Rave-A-Roo review - Kids. Play. Rave. Repeat.

On Sunday morning we went along to Selfridges at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, so Freddy could take part in an exciting Rave-A-Roo kids' party event.  Rave-A-Roo is a daytime, mash-up music festival for children with a live DJ, madcap party hosts, inflatable toys, bubbles, confetti cannons, crafting, fun and games. It's a high energy event to entertain the whole family, with old skool tunes and clubbing hits.

The party hosts, including Jungle Jane and Disco Duck, entertained the kids using a mixture of music, dance and storytelling. With props such as inflatable ducks and bananas, hula-hoops, beach balls and bubble machines, the scene is set for little ones to immerse themselves in the party atmosphere. They used their imaginations to join Jungle Jane and her friends on a trek to the jungle, sailing their boat across the sea to the tune of Oops Upside Your Side (that brought back memories!) and played a game of Sleeping Tigers. The children also enjoyed bashing a dad volunteer with inflatable bananas!

As well as the dancefloor and the madcap antics, kids can also take part in some crafting activities. Freddy decorated a pair of fancy sunglasses with some bling and did some neon clay modelling. He also had his face painted with some day-glo facepaint, perfect for the clubbing scene. There were also some healthy refreshments to keep the kids energised. Rave-A-Roo is a well structured event for children with a great balance of high octane activities and opportunities to chill out and get creative.

The finale of the show included confetti cannons firing confetti into the crowd of dancing children. It was really impressive and Freddy loved it. Seeing the kids all jumping up and down in the multi-coloured cloud of rainbow confetti was wonderful.

I was so proud of Freddy for joining in and taking part. He can be quite shy in crowds, but the hosts were so engaging and involved all the children making them comfortable and eager to be a part of the fun. The volume levels were not too high, making it good for little ears. We had packed Fred's ear defenders in case the music was too loud for him, but he didn't need them.

Overall, we were really impressed with the Rave-A-Roo event. They are for children aged up to 10 years old, and Freddy at 8 was definitely an ideal age for it. We were able to sit and watch him having fun, while enjoying a cup of complimentary coffee. Parents of younger children were on the dance floor with their little ones.

I would definitely recommend the Rave-A-Roo experience for children. I'll be keeping an eye out for future Rave-A-Roo events! Freddy absolutely loved it.

Find out more at www.rave-a-roo.com/.

Come and See the Florasaurus - coming to Westfield and intu Trafford Centre this Easter

Flora’s new  “Powered by Plants”  campaign has seen the launch of a new dairy-free spread – Flora Freedom - which harnesses the natural goodness of plant based ingredients such as rapeseed, sunflower and linseed oils.  This healthy alternative to butter is perfect for those with allergies and for those who choose to eat Free From alternatives.

The campaign mascot Florasaurus, is a massive, green plant-eating dinosaur and it will be visiting Westfield Stratford City and intu Trafford Centre, Manchester over the Easter Holidays to help re-engage kids with where their food comes from. This campaign from Flora demonstrates how many of the world’s biggest and most magnificent creatures were powered by plants. As a vegetarian family, we love this message!

The free interactive experience will include photos opportunities with the Florasaurus, competitions and activities created in conjunction with the Eden Project. The display will be available during the shopping centres' opening hours giving families plenty of opportunity to come and enjoy the experience during the school holidays.

Florasurus will be at:

Westfield Stratford, London:

Friday 25th March 2016 – Monday 4th April 2016 (excluding Easter Sunday 27th March)

Trafford Centre, Manchester:

Thursday 7th April 2016 – Sunday 10th April 2016

Santa's Secret Workshop Grotto at the Intu Trafford Centre #review

One of the most magical parts of the Christmas celebrations is taking your little ones to see Santa. Freddy is six and is so caught up in all the excitement of the season. He is old enough to question the whole Santa Claus thing, asking why there are so many grottos with Father Christmases in them all at the same time, but totally accepts my explanation that Old St Nick has a cloning machine and makes replicas of himself to keep on top of everything. So visiting numerous Santas throughout December does not detract from his unswerving belief in the wonders of Christmas and the knowledge that on Christmas Eve it will be the original one that pops down our chimney.

We were really excited to be invited along to the Santa's Secret Workshop Grotto at the Trafford Centre in Manchester at the weekend. The specially built attraction is located in Barton Square, right near to SeaLife and the Legoland Discovery Centre and next to a mini Christmas market with food and gift stalls. So you can really make a whole festive family day of it.

The experience lets families discover the secrets of Santa's workshop, inviting in children to help Santa prepare for the big day.  Santa's special helpers get to take part in a range of activities, each one earning them a stamp in their special Christmas passport. Once they have all the stamps, it's time to meet Santa himself in his special cosy room, for a friendly chat and to receive a present.

On entering the experience, you walk through a mirrored maze to discover the secret entrance to Santa's workshop. Here, you are greeted by an elf and let loose inside an area where you can make Christmas cards, do crayon rubbings of Santa and make paper lanterns. Other activities include helping Santa to sort out and weigh the huge pile of presents in the sorting office; making buckets of food for Santa's reindeer by finding the right combination of healthy food and treats and preparing a special portion of magic reindeer food to take home and leave out for Rudolph on Christmas Eve. Stamps are collected in the passport for each activity.

Each passport is numbered and when your number is called by the head elf, it's time to go through to visit Santa. Santa was awesome!  He was engaging, funny and convincing. He was lovely to Freddy taking the time to chat to him, but was equally lovely to my two older girls. He spoke to them about being the generation who can make a difference in the world to make it a better place. We never felt rushed and he took his time to make sure the experience was a memorable one. In one magical moment, Santa even said that he recognised Ian from when he was a child and remembered that he had wanted a guitar as a present when he was thirteen...spookily accurate! This Santa was the real deal.

We had our photos taken with Santa, one serious and one silly, pulling funny faces!  I was impressed that Santa didn't take himself too seriously and the resulting photo is a great memento of a lovely visit.

The experience lasts about half an hour and you have a timed slot for your visit. Children's tickets are £6 each and adults cost £3 each. Kids get a small gift from Santa (Freddy got a stationery set and Kezia got a puzzle book) plus they can take home the reindeer food and the arts and crafts bits they make. You can book in advance online (£2.50 transaction fee applies) or pay on the day (but if it's busy it may get fully booked).

Photos cost extra, but there is no hard sell to purchase them. We bought a snow globe frame for £10, which we thought was a reasonable price. Photos cost £6, fridge magnets and Christmas tree decorations cost £5 each. There is a 25% discount if you buy three items.

The grotto is open everyday until December 24th.

Visit intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/events for more details and to book tickets.

We Met Paddington at the Selfridges Ice Rink

It's that time of year again when Selfridges at the Trafford Centre in Manchester opens the doors of its Ice Rink so Christmas shoppers can enjoy a spot of seasonal ice skating!  We were invited along to give it a try at the weekend.  It is such a Christmassy thing to do and the kids were really excited about getting their skates on and having some fun on the ice.  I made the executive decision not to venture out onto the ice, as I have been poorly for five weeks with a chest infection.  I thought if I started coughing I would definitely end up on my backside, so I watched from the sidelines on a fur covered bench.

The all weather, covered ice rink holds up to 120 skaters and the venue is beautifully bedecked with Christmas trees and golden decorations.  There is a coffee shop so spectators can enjoy a hot drink while they watch the skaters whizz across the ice. Sessions last for 45 minutes.

We paid to hire a seal that Freddy could sit on and get pushed around.  He absolutely loved it and everyone took turns pushing him across the ice.  The girls did end up falling over (thanks to Kizzy pulling her sister down!) but they only suffered from two wet bums and a bruised knee between them, so no major harm done.

Special guests visit the ice rink on certain weekends and Freddy was really excited to meet Paddington Bear, star of the new Paddington movie!  Freddy always loves meeting characters and posed for some photographs.  

Peppa Pig will be visiting next weekend for some special sessions between 9 - 11 am, where kids get to have a skate, meet Peppa and enjoy a cupcake for the inclusive price of £15.

You can find out more at www.selfridges.com/content/store/manchester-trafford about the skating sessions which are available up to January 4th.

Ticket Type                  Price

Peak Adult                     £9.50

Peak Child                     £7.50

Off Peak Adult              £7.50

Off Peak Child              £5.50

Peak Family (x4)          £30.00

Off Peak Family (x4)   £25.00

Peak Times:  Monday - Friday 4pm-10pm, Saturday 11am - 9pm, Sunday 11am-6pm

Off Peak Times:  Monday - Friday 12pm-3pm, Saturday 9am - 10am, Sunday all day

*Peak and Off-peak times are subject to change over the festive period beginning week commencing 22.10.14, Peak and Off-peak tickets are outlined during the booking process

Festive Ice Skating at the The Ice Rink at Selfridges Manchester Trafford

We were invited to The Ice Rink at Selfridges in Manchester's Trafford Centre (in association with UGG) to enjoy a festive ice skating session on Sunday morning.  We arrived at the undercover venue, which was beautifully bedecked in Christmas trees, baubles and decorations.  We collected our ice skates and borrowed a seal skate aid for Freddy to use, before taking to the ice.

The girls took to it like naturals and Freddy did superbly well with his little skates that fitted over his shoes.  They gave him more stability than the bladed boots and are a good choice for little ones.

During the session, we met two very special visitors Peppa Pig and Father Christmas!  Freddy was delighted to see them both.  After the session was over we were treated to Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a hot drink.  What a lovely way to start the day!  

The ice rink is open until the beginning of January and is located at the main fountain entrance to Selfridges Trafford off Barton Dock Road, it can also be accessed through men's shoes on the Lower Level.

Opening hours

Monday to Wednesday 12pm until 10pm

Thursdays and Fridays 12pm until 11pm

Saturdays 9am until 10pm

Sundays 11am until 7pm

The last skate will take place one hour before closing.

Ticket prices

Peak tickets

Adults £9

Children (3-16 years) £7

Skate aid £3

- Monday to Friday 4pm until close

- Saturday 11am until 10pm

- Sunday all day

Off-peak tickets

Adult £7

Children (3-16 years) £5

Skate aid £3

- Monday to Friday 12 until 4pm

- Saturday 9am until 11am

To book tickets visit https://www.quaytickets.com/selfridges/Online/default.asp

Silent Sunday...Face to Face

The New Graco Fusio

As Graco's new Ambassador, I was sent the brand new Fusio to try.  It's not yet available in the UK (it's available to pre-order for March delivery) so I felt very privileged!

The package arrives.

As my husband was available for pushchair building duties, I gave him the pleasure of putting the Fusio together.  He said:
 "It went together really easily.  The wheels just popped into place.  I was impressed that it could be disassembled if it needed to be."

Ian with his helper Kizzy checking out the instructions!

The Fusio looked great.  It came complete with a newborn liner and apron, a foot muff and a raincover.  So it is a complete package.  The seat unit has a reversible option so it would see you through from birth to the toddler stage, making it an economical option and great value for money.  It supports the idea of sustainable living...as it is a pram and a stroller, it suits baby's needs at all stages...so it's future proof!

Stylish design

I loved the grey and black design which is perfect for either a boy or girl and looks very stylish.  The shopping basket is a really good size, which is useful for shopping.


The real selling point of the Fusio is the fact that although it has a lot of the benefits of a full travel system, it also has the convenience of a stroller.  It folds telescopically, is lightweight and easy to carry, compact and easy to store away in the boot of your car.  This makes it perfect for travelling or for shopping trips.  The Fusio has swivel wheels so you can easily negotiate the aisles of a shop or supermarket.  

Trafford Centre

Comfy to ride, easy to push

We took the Fusio to the Trafford Centre in Manchester.  It took up very little boot space...more room for shopping bags!!  It was easy to put up (after a little practice) and Fred was comfy and secure.  The handles are a good height and the Fusio steered easily around the shopping centre.  There is ample room for bags underneath and we could hang extras on the handles (it didn't tip up!)  Freddy fell asleep and the reclining seat was easily adjusted so he could have a peaceful nap.  The Fusio is much more luxurious and comfortable than other strollers I have used, so you are getting the best of both worlds.

Reclining zzzzz

We included a trip to the Legoland Discovery Centre in our day out.  It was very crowded, but the Fusio negotiated the masses well.  As it is so compact it fitted easily through the attractions of Miniland and through doorways. It folded down and parked up neatly in the buggy park when we went on the rides and into the 4D cinema.  It was certainly beneficial to be using the Fusio in such a limited space.


The Fusio folds down easily (again I had to practice but that is more a reflection on me than it!!)  It can be carried one handedly when folded down, which is a plus when juggling with a toddler and shopping bags.  It also stands up when folded which is also useful when loading everything back into the car.


Overall, we enjoyed the benefits of the Fusio in an environment where its compact size, light weight, manoeuvrability, storage space and comfort for baby were a consideration.  It's perfect for a day out shopping and Freddy was definitely happy, comfortable and secure on our big, busy trip to Manchester!

Watching the world go by.

Stopping for a bite to eat.

End of a busy day.

Listography - Places

Oh dear.  Kate Takes 5 's topic for this week's Listography is "Places".  For me, this is not going to be easy. 

Firstly:  I am not much of a traveller.  I get car sick, train sick, sea sick, air sick...I even get sick on Merry Go Rounds!  So my wanderlusting is quite limited!

Secondly:  I've had children since I was nineteen so I never really had the "young, free and single" opportunity to see the world or the cold hard cash without having nappies to buy with it!

Thirdly:  I'm a little phobic of new or unfamiliar places.  I like to know exactly which door to go through. 

However, I am not to be defeated. 

1:  France is the only place I can get to.  I can just about cope with the Eurotunnel although I do need distracting from the overwhelming fear I harbour whereby I imagine the tunnel cracking and the entire contents of the English Channel being deposited on top of our car.  Whilst in France I love to shop.  I'm not talking boutiques or quaint markets though.  I like the Hypermarches...the bigger the better.  There is something so familiar about shelves of long life dairy desserts.  It's novocaine for my phobia!  Here's a picture of my last French holiday.

2:  I always imagined what it must be like to go to Mexico and visit the Cancun pyramids. We were once host family to a Mexican boy called Angel.  He spoke about the beauty of Cancun and part of me felt a twinge of desire.  Then reality kicked in as I thought about the 13 hour flight, the heat, the language barrier...and I knew that the nearest I'd get was Barburritos at the Trafford Centre.

3: Market Drayton is where I live now and I'd like therefore to include it in this list as I did visit before moving here.  It is a Tudor Market Town in rural Shropshire.  It's quite a pretty place.  I know it's a bit of a cop out...but I'm struggling here!!

4:  London...coming from Slough, which is spitting distance from the big smoke, I used to go to London quite a lot.  Half an hour on the train and you'd arrive in Paddington.  As I've got older, I've found the crowds, the traffic and the noise a bit intimidating, but there was a time when I was a bit of City Girl.  This photo shows me in Trafalgar Square...OK I was about 5 at the time, but still it's good enough for my list!!

5: Belgium I never meant to go to Belgium.  I was actually in my home from home France on a day trip, shopping in my favourite Hypermarche buying dairy desserts...you know the drill.  We went back to Calais for our crossing to discover the French seamen had blocaded the ports and the subsequent backlog was so unmanageable that they were diverting everyone to Zeebrugge.  The arduous drive along with thousands of other disgruntled daytrippers took hours.  At one point we all fell asleep in a traffic jam.  Some time later, we woke up to the sound of a car horn.  At some point during our slumber the traffic had cleared and goodness knows how many cars had used the opportunity to get in front of us to secure a coveted place on one of the UK bound ferries.  Had someone not alerted us, we could still be there now!  Eventually we got ourselves on an overcrowded boat, to suffer an overnight crossing that sailed in to Dover just after sun-up.  And you wonder why I hate travelling!



So...sorry Kate for my pitiful entry to this week's listography...but I didn't want to miss out on your fabulous bloghopping opportunity!!