The First Signs of Summer with Little Tikes

Summer is the UK’s favourite season. For me, I start to feel summery when the weather gets warmer and my winter clothes get relegated to the back of my wardrobe in favour of t-shirts and summer dresses. The lighter evenings also signify the start of the summer season for me and I enjoy making the most of the longer days. However, according to a recent survey, most Brits consider it to be the start of summer when the month of June begins.

The survey of over 2000 people carried out by Little Tikes, found that despite the Solstice on June 21st being the official start of summer, the majority of UK residents class the first week of June as the start of the holiday season. In fact, just one in ten considered the start of summer to be Solstice week and some didn't consider it summertime until the schools break up for the summer holidays.

63% of Brits stated that summer is their favourite season of the year. However, less than a quarter (23%) said that warm weather heralded the start of the season for them. So despite us having the hottest May in decades, many people still didn't consider it as being summer for them.

For one in ten Brits, summer officially starts with the smell of cut grass, whilst for others, it is the smell of the first BBQ of the season (for us it's a vegan BBQ), the sound of children playing outdoors, the first spray tan of the year or even, the Queen’s Birthday. An unlucky 3% of Brits know it’s summer when their Hayfever symptoms kick in. A further 3% believe the season starts when they book their official summer holiday and begin to look forward to sunbathing on a tropical beach.

Almost half of those asked, didn’t feel they spend enough time outdoors during the summer months although they would like this to change. So this summer, Little Tikes is calling on all Brits to make the most of the season by spending time together outdoors. 

Little Tikes offers a full range of outdoor play products – from playhouses, sandboxes and water tables to the iconic Cozy Coupe. All of my children have enjoyed playing in the classic Crazy Coupe cars over the years! This season they have also launched the new Fun Zone range, which features toys like Splash Face, Dual Twister, Tumblin’ Tower and Drop Zone - for water-play with a twist, keeping the kids (and the grown-ups) cool this summer!

You can shop the full Little Tikes range at https://www.littletikes.co.uk.

Move Over Water Pistols, Here Comes the Slime Blaster!

Zimpli Kids, the creators of Gelli Baff and Slime Baff  that transform water into slime or goo, have a brand new product that is perfect for the summer. Set to revolutionise the classic seasonal water fight, the Slime Blaster is a pump action gun that shoots slime at your opponents, adding a brand new weapon to your arsenal. It's fun, it's messy and it's brilliant!

The Slime Blaster uses a 100% safe Slime formula, and can shoot a blast of slime up to 7 metres. Simply fill up the water tank with water, add the slime powder sachet, shake and wait 5 minutes to create the slime then get ready to fire.

Each Slime Blaster comes with 12 x slime blaster sachets giving 200+ slime shots. That's plenty of slime action for an exciting outdoor slime fight.

The gun itself is funky with its white, orange and green design. The water tank unscrews easily from the end of the blaster to fill it up. The Slime Blaster water tank comes with a cap so you can secure it while waiting for your slime to develop. The pump action works well and fires the slime a good distance. We all really like the Slime Blaster as it brings a very unique and novel twist to the traditional water fight concept.

The slime rinses out from clothes and washes off skin easily and is completely safe and non-irritant. The Slime Blaster is recommended for children aged 5 and over. Slime sachet refills are available to buy separately once you've used up the supply that comes with the Slime Blaster.

The Slime Blaster is available from stockists such as Tesco and Amazon. (I have found  them currently on offer at  just £13.50 at Tesco Direct so it's worth searching for a good price.)

The Slime Blaster is definitely going to be a summer favourite for us this year!

Gazillion Bubble Pong Game

We've all seen the game where you get to splat each other in the face with cream pies, but now we can experience the first game of its kind that lets you blast your opponent with bubbles: the Gazillion Bubble Pong game!  Everyone loves bubbles, they are so much fun. Bubble Pong brings a new dimension to our love of bubbles by adding an element of competition into the mix. The aim of the game is to compete against each other by bouncing your ball into a hole, causing bubbles to blow out into your opponent's face.

Gazillion Bubble Pong delivers fun and excitement as you bounce ping pong balls into your opponent’s side of the console. If you get your ball into the opponents goal, you score points, but more importantly, you get to blast them with a burst of GAZILLION bubbles. The first person to score 3 times wins.

Bubble Pong includes 1 game console, 6 ping pong balls, 2 removable trays, 2 removable bumpers, and an 8 oz bottle of Gazillion Bubbles Solution.  The game has 4 levels of difficulty, making Bubble Pong fun for the whole family.

When the Bubble Pong game is over, you can switch to bubble machine mode for some non-stop bubble fun. Perfect for barbecues and parties, Bubble Pong is  a great game for outdoors in the warmer summer months. The two in one functionality makes the Gazillion Bubble Pong Game, a great value and versatile toy. 

Young children adore the magic of bubbles and will enjoy running around to chase and pop the bubbles, while the older children will enjoy the competitive element and practicing the skills needed to get their ball into the goal to activate the bubble blower.

Gazillion bubbles are premium bubbles, which are available in original and Big Bubble solutions. Refils come in 8 oz, 2 l and 4 l sized bottles. They are definitely one of the best brands of bubbles that we have ever used. They really are good quality, making lovely, long lasting bubbles.

The Gazillion Bubble Pong Game is priced at £19.99. Batteries (8 x AA) are required and are not included. The game is aimed at children aged 3+, so is suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. It is available to buy now at Amazon, Argos Online and Smyths.

Lacura Sun Care Range - save money without compromising on quality

The summer holidays are here at last!  We are really hoping that the sun makes some appearances over the next six weeks, especially as Aldi has invited us to join their unofficial ‘Lacura Sunseeker’s Panel’. Aldi have sent us a selection of their Lacura suncare products to see us through the whole summer and we will be sharing our experiences on social media.

Lacura has a variety of sun care products that will ensure you can enjoy your summer, safely. The Lacura brand means top quality products at great value prices, with the Lacura SPF 30 sun spray recently being revealed as the lowest costing sunspray to pass the Which? SPF testing. When it comes to protecting the kids' skin, I don't want to compromise on quality, so knowing this is really reassuring. I can save money but be confident that the range is safe and reliable. 

With a selection of creams and sprays suitable for a range of ages and skin types, there is something for every family member. The range includes:

•             Lacura SPF 30 Spray 200ml - £2.79 

•             Lacura SPF15 Spray 200ml - £2.79

•             Lacura SPF15 Oil Spray 150ml - £2.99

•             Lacura SPF 30 Lotion  200ml  - £2.79

•             Lacura SPF 15 Lotion 200ml - £2.79

•             Lacura SPF30 Kids Sun Spray 200ml - £2.99

•             Lacura SPF30 Clear Spray 200ml - £3.29

•             Lacura SPF50 Clear Spray 200ml - £3.29

•             Lacura Kids water resistant SPF50 Lotion 150ml - £2.79

•             Lacura SPF 50+ Kids Spray 200ml - £2.99

•             Lacura SPF50+ Sensitive Lotion kids/adults 200ml - £2.79 

•             Lacura Aftersun Spray 200ml - £1.99

As you can see by the prices, these are a fraction of the cost of high end branded sun creams and sprays, but yet the sun spray passed the Which? testing, letting you buy with complete confidence. The savings made can go towards treating the family during the summer holidays.  Now all I need is some lovely sunshine and I can get testing these products and sharing my thoughts!

Summer Outdoor Fun with Tobar

The summer holidays are a great opportunity to get the kids outside in the fresh air getting active and having fun. Tobar has a great range of classic and contemporary outdoor toys, which are perfect for the job, and Freddy received a selection to try out.

The Space Hopper is real retro classic from my own childhood, so I was thrilled to introduce Freddy to the iconic smiley faced, giant bouncy ball. It came with a pump so we could blow it up straight from the box and get Freddy bouncing around. It is big and bright with handles to grip on to. Bouncing on a Space Hopper is such a simple pleasure and so much fun. Freddy mastered the art of bouncing and even took to doing some extreme bouncing action by using his Space Hopper on the trampoline (thank goodness for the safety nets!)

The Slot Together Hula Hoop is a great idea. It comes in eight, slot together sections making it handy for storing away in the box. It also means you can adjust the size by removing sections. The pieces are colourful and easy to push together making a sturdy hula hoop. Freddy is a bit of an expert hula-hooper so he enjoyed spinning it around his middle and doing tricks with it. Using all 8 pieces made it a good size for him to use, with a 70cm diameter. I really like the design of this hula hoop. The cheap ones that we have bought before tend to lose their shape or break apart quite quickly as they are made from covered cardboard, whereas this one is made from solid plastic pieces so will last much longer. Storing a hula hoop can be a bit tricky, but once taken apart, this one fits into its box and can be put away or taken away on holiday easily.

The Soak 'n' Sling Frisbee is a small sized, soft frisbee that can be soaked in water and used in water fights. Kids can take aim and throw, while others try to duck out of the way of a soaking. Freddy enjoyed using it without the water to practice his throwing and catching skills. As it is soft and rubbery it is easier to catch than a regular frisbee and the small size makes it more manageable for little ones.

The Pogo Ball is a cross between a hopper and a pogo stick. The blow up hopper ball is attached to a foot platform with an optional clip on pogo handle, giving two ways to play. It offers a stable way to perform tricks and stunts while balanced on the foot platform and bouncing using the inflated ball. (Unfortunately, the Pogo Ball was not compatible with the foot pump we had so we have to get hold of a pump with a needle attachment to test this one out properly!)

Tobar are UK wholesalers of toys, gifts and novelties, so look out for these products in toy shops and on Amazon. 

Summer Essentials Review Round Up - Comfort, Boots Pharaceuticals and Sure Women

 Comfort Intense

Comfort Intense is a long lasting, ultra concentrated fabric conditioner, which comes in four vibrant, new fragrances: Fuchsia Passion, Fresh Sky, Ocean Pearl and Sunburst. Each small dose of Comfort Intense gives laundry a burst of freshness, which lasts from wash to wear. It also keeps clothing feeling soft and well conditioned.

We received two 38 wash bottles of Fuchsia Passion Comfort Intense to try out. The bottles are small, space saving and manageable, fitting into my kitchen cabinet easily (unlike those really big bottles of non-concentrated fabric softener, which I struggle to find a place for). The Comfort Intense is measured out into the lid of the bottle and a little really does go a long way. The floral, fruity scent is fragrant, fresh and pleasant, and lasts well on clothing. Laundry smells clean and just-washed even once it is dried and put away. It did a great job on our bedding.

The 38 wash bottle costs just £3.30, and a 64 wash bottle costs £4.89, available now in major supermarkets. You can find out more at www.comfortintense.com.

Boots Pharmaceuticals Allergy Barrier Nasal Spray

With two hayfever sufferers in the family, this time of year is sometimes difficult, with lots of sneezing and runny eyes to contend with. New research from Boots Pharmaceuticals reveals that for the 18 million Brits who suffer from hayfever, 64% of them continue to suffer once the sun goes down as airborne pollen drops as the air cools. On a typical summer night, nighttime hayfever can cost sufferers an average of 72 minutes of sleep. This loss of sleep has been dubbed 'insneezia' - as  the insomnia-esque symptoms caused by itchy eyes and blocked noses affects their ability to get to sleep. This can lead to bad moods, tiredness and irritability.

There are some hacks that sufferers can use to help ease their symptoms during the day such as wearing sunglasses, eating spicy food, avoiding hanging washing up outside, and putting Vaseline under the nose. There are also lots of remedies on the market that relieve symptoms, such as anti-histamine medication, eye drops and nasal sprays.

We were sent a powder based nasal spray for Ian to test out, which acts as a barrier to allergens by creating a protective lining in the nasal passage to reduce the inhalation of the pollen that is responsible for hayfever. It protects against runny noses and sneezing, two of the symptoms that keep sufferers up at night. It is fast acting, working in just 3 minutes against airborne allergens. Each bottle, which costs £8.99, contains 200 sprays of the non-drowsy formula to bring fast relief day or night. Although Ian generally takes one a day tablets to relieve his hayfever symptoms, the fast working spray is proving another good weapon in his arsenal for fighting his seasonal sneezes. It is particularly good in the evenings, boosting his protection and calming his symptoms before bed time. The Nasal Spray is suitable for adults (including pregnant women) and children aged 18 months and over.

Sure Compressed Shower Fresh and Cotton Dry with Motionsense technology

In the warmer months, things can get hot and sticky so staying fresh and protected is a big consideration for most of us. Sure have a new world first product on the market: Sure Compressed made with breakthrough Motionsense technology. It is an antiperspirant activated by movement meaning that the more you move, the more you are protected. Microcapsules burst with friction to release fragrance to keep you fresh, so whether you are going about your daily routine, at a festival or trying out a new exercise class this summer, it won't let you down.

The compressed format makes the cans smaller using less packaging, but are just as long lasting. They are a handy size to carry in your gym bag or to pop into your handbag. The two fragrances Shower Fresh and Cotton Dry are both light, fresh, feminine and clean smelling. They are great summer essentials for long lasting freshness and confidence all day, however active you are.

The Sure Compressed variants are available at leading retailers with an RRP of £3.29. I've tried them and am impressed at how well they worked - no sweaty armpits for me this summer!

Aldi Outdoor Living Specialbuys - get your garden ready for summer!

The recent sunny weather has inspired me to want to get my garden summer ready. We love hosting garden parties, especially as Freddy has a birthday in July and we celebrate our anniversary in May.

Aldi are helping me get my garden ready for outdoor living with its range of incredible Specialbuys that can be bought in store from tomorrow.  With a range of brilliant items starting at just £1.49, gardens will benefit from everything from outdoor furniture, barbecue equipment, outdoor dining accessories, decorative baskets, planters and even a fabulous gazebo.

A gazebo is the centrepiece of any garden party providing shelter or shade to party guests. Having an outdoor 'room' allows you to decorate it to suit your party theme, and put out food without worrying about it blowing away or being attacked by every passing insect! It is a great investment and if looked after will last for years. Aldi gives a 3 year warranty on its gazebo so you can buy in confidence.

Aldi's pop-up gazebo is easy to assemble with a foldable height-adjustable frame, powder-coated aluminium legs and polyester cover. It has an air vent in the roof and comes in its own carry bag. It is 3 x 3 x 2.6m making it a good size for families. It is just £59.99, which is a great price.  You can buy an optional set of side panels for £12.99, which has one zip up panel and a panel with a built in window to allow you to have a fully enclosed gazebo, rather than an open one.

To make your garden look pretty, Aldi will be selling a variety of plant pots. There are some cute animal shaped planters, some decorative free standing ones, faux stone pots, terracotta pots and wooden troughs available. I love the rattan effect planters, which come in cubical or conical designs. They come with an inner planter and prices start at just £9.99 for the cube and £17.99 for the tall version. You just simply add plants!

You can get a cast iron plant pot caddy so you can move heavy planters (up to 100kg) with ease. The decorative, wheeled caddy means it is easy to move pots to a convenient location during garden parties or barbecues. At just £7.99 they are a great solution to heavy lifting.

For green fingered gardeners, Aldi have a range of obelisks, arches (£9.99) and willow trellises (from £4.99) that can be used to landscape your garden, encouraging climbing plants to grow up them to create a beautiful display. Hanging baskets and brackets are available for gardeners to create colourful, floral displays, perfect for smaller gardens.  Aldi will also have some plants in store to help get the gardening started, this includes herbs, Cordyline and alpines.

This six piece furniture set is just £54.99 and includes table, four chairs and a parasol. Perfect for some alfresco dining this summer.

You can grab an outdoor living bargain instore at Aldi from April 30th. Take a look at Aldi Specialbuys online and remember they are only available for a limited time.

Outdoor Living – in store 30.04.15

Pop Up Gazebo -£59.99

6 Piece Furniture Set -£54.99

Bistro Set -£34.99

Early Fun Swing -£29.00

Reclining Sun Lounger -£25.00

Rattan Effect Planter -£17.99

Decorative Flower Planter -£14.99

Gazebo Side Panels - £12.99

Wooden Planter/Trough -£10.99

Rattan Effect Cubed Planter - £9.99

Garden Arch -£9.99

Garden Obelisk - £9.99

Garden Screening - £8.99

Cast Iron Plant Pot Caddy - £7.99

Sandhurst Planter, 38cm - £6.99

Rattan Effect Animal Planters - £5.99

Italian Terracotta Pot - £4.99

Willow Trellis - £4.99

Farmyard Animals - £3.99

Food Storage Containers - £2.99

12" Traditional Hanging Basket - £2.49

Fairy Pot Stick - £1.99

Hanging Basket Bracket - £1.99

Terracotta Plant Pot Feet - £1.79

Hanging Basket Coco Liners - £1.49

Aldi sent me a selection of their Specialbuys to try out this summer.

The LEGO Movie comes to TalkTalk - Everything is Awesome!

TalkTalk, Britain’s fastest growing TV service, brings the smash box office hit, The LEGO Movie, to its TV customers on Monday 21st July 2014!

The exciting full-length animated LEGO adventure will be available to TalkTalk’s TV customers to rent for 48 hours for the price of £4.00. What an excellent treat for the kids at the start of the summer holidays! The movie, which has made over £240 million at the box office, is available on TalkTalk on the same day as the DVD is released, ensuring LEGO fans don’t have to wait to watch it.  You can watch it from the comfort of your home with just a few clicks of your remote control and enjoy a hassle-free and fun family film with the kids.

You will all soon be singing "Everything is Awesome!" and cheering on Emmet as he tries to save the world from Lord Bussiness's evil plan.  It's a great movie with a heartwarming message, that adults and children will love in equal measure.

The LEGO Movie is just one of the exciting things, which will help keep the kids entertained this summer with TalkTalk. TalkTalk will be launching free channel ‘Tasters’, allowing customers to view popular channels usually found only in paid for Boosts. The first of these tasters will launch on the weekend of 1st and 2nd August where the Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior will be free to watch all weekend, helping families kick off the school summer holidays with some Disney fun.

Along with the LEGO Movie, YouView from TalkTalk homes can also watch Non-Stop, The Book Thief and The Grand Budapest Hotel, and later this month TalkTalk viewers will also be able to catch Noah and A Long Way Down.  Plenty of reasons to check out the TV service from TalkTalk.

Summery Treats from Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has a range of deliciously summery chocolates to compliment the season, featuring some vibrant, fresh, fruity flavours and wonderful colours.  We received an H-Box Summer Fusion Selection to sample, so we could enjoy the taste of summer for ourselves.

The chocolates look fantastic with shades of lavender, strawberry red, yellow and pink contrasting with the dark, milk and white chocolate.  The designs are so pretty and inviting and everyone is different.

Everyone dived in to pick a favourite flavour from the selection of 14 chocolates.  Freddy had his eye on the Shortbread Bite, a milk chocolate and praline square topped with clotted cream shortbread balls.

I was impressed with the range of flavours in the selection, which included coffee, nutty pralines, rich caramels and fruity cremes.  Each individual chocolate has been lovingly crafted making them a treat for the eyes as well as for the taste buds.

The menu gives a brief description of the chocolate next to an illustration.  With chocolates such as Key Lime Pie, Kiwi Smoothie, Strawberry Cheesecake, Summer Pudding, Blackcurrant Bombe, Summer Latte and Choc Fudge Sundae, there really is something for all tastes.  As they are all alcohol free, the kids can enjoy them too...if you let them!!

I really liked the Peanut and Banana chocolate with its salted peanut praline, banana ganache and caramel cap all encased in a chocolate cup.  It looked as good as it tasted.  The fruity fillings that include lime, kiwi, blackcurrant, pineapple, peach and strawberry are all really flavoursome, intense and fresh. A burst of pure fruitiness and a real taste of the summer enrobed in Hotel Chocolat's quality chocolate.  But I liked also having the delicate coffee flavoured Summer Latte, the fragrant Lavender Caramel and deep flavours of the Burnt Caramel as a contrast to all the fruitiness.  It's a really good selection.

The most unusual combination is the Summer Cooler, a delicate cucumber and apple ganache enrobed in smooth white chocolate flavoured with zingy mint leaves. It's a very bold idea and I have to admit that I gave that one to Ian.  I wasn't quite brave enough!

The H-Box of 14 chocolates costs £13.00 and would make a luxurious gift for someone special or an indulgent treat for yourself to celebrate the summer.

You can find the Summer Fusions H-Box online or in store now.

Fun days out for the whole family

With the school holidays almost upon us, thoughts are turning to ways of keeping the kids entertained during the summer months. From organised activities to adventures and outings, whatever your budget, make the most of your time together with fun-filled family days out.  

Here's some suggestions for things to do with the family.

Get out and about in the great outdoors

In glorious weather, what better way to spend the day than enjoying a sunny day at the seaside? While teenagers lounge on their towels reading the latest John Green book, curious toddlers can get creative with sandcastles. You are never to old to paddle in the sea, jumping over the waves and feeling the sand beneath your feet. Enjoy some candy floss, a cone of chips or an ice cream on the promenade and relive those sunny days from your own childhood holidays.

You could check out nearby nature trails, beauty spots or picturesque parks. You could enjoy a relaxing day with kite flying and a family picnic or get more energetic with a cycle ride followed by a play in an adventure playground. Kids love feeding the ducks, climbing trees, building dens or searching for mini-beasts.  If you are on a budget, days out in the great outdoors can be practically cost free yet so much fun. Fresh air and exercise is great for tiring out the little ones!

Discover cultural delights on your doorstep

When the British weather is at its best, the UK offers a wealth of outdoor entertainment. From heritage events at historical hotspots to treetop adventures to festivals, you can enjoy family fun in the sun. If the weather fails to deliver you can still have fun by heading off to enjoy an indoor activity. From museums with interactive activities to stately homes and spectacular castles, children of all ages can explore the culture and history of the UK while avoiding the rain!

Great value days out

Look for discounts and promotions that can allow you and the family to visit places for less – there are plenty of these advertised over the summer months.  Don't forget to check the offers available from Tesco Clubcard for some bargain days.

Investing in annual membership for certain attractions or organisations can be a great investment if you intend to visit numerous locations throughout the year. Merlin Entertainments – who own Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland and Alton Towers as well as Warwick Castle, the Dungeons and the SeaLife Centres – offer great value season passes giving you year round entry to all their attractions plus discounts on food, gifts and hotel stays. 

You can also get membership for places like the National Trust to enjoy access to over 500 special places of interest such as historic houses, castles, forests, woodland, beaches and nature reserves. You get to experience history firsthand, which children love!

Enjoy high octane entertainment

For thrill seeking families, there is an abundance of family fun venues across the length and breadth of the country for big days out.  From theme parks to safari parks and zoos, there is so much choice. We recently visited Chester Zoo and can highly recommend it as a great family day out for animal enthusiasts.

Alton Towers remains our favourite theme park. Older children can enjoy the excitement of the rollercoasters and the big rides, while little ones play in the new CBeebies Land with mum or dad!  There are also acres of beautiful gardens to explore if you want a quiet moment away from the crowds.  The SeaLife Centre and the Ice Age 4D cinema are all-weather attractions you can visit while you are there too. The all day dining plan is a great value idea allowing families to eat and drink all day for one inclusive price.  It's a great treat for a special occasion.

Film lovers can head to the Leavesden film studios and enjoy the magic of the epic story of J K Rowling’s Harry Potter, which has become the most successful film series of all time and the Harry Potter tour takes you behind the scenes to discover its secrets.

From the Great Hall to the shop front of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, this unique walking tour takes in the remarkable sets that helped to recreate the magic on the silver screen. The extraordinary animatronics, special effects and power of the green screen uncover how some of the most spectacular scenes evolved. Visitors can also view an amazing, hand-crafted replica of Hogwarts Castle, alongside many models, renowned artefacts and much-loved characters and creatures. Families who are potty about Potter will love this magical, fun-filled family day out. It's on our list of places to go this summer!

Whatever you choose to do this summer, I hope you have a fantastic time making lots of special memories with the family.

Childhood Holiday Memories

The third week of August saw my family pack up our suitcases and catch a train to our annual holiday destination. I remember counting down the days until we went away, excitedly asking how many sleeps we had to go.  We would always go holiday clothes shopping before the big day and I loved picking out new outfits and making my holiday packing checklist. Hastings, Barry Island, Bournemouth or Phwelli were places that I remember going to as a child back in the 70's.  We stayed at holiday camps and Butlin's was a favourite choice, where we'd stay in a chalet instead of in a caravan.  It felt very posh to have our own bathroom and not have to use the communal toilet and shower block!

My fondest childhood holiday memories include riding fun fair dodgems with my dad, playing the penny falls in the arcades, shivering in the chilly outdoor pools, doing the Wiggle Wiggle Whoops at the family disco (although I was too shy to actually make it onto the dance floor), getting autographs of Red Coats after the shows, buying souvenirs from my travels to add to my collection and spending days at the beach exploring the rock pools and caves. Rock-pooling was without a doubt my favourite holiday activity.  I could spend hours exploring the rocks and finding shell fish, crabs, jelly fish and little fishes that had been trapped in the pools as the tide went out.  My dad was always very brave and would pick up the big crabs to scare us!  I had a real love of nature and wildlife when I was a child, and loved seeing the creatures in their natural habitat.

Maybe it is because of this childhood love of animals that my most vivid and memorable childhood holiday memory continues to endure. There were signs hung on every lamppost in Hastings advertising an exhibition that was coming to town called 'Jonah's Whale', offering paying guests the chance to see a real whale!  I was so excited at the prospect of seeing one of nature's biggest creatures and asked to go. I had seen the Blue Whale at the Natural History Museum and was mesmerised by its sheer size and majesty. To see a whale in the flesh would be a dream come true and beat anything we could have found in a rock pool! (These were the days before we were fully aware of animal welfare remember!) My parents agreed and on the day of the show we paid our entrance fee to see the whale. Unfortunately my image of a big, healthy, happy whale swimming in a giant tank of water was a million miles away from the reality.  We went into a car park where there was an articulated lorry parked up with a very large, very dead whale laid unceremoniously on the trailer. It was covered in some sort of tar-like substance to help preserve it, blackening its skin and was a really sorry sight. Someone was clearly cashing in on finding a washed up whale, displaying its corpse to holidaymakers for cash before it decomposed. Funnily enough, no one else in my family remembers this event.  My parents probably wrote it off as a rip off and just forgot about it.  But it's something I have never, ever forgotten.

Holidays were an opportunity to get away as a family and to experience new things together in new and exciting places.  Life was a lot more simple then, but some things never change.  As a parent, nothing beats spending quality time with my children, seeing and doing new things and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Competition sponsored by Butlins Holiday Parks, helping your family make memories.

LEGO Friends Flash Mob to Celebrate Summer!

School’s out and the summer holidays are finally here so what could be more fun than celebrating the summer sun with a bit of dancing!  Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff, performed  in a flash mob style routine to 'Surfs up!' from The Disney Channel's newest film “Teen Beach Movie”, on Brighton pier in conjunction with LEGO Friends to celebrate the start of the holidays.

The routine featured 100 young girls aged 10-12, all recruited from the Stagecoach theatre arts school.  The audience definitely enjoyed the high energy, fun-filled show!  It was the perfect way to start the summer fun rolling. You can watch it below.

              

To find out more about LEGO Friends visit www.legofriends.co.uk   

Teen Beach Movie OST

The most eagerly awaited teen movie of the year, Teen Beach Movie, premiered last night on the Disney Channel, much to the delight of my kids.  The all singing, all dancing cast featuring Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell, burst onto our screens with a sixties sun and surf spectacular, perfect for summer.  Mack (Mitchell) and Brady (Lynch) are two modern day surfers that get trapped in the classic 1960s beach musical Wet Side Story. After accidentally interfering with the plot of the movie, they must find a way to get back to present day!  The surf rock/pop sounds are certain to become the soundtrack of the summer!

The songs have a youthful exuberance with a strong sixties influence. Some songs have a hint of Grease in them, some are reminiscent of Hairspray while others feature the distinctive "oohing" of the Beach Boys, bringing that era to a whole new generation. They are summery, fresh and fun, with some catchy sing-a-long choruses. The retro sounds conjure up images of beaches, surfers, first loves and sunshine in a "summer paradise"!  The kids will love it...especially the song "Surf's Up!"

Track Listing

1 Oxygen

2 Surf Crazy

3 Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

4 Falling for Ya

5 Meant to Be

6 Like Me

7 Meant to Be (Reprise 1)

8 Can’t Stop Singing

9 Meant to Be (Reprise 2)

10 Surf’s Up

11 Coolest Cats in Town

12 Surf Crazy Finale

13 Instrumental Version Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

14 Instrumental Version Falling for Ya

15 Instrumental Version Surf’s Up

The film is aimed for children aged 6 - 14, but all my three loved it from 4 year old Freddy to 10 year old Kizzy to 17 year old Ella.  The soundtrack will definitely be played around our house and we will definitely be doing some funky sixties style dance moves as we sing along!

                                      

Featuring 12 songs plus three instrumental bonus tracks, Walt Disney Records "Teen Beach Movie" soundtrack is available now on iTunes and in stores nationwide.

Making Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream

I have been challenged to make my own ice cream by OXO, and then use their OXO Good Grips Trigger Ice Cream Scoop to serve it up.

Now, I have never made ice cream in my life (unless you count the time I made my own ice cream at Cheshire Farm but all I had to do then was add some flavourings and let the machines do their thing).  Nor do I own a fancy home ice cream maker.  So my attempt is the lazy girl's approach to making ice cream!  It may be cheating, but the end result is great and for that reason I thought it was an idea worth sharing, for other cooks like me who are not adverse to a convenient shortcut now and again!!

It is so easy to make authentic tasting ice cream using the Angel Delight Chocolate Ice Cream Mix as a base.  Simply whisk together 2 packs with 300ml of milk and add some extras to make a delicious, bespoke ice cream that is ready to serve in just 4 hours!

I added a bar of chopped milk chocolate and some chopped strawberries that I picked from my own garden.  

The OXO Good Grips Trigger Ice Cream Scoop made it so easy to serve up.  The strong scoop makes a perfectly formed, good sized ball of  ice cream.  Pressing the trigger releases the ice cream into the bowl with ease.  The handle is soft and relieves pressure on the hand so it doesn't hurt to scoop out the ice cream.  The scoop is strong and robust and does the job effortlessly.

Serving the ice cream with a big, red ripe homegrown strawberry made the job complete.  The chunks of chocolate and frozen strawberry pieces went together perfectly for a delicious summer dessert.

Find out more about the functional, attractive and innovative products from OXO at www.oxouk.com.

Fun In The Sun at Alton Towers

Today we had a wonderful day at Alton Towers.  I had used a year's worth of accumulated Tesco Clubcard Points to exchange for six Merlin Annual Passes that will give us access to all the Merlin attractions for 12 months.  It also gave each of us a drinks capsule that comes with unlimited refills. So we were all set to kick off our year of fun with a day out in the sun!

It was blissfully hot meaning we could go on the water rides without worrying about getting wet.  Always a bonus!  I did get my Fitflops a bit soggy which is a hideous experience.  Slipping around inside wet shoes, garroting my big toe with the leather thong is grim whatever the weather!

Although there were lots of people in the park, the queues were not too bad meaning that we all got to go on the rides we wanted to.  Freddy enjoyed the kiddies' rides which we literally walked straight onto.  The girls went off to have their first experience of The Smiler, which had a 90 minute queue time.  (It had been 3 hours earlier on in the day...in 30 degree temperatures!!) They said it was well worth the wait!

Alton Towers is my favourite theme park because it is just such a lovely place.  The big old stately home, the beautiful gardens, the open green spaces and the magnificent lake complete with a mini menagerie of feathered friends are all an attraction in their own right.  Add to that some world class roller coasters and some fun rides for little ones and you've got a place that it perfect for a family day out.

I was very pleased that Alton Towers have now got their own burger restaurant in the park, and it has a pretty decent bean burger on the menu.  As a season ticket holder we got 20% of the price making a burger, fries and 16 oz drink meal deal just £4.80.  Not bad at all for some convenient fast food on site.  Plus it was efficient and friendly too.

Ian, Freddy and I went to the Sea Life Centre and enjoyed watching the multi-coloured fish swimming around in their tanks.  Freddy loved finding out the names of the fish.  He loved the Soldier Fish, the Lion Fish and the Puffer Fish!

We all met Sid from Ice Age for a photo op!  We also saw the Ice Age 4D film, which was actually a bit scary for Freddy and very loud.  He spent the entire time sat on my lap with his ears covered!

Freddy loved the Dung Heap playground and enjoyed climbing on the rope climbing frame. 

Now we have our annual passes we fully intend on making the most out of our weekends and school holidays by visiting as many of the attractions as we can.  I love the excellent value that the Merlin Annual Pass represents, especially when bought with Tesco Clubcard Vouchers.  Just £52 buys the pass and unlimited drinks for a year.  I won't have to think about the cost of days out or the added expense of buying drinks for a while!

Win Outdoor Toys from Wilko #giveaway

It's nearly the summer holidays and we are looking forward to six weeks of fun in the rain sun!  One way of keeping the kids entertained out of doors is to invest in some fun outdoor toys.  Wilko stock a great value range of toys and we were sent some to review.

• Wilko Play Stunt Kite Nylon Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Boom Bat Set Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Gardening Set  £4.00
• Wilko Play Magic Bubble Accessories Multi-Coloured x 26 £4.00
• Wilko Play Cricket Set Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Catch 'Em Out Game £4.00

The toys are all colourful and fun with lots of kid appeal.  Freddy particularly loved the Magic Bubble jar that has loads of different shaped and sized bubble wands as well as a pot of bubble mixture. He loves blowing bubbles, then chasing them and popping them or watching them float to the sky.  The Boom Bat Set will help future Wimbledon champions hone their bat and ball skills!  The satisfying "boom" noise when the soft ball hits the colourful bats made Freddy laugh everytime!  The cricket set is a lovely colourful set complete with wicket and stumps to transform your back garden into a mini version of Lords!  Budding gardeners will love to grow their own using the gardening set or little ones could even use them in the sandpit to dig and build.  It comes with three tools and pots for gardening fun. The Catch 'Em Game is a lot of fun as you try to catch the ball on the velcro catchers.  Grown-ups seem to like this game a lot too, so it's definitely one to entertain the guests after a barbecue. We can't wait to try out the kite next time we go to the beach.

You can win your own box of fabulous, outdoor toys in this giveaway!

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below to be in with a chance of winning.  UK only.  Giveaway closes on midnight on the 10th July 2013.  See the full range of Wilko outddor toys here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Making Slushies With the Chillfactor Squeeze Cup

I am really hoping for a good summer this year.  After a harsh winter and a disappointing spring, surely we deserve a good summer?  If we do get sunshine and warm weather, one of the things my children love to drink is an ice cold slush.  

We have been sent a Chillfactor Squeeze Cup Slushy Maker from Character Online to try out.  The cup needs to be frozen in the freezer, then a chilled drink is poured in.  The soft cup is then squeezed and in seconds it turns the drink into delicious slush. Easy!

Any drinks can be transformed into slush: fruit juices, fizzy drinks, even milkshake!  It is fun to do and the resulting icy slushy is really good.  It is much easier than using ice and a blender and is mess free.  However you can only make one drink at a time and the cup needs refreezing between uses.  So if you have more than one child, you may want to get them each their own cup to avoid arguments!  The cups can be kept in the freezer ready for when a slushy drink is required.

The cup comes with a domed lid and a spoon-straw so you can enjoy your slushy anywhere you like.  They stay cold for a long time so don't melt quickly, allowing kids to enjoy their frosty slush.

The cups are £12.99 RRP and are re-usable.  They come in red, yellow, blue and green.  They will definitely be a lot of fun over the warmer months and Kizzy is looking forward to experimenting with fruit juices to make some delicious slushies that will contribute to her five a day.

Here is a video of the cup in action made for UKMums.tv