as a family. Every year I plan an elaborate Easter Egg Hunt for the kids (I say kids but most of them are now officially adults - but they still love my hunts with cryptic clues, physical challenges and puzzles to solve!) We have a big vegetarian roast dinner and eat lots of chocolate. Perfect!

I like to stock up on plenty of chocolate treats in the run up to Easter. This year, Cadbury have a great range of  chocolatey goodies, which the Easter Bunny will be proud to deliver. From favourites such as Mini Eggs to the eggscellent Egg Hunt Pack to popping candy chocolate bunnies, there is something for everyone. Large individual Easter Eggs are available in lots of different varieties from Cadbury Buttons to Creme Egg. I love the mini filled eggs that come in a range of flavours including my favourites Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo and Daim. The Cadbury Dairy Milk Spring Edition is a lovely seasonal twist on the classic bar. With prices to suit all budgets and varieties to suit most tastes, Cadbury have Easter covered. 

You can come up with some lovely activities for the family such as a simple Easter Egg hunt for younger children, where you hide the eggs around the garden for them to find and pop in a basket. Or use them as prizes in an Easter quiz or rewards for completing a more complicated challenge! However you celebrate Easter, I hope you have a lot of fun and enjoy indulging in some yummy treats!

Some Fun Easter Facts from Cadbury

• 255,000 Cadbury Easter Eggs are made at the Bournville factory every day
• That is 10,625 Cadbury Easter Eggs made per hour or 177 per minute!
• If you stacked every Cadbury Easter Egg made at Bournville every day on top of each other you’d have a tower of Cadbury Eggs as high as 305 Big Bens!
• Over 83 million Easter Eggs are sold in the UK over the Easter season, with the Cadbury Creme Egg being the most popular.
• Over 300 million Cadbury Creme Eggs are made every year, with about two thirds of that number being enjoyed in the UK – that is 3.5 Cadbury Creme Eggs for every man, woman and child in the country to enjoy!

This year, the Cadbury Easter Bunny is inviting families to come together and take part in some eggsciting egg hunts across the country.  Cadbury is teaming up with the National Trust to offer families the ultimate day out with more than 300 Cadbury Easter Egg hunts being activated across various sites in the lead up to Easter. With over 300 egg hunts to choose from across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, Cadbury will be sure to help families have a fun-filled Easter. 

To find out more and discover a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at a National Trust property near you, visit: www.cadbury.co.uk/easter

Zimpli Kids Chocolate Picture Maker Review

Freddy was sent a Chocolate Picture Maker from Zimpli Kids to try out over Easter and he had lots of fun making personalised chocolate bars!

The kids include a chocolate bar mould, milk, dark and white Belgian chocolate sachets and paper templates. The instructions are clear and it is easy to make delicious bars of chocolate featuring an impressive picture on the front!

The chocolate melts using warm tap water, making it very safe for children to use - microwaves or boiling water are not required. The chocolate can be piped directly from the bags once the corner is snipped off so it's not very messy to use. The dark choclate outlines the design, the white chocolate fills the image and the milk chocolate covers the design and fills the mould. The bar sets after 20 minutes in the fridge. Once it is turned out, the tripel coloured chocolate design looks really impressive.

The templates come in easy, medium and hard designs or you can create your own design using a name, message or a picture of your choice. The bars make an excellent, personalised gift idea.

Here is a video of Freddy, with a bit of help from his big sister Ella, making an Easter Bunny chocolate bar!


                        


The Chocolate Picture Maker is a simple but effective way to make some lovely personalised bars of chocolate. The chocolate is of an excellent quality, which I thought was a real plus! The mould and templates are reusable.

Follow @ZimpliKids and @ChocBarMaker on Twitter for offers and competitions and check out the website for further details. Sets start at £3.99 RRP for a one bar pack.

My Easter Haul from Poundland

This Easter, you can stock up on everything you need from Poundland. There are craft sets, Easter cards, Easter eggs, tableware, cuddly toys, decorations and baking goodies that can help make your Easter special. At just £1 each, Poundland products make it easy to budget and can save you money.

Easter egg hunts are a lot of fun for little ones. Poundland have a range of mini eggs from big brands such as Kinder and Cadbury's and have cute buckets and baskets for collecting them. Packs of plastic eggs are great to use for hiding clues or mini eggs around the house or garden. Poundland also sell a kit making hosting an egg hunt really easy. It includes signs, arrows and baskets.

For home bakers, Poundland have a 24 piece cup cake set that includes cake cases and toppers. There are some lovely presentation bags and ties, which are great for packaging up cakes or confectionery. The Jane Asher home baking range has some really lovely bits for the kitchen and includes some edible cake decorations such as wafer daisies, perfect for spring themed cup cakes.

Poundland has some super cute decorative chicks, bunnies, sheep, eggs and nests, which are great for making Easter bonnets. They are so much cheaper than similar products found in craft shops.

I love the little Easter crackers that will make a nice themed place setting for the table on Easter Sunday.

The craft sets will keep the kids busy in the Easter holidays. They can make Easter characters, cards, toys or even an Easter bonnet using the kits that include easy to use pre-cut shapes.

Poundland also stock a selection of Easter eggs for £1 each, including brands such as M&M's, Dairy Milk, Milky Bar and character eggs such as Frozen, Star Wars, Marvel and Minions.

All these Easter goodies are available in store, but you can also shop at Poundland online with free delivery for orders over £50. Delivery is within 3 - 5 working days.

Home Baking with Aldi Specialbuys

With Easter just around the corner, Aldi’s Family Home Baking range has everything bakers need to cook up a whole host of treats for the family, from a retro designed Classic Food Mixer (£34.99) in cream, red or duck egg blue, to fun baking sets designed for little budding bakers including cookie cutters, mixing bowl and icing set (£12.99).

Aldi sent me some items from their home baking range, which will be in stores from March 6th, and they are really fantastic.

An accurate set of scales is an important kitchen tool when it comes to home baking. Aldi have Digital Kitchen Scales (£6.99) in flat, bowl or jug styles and are available in a range of colours. I received the jug scale, which has a 1 litre capacity, for measuring both liquids and solids. It has an LCD reading and is perfect for weighing flour, oil, water or milk with ease.

The Crofton 5 pack of Premium Pantry Containers (£14.99) is the perfect set for sorting out cupboards. The see through, square and rectangular jars make it easy to organise rice, pasta, cereals or nuts. The lids are lockable for an airtight seal to keep food fresher for longer. They are practical, stackable and make it easy to see exactly what is in your cupboard at a glance.

These ceramic Measuring Cups and Spoons (£7.99) are as cute as they are functional. They make measuring ingredients easy and also look great on display. They come in the following sizes: 1/4 cup / 60ml, 1/3 cup / 80ml, 1/2 cup / 125ml, 1 cup / 250ml, 1/4 TSP / 1.25ml, 1/2 TBSP / 2.5ml, 1 TSP / 5ml and 1 TBSP / 15ml. They are a great original gift idea for mums if you are looking for a very last minute Mother's Day gift!

For home made Easter goodies, Aldi have some excellently priced chocolate moulds. Made from quality silicone, you simply pour in melted chocolate and once it's set, you'll have some cool 3D egg lollies or 3D bunny or egg models.

I was particularly impressed with the lolly mould set, which consists of two 5 x lolly moulds and ten plastic lolly sticks (£2.99). Great fun for making with the kids this Easter.

I love the bamboo handled silicone spoons (£2.19), which come in a variety of colours and a floral design. They have a real country kitchen vibe and are lovely to use. The corner spoon is designed to get into the edges of cookware making it great for scraping out batter. They are a large size, sturdy and perfect for homebaking.

When it comes to kitchen linens, Aldi always has great quality products at really excellent prices. The 3 pack of tea towels (£2.99) are made of thick, soft, durable 100% cotton. The blue floral design is really attractive.

Aldi’s Family Home Baking range is in store 6th March and available while stocks last. But be quick; with Aldi Specialbuys, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Product List

Classic Food Mixer £34.99

Premium Pantry Containers £14.99

Children's Baking Set £12.99

Ceramic Mixing Bowl Assortment £7.99

Ceramic Novelty Measuring Cups and Spoons Set £7.99

Digital Kitchen Scales £6.99

Cake Container £4.99

Pastry Board £4.99

Double Oven Glove / Apron £2.99

Easter Chocolate Moulds £2.99

Printed Tea Towels, 3 Pack £2.99

Silicone & Bamboo Kitchen Utensils £2.19

Cake Pan Assortment £1.99 

Find the Aldi Specialbuys online at www.aldi.co.uk.

What Fred Said about Music and his Family Easter

Freddy requested some music for us to listen to in the car:

Me: "Freddy you've got such good taste in music!

Freddy: What do you mean taste?  You listen to it not eat it!!!

***

Freddy had a fabulous Easter weekend with his brother, sisters and his nephew Ted all home, along with Ella's boyfriend Frank and Joe's fiancee Jade, His grandparents also came for Easter Sunday.

There were Easter Eggs, our Annual Eggstreme Eggstravaganza Easter Quiz, roast dinner for 12, bunny ears and some rather extreme plate spinning!!  I have honestly never laughed so much in my life!

I love Freddy to spend as much time with his three eldest siblings as possible, as they don't live  at home any more and he loves them so much. When all five of them are together I am at my happiest. We have so much fun! 

Freddy is such a lovely uncle to little Ted, looking after him, playing with him and teaching him the odd rude word!  Ella's boyfriend Frank has rapidly become Freddy's honorary bro' and he spent many hours on the trampoline with him playing games that Freddy called Sizzling Sausage, Beetroot, Scissors, the Gorilla game and Avoid the Ball.

Freddy spent the weekend saying that things were "divine" - Ella's dress, his dinner etc. - and that it was the "best Easter ever!" so he obviously had a great time too.

We're having a Jelly Easter with Hartley's Jelly

Forget the chocolate this Easter and enjoy a lighter way to satisfy your sweet tooth with Hartley's Jelly.  It's easy to make jelly in an Easter themed mould to create eggs and bunnies that the kids will enjoy.

It's easy to make jelly in the microwave - I just put in the block and cover with cold water and then microwave for about a minute until melted.  Then I top it up with cold water to just under a pint. (Using sparkling water makes a lovely fizzy jelly when set!)

Pop it in the fridge until set, then release from the mould. If the jelly sticks run some hot water over the mould.

I was pretty impressed with my jelly bunny.  Unfortunately my eggs were not quite as good, but Freddy enjoyed them nevertheless!

I hope you all enjoy a really Happy Easter!

Hartleys sent me some jelly and moulds for this post.

Breakfast or Tea with the Easter Bunny at Wyevale Garden Centres

This Easter, if you are looking for something wonderfully seasonal to do with the family, check out the Wyevale Garden Centre's Breakfast or Tea with the Easter Bunny event.  

Breakfast and Tea sessions are being held until the 5th April, with breakfast starting at 9 am and tea at 4 pm. Sessions last for approximately 90 minutes.

Suitable for boys and girls aged between 2 and 10, children get to meet the Easter Bunny in the restaurant. They also get to enjoy a meal, decorate an Easter biscuit and receive a cute, cuddly toy and a Lindt chocolate bunny!

We were invited to pop along to enjoy a delicious breakfast and some Easter fun at our local garden centre in Bridgemere. 

We were met in the restaurant and showed to our reserved table, which had been laid out ready for our breakfast.  The kids had an activity sheet and crayons to keep them busy, while Ian and I enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee.

We ordered vegetarian breakfasts, which were served to our table with hot buttered toast.  The children had hash browns, scrambled eggs and beans, while we had fried eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, beans, fried bread and tomato.  The food was well cooked and presented, and was lovely.

After they had eaten, the children had to shout for the Easter Bunny who then appeared  at the door much to their delight.  The Easter Bunny went around every table to greet families and pose for photographs. The bunny was very obliging, hugging little ones and doing selfies with the older kids.

Freddy and Kezia were able to pick a cuddly toy from a basket, which was filled with cute, wide eyed farm animal toys.  Freddy fell in love with the yellow duckling, giving him lots of cuddles.

Every child was then given a plate with a yummy, shortbread biscuit along with a tube of icing and a pot containing sprinkles, marshmallows and chocolate buttons. Freddy and Kezia enjoyed decorating their biscuits.

They were also given a box so that the biscuits could be taken home and enjoyed later. I thought this was a very nice touch, keeping their decorated creations safe and secure.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny costs £9.99 per child to include the food, drink, soft toy, chocolate bunny, activity sheet and biscuit decorating.  Adults having a full English breakfast with coffee or tea pay £7.99, or can have a Danish pastry and a coffee for £3.99.

Tea compromises of a hot kids' meal and a drink or a picnic option, along with all the other fun stuff enjoyed at breakfast, for £9.99.  Adults can enjoy a lovely afternoon tea of filled rolls, cake squares, clotted cream and jam scone along with tea or coffee for £7.99, or a slice of cake and a drink for £3.99.

We were really impressed with the quality and the value of the event.  The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff were all very friendly and efficient and the food was great.  The toys and the Lindt chocolate bunnies were lovely gifts to take home.

Book events online on the Wyevale website.

Times and dates may vary by centre.

What Fred Said About Jesus and the Crucifixion

So Freddy just said to his dad:

"Did you know that Jesus drowned on the cross?" 

Sadly, this was not a case of my child getting the wrong end of the stick.

No.

He was able to go into graphic detail about how crucifixion kills you, including the fact that your lungs fill with fluid because you are unable to breathe properly, which causes drowning from the inside. He also explained how whipping someone with a rope whip, made with shards of bones attached, rips flesh and skin from the bones and that this is a very painful way to die.

It was the local reverend who explained the graphic horrors of crucifixion to my 5 year old during the annual Easter church service. I thought they'd be hearing a child friendly version of the Easter story, not a certificate 18 one.

I had hoped that the words would wash over him, in one ear and out the other, but Freddy, with his sponge-like thirst for knowledge, had taken in every detail of what was said. He just loves facts! He'll happily tell you about it in the same way he will tell you about magnets or the water cycle or whatever else he has just learned from Nina and the Neurons.

Even though he doesn't seem upset by what he heard, I am trying to counteract it with stories of Easter bunnies, fluffy chicks, chocolate eggs and bright yellow daffodils. After all, I don't want him thinking about executions while tucking into his Creme Eggs this year.

Weekly Review Round Up - with Bacofoil and The Happy Egg Company

The Non-Stick Kitchen Foil from Bacofoil is a great product when it comes to cooking sticky or messy foods.  When lining a baking tray with the foil, there is no need to use any additional oil or butter, making cooking healthier.  Food just lifts away easily.  There is no need to scrub any sticky mess from the baking tray, so washing up is easier too.

Simply use the dull side next to food for easy, non-stick cooking. Use it for grilling, roasting, baking and freezing.  It comes in 5m and 10m lengths (300mm wide) and is fully recyclable and made in Britain. You can it in all good supermarkets for about £2.80 for 10m.

I cooked up some Chick Pea Scotch Eggs and they did not stick at all. I was able to cook them without oil making them healthier and lower in fat.  I usually lose the bottom layer of breadcrumbs so I was very pleased that they turned out so well.

Being part of The Happy Egg Company's #happyeggtastemakers campaign, I was delighted to receive a signed copy of Totally Chocolate by Eric Lanlard featuring '60 deliciously seductive recipes'.  With Easter coming up, and with it the promise of lots of chocolate, receiving this recipe book was well timed!

I saw Eric Lanlard in action at an event a few years ago and he demonstrated making Red Velvet Cupcakes.  I got to sample one and it was utterly delicious.  This man knows how to bake! 

He has made a recipe especially for the Happy Egg Company for Peanut Butter and Chocolate Egg Cups which you can see below.  I love the combination of peanut butter and dark chocolate so may be giving this a try over Easter.

Playmobil Easter Gift Eggs

This Easter, why not get the kids a gift that will last a lot longer than a chocolate egg?  

Playmobil Eggs are a brilliant alternative, containing a fabulous Playmobil figure and accessories inside a colourful plastic shell.  The contents build into a lovely playset and are available in different themes to suit the child's taste.  We received a Playmobil Pirates Egg and a Playmobil Princesses Egg to try out.  

The packaging is very enticing, with the large egg showing through the cardboard surround.  The 13 cm tall egg opens into two halves and inside is the Playmobil toy set.  The 50 piece pirate set consists of a pirate figure in full regalia along with a rowing boat and lots of bits and bobs such as a treasure chest, gold coins, pistol and drinking bottle.  The  princess  comes with a vanity station, plant pot, flowers and beauty accessories in a 27 piece set. 

Freddy was really excited to get his hands on the Playmobil Pirate Egg. He loved the pirate set that was inside it and with a little help was able to put the bits of the rowing boat together.  The pirate was soon rowing his boat and waving his pistol in the air! Freddy already has some other Playmobil Pirates toys, and this new set will be a fabulous addition to the collection. The quality and detail of Playmobil makes it one of my favourite toy brands and I love how they are equally good as a stand alone toy or as a collectible toy.

The Playmobil Easter Eggs are recommended for children aged between 3 and 10 years old.  They are excellently priced at £6.99.  This year Playmobil have the pirate and the princess egg, as well as a beach scene and a tractor egg to choose from.

They will be available online at www.playmobil.co.uk in time for Easter.  (You can set up an email reminder to let you know when they are available to buy.)

Countdown to Easter with Playmobil

We are all familiar with advent calendars counting down to Christmas Day, but now we can countdown to Easter too with this brilliant Easter Calendar from Playmobil!  There are 10 doors to open, each containing an Easter themed Playmobil item that together will create a cute Easter bunny scene on Easter Sunday.

Featuring three Easter Bunny figures along with Easter eggs and other accessories, this is a lovely gift for a child in the run up to Easter, that can be kept and played with for years to come.  It is perfect for some imaginative role play games where the bunnies are painting and hiding eggs for the big day. It would make a great alternative to a chocolate egg for children aged 4 and up and would be ideal to send through the post, being much less fragile!

I love the big, chunky, colourful box with the ten big, numbered doors pre-filled with Playmobil goodies. Freddy loved opening the Playmobil pirate advent calendar in the run up to Christmas, excitedly opening it each day to find what toy was hiding inside.  He is going to adore this Easter calendar and the toys will make a great display on our windowsill over Easter.

Playmobil toys are so well made with perfect attention to detail, and this set will be a welcome addition to Freddy's collection. (Bunnies aren't just for Easter after all...just look at Harvey, Hop or that bunny from Donnie Darko!!!)

Countdown calendars can help with children's number recognition and help build up the excitement to special occasions.  They also work well in conjunction with a reward scheme, as the promise of opening a new door on the calendar can be just the trick for getting a little one to get dressed, clean their teeth, eat breakfast or tidy their toys.  At exciting times of the year when routines get disrupted, this can prove very useful indeed!

The Easter Calendar is available at Playmobil.co.uk alongside a whole range of other brilliant Playmobil toys. It is reasonably priced at just £9.99 which I think is excellent value...or should I say eggscellent value?!

March in Pictures

Another month has flown by.  March wasn't great for us with Ian's operation coupled with the kids' tummy bug, but we survived smiling!  We saw more snow.  We celebrated Easter with  Ian's sister Debbie, along with  Megan and Dave who came home for the whole weekend.  Ella performed at the Severn Theatre.  The girls had haircuts and got new glasses.  We are hoping that spring arrives soon and we are looking forward to April...a month that brings birthdays, Meatloaf in concert and our Butlin's Ambassador holiday.  Bring it on!!

Poundland Easter Egg Hunt

As a Poundland Ambassador, I was challenged to do an Easter Egg Hunt for my little ones with a £20 budget, buying items from Poundland's own seasonal range.

As ever, I was impressed with the range available all for just one pound each!  I filled my basket up with lots of goodies: 

Easter Egg Hunt kit

Easter bucket

18 fillable plastic eggs 

novelty chalks

Easter craft kits

Easter decorations

cupcake box

bunny ears

Cadbury's Caramel eggs

Cadbury's Buttons Easter egg

Smarties Mini eggs

Haribo Easter sweets

Milky Bar Easter Egg

bunny footprint stickers

egg stickers

egg stakes

 Unfortunately the weather has not been conducive with Easter Egg hunts (snowball fights would be more appropriate) so we had an indoor egg hunt instead.  I loved the cute animal design signs and colourful numbered egg tokens that made a trail around the house for Freddy (dressed as an Easter chick) and Kizzy (with bunny ears) to follow.  The bunny footprints were a nice touch adding some magic.  We filled the fillable plastic eggs with mini eggs and hid them too for Freddy to find and pop into his Easter bucket.

He had fun gathering his loot with his big sister.  The four colourful egg tokens were exchanged for a Cadbury Easter egg which Freddy was was very chuffed with!  It's a shame that this year's weather is so horrible as it put pay to my idea of doing Easter pavement art with the carrot shaped novelty chalks, and decorating the lawn with the decorative egg stakes as the kids searched for the clues that would lead to their Easter goodies. But we did the best we could, and it was great fun!  Indoors or out, Poundland's range of Easter treats allowed us the have some seasonal fun without spending a fortune.

www.poundland.co.uk

Things Are On The Up

We have had a testing few weeks.  Firstly, Ian's operation, which was pretty brutal and left him in quite a state for the first week of his recovery, was much worse than I imagined it would be.  But possibly worse than his state of being exhausted, battered and bruised was the fact that he had to wear surgical support stockings and see-through net pants.  This post-op fashion statement made him look like an extra in a weirdly cast extra-fetish version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  I tried to be a sympathetic nurse but as I tended to his stitches all I could do was sing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual Transylvania" over and over in my mind.  Dealing with a doddery husband with a bag strapped to his leg has been quite interesting and given me insight into what our future together might look like.  It isn't the prettiest of futures but if it involves both me and Ian still together and still in love, then I can deal with anything!

Just as Ian began to regain a bit of his mobility and become a bit more human, it was Freddy's turn to take on the role as poorliest person in the house.  He had a bad day at nursery on Monday so we decided to cheer him up and give Ian his first jaunt out of the house by taking him for lunch.  Not our best idea.  Within minutes he had gone pale and fell prey to a very virulent tummy bug. This bug lasted until Thursday.  Ian has always been the resident expert of clearing up spilled bodily fluids as I have a very weak stomach.  Bless my poor husband as he attempted to clear up poor Fred's stomach contents, accompanied by a chorus of me gagging and wretching.  I am officially useless!  Up until this turn of events I was totally in control of the housework.  But suddenly having five loads of washing a day and no tumble dryer put pay to my organisation and the house descended into chaos.  Poor Freddy took until the weekend before he started eating again.  Poor little mite was so weak and thin by the end of it all.  But suddenly he asked for porridge.  Porridge topped with golden syrup.  Three bowlfuls later, my little boy started back on the road to full recovery.  everything else was forgotten as I watched him tuck in with gusto.

Feeling better and hugging Kizzy x

This week, things have been so much better.  Freddy is back at nursery and seems much happier.  Ian is no longer hobbled over, bent double like an old man, shuffling around the house.  He is almost back to normal except for the catheter and 4" long scar.  He has an appointment next week to check his grafts and remove the catheter and we hope everything will then be over and Ian's health will be fully restored.

 My son Joe and his girlfriend Jade have visited with Ted who delighted us all with his sunny smiles and happy demeanour.  Being a grandparent is quite simply an honour!  They have had some good news involving a tax rebate which is going to improve their financial situation significantly.  I'm so pleased for them. Life is so hard as a young couple with a new baby who are trying to work and support themselves.  They get no help from the government and really struggle to pay full rent and council tax.  This windfall couldn't have come at a better time.

Smiling at Grandad x

My eldest daughter Megan has had a fabulous holiday in Budapest with her boyfriend (whom we thoroughly approve of and think is very lovely) and returned to some very good news that she had been offered a job at a Digital Marketing Agency.  She had applied for it the week before without being qualified, was offered an interview where she was very honest about not having the experience but showed her commitment to learn and the CEO took a risk on her based on that. They are going to train her and put her through exams. So her career will shortly be taking a brand new direction leading her to places that she really wants to go.  Exciting times indeed for my go-getting girl.

Ella had a great trip to Berlin with college to practice her German (and in a stroke of good fortune avoid the sickness bug completely). Although it was very cold and snowy, she returned home fit and healthy and buzzing from her incredible adventure.

Ella at The Berlin Wall

Last night she performed in an Awards Ceremony for her Sixth Form College which I attended with Kizzy at the Severn Theatre.  When she was at her last school, I attended all the events she performed in, tolerating the lack lustre dance performers and the cringey comedy duos and the embarrassing music teacher who fronted his own jazz band to get his own 15 minutes in the limelight.  Her new college is so very different.  The students are unbelievably talented.  They had three concert grade pianists performing classical pieces by Beethoven and Chopin.  There was a lad who is playing a lead in a production of We Will Rock You who had an incredibly powerful voice.  There was an amazing arrangement of a Michael Jackson song performed acoustically which was far superior to anything I have ever heard done on X Factor or BGT.  A three piece girl, harmony group performed two songs, accompanied by one of them on guitar and they were so professional. It turned out that they had written the songs themselves too, but I did not realise this as they were so credible.  Add to this the academic awards and presentations and this college is just in a different league to her old school.  Moving Ella was definitely the right decision.  I was so proud of Ella who performed Lego House by Ed Sheeran.  She stood in the spotlight of the stage, just a little girl with her guitar and sang beautifully, with her engaging trademark smile on her face.  She was brilliant and received huge applause.  Her college principal is full of praise for Ella who isn't in with the music crowd, yet has had her talents recognized.  She is amazing!

We have exciting times to look forward to in the next few weeks too.   Megan is coming home for Easter before starting her new job, which will be wonderful.  We have our Butlins holiday coming up staying in their fancy new hotel.  Having a few days full board and with housekeeping in one of the three bedroomed appartments at the Wave Hotel is just what the doctor ordered.  Sea air and an all you can eat breakfast buffet is just what the doctor ordered!

Easter Treats from HARIBO

Easter gifts aren't just about the chocolate eggs. This year, the combination of tasty, themed treats with fun, interactive packaging have made HARIBO's new Easter range the perfect alternative!

Chirping Chicks offers mini bags of sweets inside a box that turns into a home for chicks.  The packaging includes pop out characters to add to the fun. (Available exclusively at Tesco.)  Leaping Lambs and Bouncing Bunnies are also available with their own box houses.

  

The Twist 'n' Stick box twists to make different characters with the mix and match heads and bodies. Quirky accessory stickers can be added to increase the fun.  It also comes packed with tasty treats. (Available exclusively at Tesco.)

The Easter Fun Bucket is perfect for Easter treasure hunts.  The 32 mini bags can be hidden around the house and garden for the kids to find, using the bucket to collect their treasure!  There are some tips and hints included giving you ideas for Easter fun. (Available exclusively at Tesco.)

You can even download a HARIBO Easter Hunt Pack which includes cut and colour masks, clue cards, signs and animal footprints to follow.  Go to www.haribo.co.uk and click on the 'Hop, Hop, Hurray' box from the carousel of menu boxes to download the eggciting activity sheets. 

The Starmix Box is a great alternative to a chocolate egg, being a similar shape and size.  It contains yummy HARIBO Eggstras.

The mini bags that are included in all these products give a portion controlled quantity of sweet treats for children (or grown-ups!) to enjoy.  The cardboard packaging is recyclable and the plastic bucket is re-usable.

HARIBO's Easter Range is definitely going to make a great addition to the chocolate that the kids get this Easter, and the fun themed packaging will be a real hit with them too!

Save with Aldi this Easter

If you want to treat the family to some Easter goodies this year, then take a look in your local Aldi for some great priced confectionery.  I was sent some samples to try and can confirm that they also taste great.

The Beanie Eggs were a huge hit with the kids.  The individually wrapped hollow chocolate eggs contain a little handful of colourful chocolate beans.  Perfect for Easter Egg hunts and just 99p a pack.

The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies look great with their colourful foil wrappers and cost £1.79 for a big 250g bag.  Another great product for Easter Egg hunts or for popping in goodie bags at Easter parties.

The 350g Choceur Flame Egg is a premium quality egg filled with a selection of chocolates, wrapped in gold and finished with a bow.  It looks great and at only £2.99 is an absolute bargain. 

While you are picking up your Easter goodies instore, take a look at Aldi's award winning Mamia Baby Wipes.  They are perfect for mopping up mucky chops and hands after the kids have eaten their chocolate eggs.  Given a Gold award for being easy to chose, great quality and value for money in the Mother and Baby Awards 2012/13, they cost just 79p for a pack of 80 wipes.  Well worth keeping a pack on hand around the house if you have kids!

An Easter Delivery From Warner Bros

A Chocolatey Film Fix for Easter with Warner Bros.

It was not only the Easter Bunny that visited us this year!  We were delighted to receive a wonderful Easter basket from Warner Bros which was just perfect for the Easter holidays.

Inside the basket was Blu Ray copies of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (1971) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) alongside a Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies DVD.  

After the indulgences of Easter, it was nice to experience the calorie-free confectionery fix that comes from watching the Roald Dahl classic in both its guises.  The Gene Wilder original will always hold a place in my heart as one of my all time favourite films.  The story of Charlie Bucket discovering the golden ticket and entering the magical chocolate factory is filled with incredibly catchy songs and heart warming moments, offset by a touch of Dahl's darkness.  It is a timeless movie that holds as much charm for today's children as it did for me as a little girl.  The Oompa Loompas, who provide the moral lessons of the film through the medium of song, are perfectly imagined and portrayed.

The Johnny Depp remake has a very different complexion to its predecessor.  It is truer to the book and darker in nature, and Depp's edgy and damaged portrayal of Wonka is very different to Wilder's showman. The effects and visual splendour of the film do not disappoint and the ending is perfectly crafted in its sweetness.  The two films are very different in their interpretation of the story, but neither disappoint in providing great family entertainment.

Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies is a 48 minute cartoon romp featuring that other favourite bunny Bugs.  Ever since receiving the Warner Bros Looney Toons boxset, my children have become big fans of retro cartoons.  The DVD stars Bugs, Sylvester, Daffy, Tweety and the gang as they try to cover for the Easter Bunny who is poorly.  Everyone wants in on the action but only one of the Looney Tunes characters can step into the role.  Only Looney Toons can come up with characters called Sir Rosis of the Liver and Sir Loin of Beef!  It's a good fun family film that everyone will enjoy.  We watched it with the grandparents and 2 year old Freddy enjoyed it as much as 79 year old Grandad!

As ever, we were over the moon with our Warner Bros selection of movies.  Perfect entertainment to keep the family happy and entertained together!

The Secret to a Peaceful Easter With Nick Jr

What is the recipe for a relaxing Easter?  How about some delicious chocolate and a quiet toddler so that I can relax and enjoy said chocolate?  Works for me!!   Well, thanks to Nick Jr I may just get my peaceful chocolate munching moment.

Green and Black's Easter Hamper

Nick Jr have a host of fabulous TV shows coming up over Easter that the kids will love.

Nick Jr

Dora the Explorer has an Easter Adventure coming to Nick Jr.  Dora goes on an eggciting journey to rescue the Hip-Hop Bunny's basket of eggs from Swiper in time for the Big Easter Egg Hunt.  When the basket is thrown into the Rainbow Garden, it's up to Dora and Boots to save it from the waterfall!  With an adventure through itchy-scratchy plants, going through a petting zoo and floating downstream on a giant rubber duck, Dora manages to save the day, just in time for the big Easter Egg Hunt with all her friends.  It premieres at 4.30pm on Friday March 30th.

Team Umizoomi, which is one of Freddy' all time favourites, are taking part in an Easter Egg Hunt.  Join the gang as they take part in the Umi City Egg Hunt along with their Umifriend, practicing their maths skills whilst racing to find the special Rainbow Egg.  When the egg falls down a rabbit hole it's up to Miili, Geo and Bot to jump in after it.  They discover an amazing world of rabbits underground and have to race across Rabbit Town to try to stop the egg from getting scrambled in an egg machine!  It is coming to Nick Jr in April.

Brand new Tickety Toc is a fast paced, fun filled show about twins Tommy and Tallulah Tockety who live in a very special clock in a magical shop.  The twins pop out on the hour as the clock chimes but once back inside they have fun in the fantastical world of eccentric animal characters and slapstick surprises.  Each action packed adventure sees our heroes saving the day...but getting back for chime-time to keep the clock ticking!  This CGI show focuses on familiar patterns in everyday life, delivering lessons on problem solving, teamwork and compromise.  It comes to Nick Jr on April 23rd at 8.15am.

We've had a sneaky peek at the latest offerings on Nick Jr and Freddy absolutely loved them.  He was engaged and enthralled by the antics of the characters.  He really chuckled at Tickety Toc, practiced his numbers with Team Umizoomi and joined in enthusiastically with Dora shouting "Swiper No Swiping!!"

Now...while he is happily watching Nick Jr...where's that chocolate ;)