Kidoo...For Families in The Know

Kidoo.co.uk is a group buying website that has been designed with families in mind.  Offering a fantastic range of deals, Kidoo is partnering with great high street names, brands and independent businesses to bring families unbeatable offers to make family life easier, more affordable and fun.  With deals giving exclusive discounts of 40-90% on products and services, you can enjoy a whole host of exceptional offers with Kidoo.  Membership is completely free and gives access to deals suitable from birth through to teens (plus some treats for the grown-ups too!)

I had a chance to try out one of Kidoo's offers for myself.  One of the great deals that is open until Monday is with Fast Canvas Prints who are offering 80% off the cost of a bespoke A3 Canvas.  Just £9.99 buys you a voucher which gives you a unique code to enter at the checkout, getting you a gorgeous canvas print of your favourite photo worth £49.99.  What a perfect present for family or friends (Christmas is fast approaching after all!)  Or a gorgeous piece of bespoke artwork for your wall.

Fast Canvas Print specialise in canvas printing with an incredibly fast turnaround.  They allow you to bring your cherished moments to life with a beautifully, hand stretched canvas.  The specialist production team here in the UK, work fast to give next day delivery.  Your gorgeous digital image will be liberated from your memory card and will adorn your wall for all to see!  All for just £9.99!  See the deal for yourself here, but be quick, deals are only available for a limited time!!

I was impressed by the speedy service and delivery and I adore my new canvas.  Take a look for yourself!

This is just one of the fabulous offers that Kidoo brings to its members. Check out kidoo.co.uk and join in with the group buying website especially for families with fabulous weekly deals with family life in mind. 

You can follow Kidoo on Twitter and on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news.

The Return of Winnie The Pooh

My eldest children used to love Winnie the Pooh...we had the original films on video and we used to sing along as Pooh "Upped, Downed and Touched the Ground!"  But over the years our love affair with Pooh and his friends gave way to other things.  Our Winnie the Pooh fandom dwindled.

Recently, Winnie the Pooh's profile has risen with the release of the new Winnie the Pooh DVD.  Suddenly, Pooh is a family favourite again with a new generation of little fans who are discovering the delights of the "chubby little cubby"!  So when I was chosen by World's Apart following a Tots 100 Blog Hop competition to review their new Winnie the Pooh Interactive Friend, it couldn't have come at a better time!

Freddy was very excited to meet his new friend.  The gorgeous plush Pooh looked lovely in his red T-Shirt and Freddy was very happy to get him out of the box.

Hello Pooh!

When you squeeze Pooh's hand or press his nose he will chat to your little one with his repertoire of over 50 phrases.  Pooh's comments aren't just random either.  He can be programmed so that he can interact with your child throughout the day, commenting on activities and encouraging toddlers to clean teeth, get dressed, eat meals and go to bed.  Throughout the day Pooh is your trusty companion who is there to enjoy a expedition searching for Woozles or a game of hide and seek as well as joining in with the daily routine.  Even overnight, if a toddler tries to play with Pooh, he will snore and tell them to go back to sleep!

Pooh speaks up even if he is not being played with, which usually results in Freddy making a beeline for him and engaging in some fun.  Pooh enjoys playing games and loves having a story read to him!  It is such a sweet toy!  Pooh also comes with a 'hunny pot' and spoon so he can enjoy a meal of honey while your little one eats his lunch.  He knows when to sleep, eat and play!

Having fun with Winnie the Pooh

Setting up Pooh to be in sync with your child is easy with step by step instructions that he talks you through.  It is very clever and simple (even for a parent!!)  From that point he magically chats his timely phrases all day long!  Here is Freddy and Kizzy demonstrating their Winnie the Pooh toy.

Pooh sells for around £39.99 from toy stockists such as Tesco, Argos and Amazon and is suitable for ages 12 months and up.  Check out the official video below for more information.

Follow @WorldsApartKids on Twitter.  It's a brand new account that will keep you up to date on Worlds Apart's cool products!

For a chance to win your own Winnie the Pooh Interactive Friend and other Pooh merchandise check out this lovely competition on the Disney website.  Enter HERE!  (Closes 16/10/11) Good Luck!!

My Day as a Model!

I am actually feeling quite exhausted!  Spending the day as a model on a photoshoot is not as easy as it looks!  Clothing changes, make-up touch ups, striking poses...all while wearing 5" ill fitting heels is a real art!  But I survived and had a fab time!

I was invited to do a photoshoot for The Sun as a Thinking Slimmer success story.  I've been one of Sandra's Slimpod triallists since November 2010 and have found the results to be life changing.  My yo-yo diet lifestyle finally seems to be a thing of the past.  The three stone within which my weight fluctuated seems to be gone for good.  I still have a stone to lose before I feel completely safe, but I've gone from a 16/18 to a size 12 and feel more positive about my life than ever before.

Today I got up at silly o'clock and hopped on  a train to Euston where I was met by Sandra.  A cab took us to Click Studios where my day as a 'model' began.  I was transformed by a make-up artist to the stars!!  My hair was curled and my face painted with a range of Mac make-up that would have made my make-up-obsessed 9 year old drool!  A range of fabulous new season clothing from Debenhams arrived for me to try on.  I have been having anxiety dreams about nothing fitting me, and being sent away shame-faced for being a dieting fraud...so I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I wriggled my way into a pair of size 12 Julien MacDonald Star jeans.  I tried on a selection of tops and some wicked heeled shoes.  When they were happy with my look I stepped out into the studio (although my stepping was more hobbling in the heels!)

The photographer got me to 'bend my leg', 'pop my hip' , 'drop my chin', 'tilt my head' and adopt shapes that were straight from Modelling 101!  He complimented my natural smile and made me feel at ease.

Next stop was a dress that looked very 50's.  With the make-over and the dress I looked exactly like my mum used to.  It was a bit uncanny!  More posing, more killer heels and another clothes change and I was done.  It was quite a work out...seriously!

Celebrity nutritionist Amanda Ursell and fitness expert Nicki Waterman were on hand to chat to me about my lifestyle and my journey and offered me advice.  I asked Nicki about my ruptured stomach muscles following Freddy's pregnancy and birth.  She had me lie down in the middle of the studio and gave my stomach a poke and told me that me muscles are still not knitted together properly which is why I struggle to exercise and get a toned tummy.  She showed me somethings I could do and is going to help me.  Hopefully it will work...otherwise I might need surgery!! *gulps*

It was an amazing experience, and the article will be in The Sun shortly.  I took a few photos of myself all glammed up, but look forward to seeing the full length shots.  I have to cast from my mind the fact that thousands of people are going to see me in the paper...or I'll get all panicky!!  (I hope they airbrush the finished result!!  I want the same treatment as the celebrities!!)

If you are yet to discover Thinking Slimmer Slimpods, check out their life changing products at thinkingslimmer.com.  They have literally changed the way I think about food and given me a freedom from so many of my issues.  If you think they could help you...don't hesitate!

Thanks again to the wonderful Sandra from Thinking Slimmer for this amazing opportunity :) xxx

The Gallery....Guilty Pleasures

In the current economic climate, I'm constantly telling my eldest the importance of saving money and not wasting cash on unnecessary items.  I'm always telling him not to eat out because you could buy a week's worth of food for the price of a single dinner!  However, I am the biggest hypocrite because my guilty pleasure is the joys of the coffee shop!

I know I could buy a 200g jar of Nescafe for the cost of one Grande Mocha...but I don't care.  I love sitting in the plush leather chair, sniffing the aroma of coffee in the air, reading the newspaper and watching the world go by.  

Sometimes (if I'm not dieting) I'll throw in a muffin and a mozzarella panini.  Not much change out of a twenty!  I could save a fortune if I didn't have a Coffee Shop habit!  But until I manage to overcome my addiction...it will remain my Guilty Pleasure!

This is my entry to The Gallery over at Tara's Sticky Fingers blog.

Driver Dan's Story Train

The hit CBeebies show Driver Dan's Story Train is centred around the joy of reading and sharing stories.  Young children are encouraged to pick up a book, explore the pictures, re-imagine the story and ultimately read it over and over again.  In each episode of the show, the hand-crafted toy characters take us on a journey aboard the Story Train where an adventure in story-telling begins.  Dan the Driver is a friendly Lion who guides the action and narrative and gives a voice to the stories.  He makes everything happen exactly how it should and is on hand to answer the other toys' questions.  When he says "All aboard the Story Train!" you know the adventure is about to begin.

Now, thanks to Golden Bear, pre-schoolers can enjoy the excitement and adventure of Driver Dan's Story Train in their own homes, with a range of wonderful Driver Dan toys.  I first saw them before their launch, at the Christmas in July event earlier in the year and I loved them.  The Story Train received the UK Mums.TV Mums' Choice  seal of approval as one of the Top Five Toys for pre-schoolers.

Golden Bear At Christmas in July

Now, the Driver Dan's Story Train is available to buy from good toy retailers or from the Golden Bear website, so your Driver Dan Fan can enjoy their own story-telling adventures.  I was very happy to be offered the chance to test one out for myself with Freddy, for Golden Bear.

The colourful packaging has a cut out where the Driver Dan and Twinkle figures can be seen, peeking out.  Freddy was immediately excited and couldn't wait for me to remove the train from the packaging.  I was pleased to see there were no awkward plastic clips or ties used, which are a pet hate of mine!  The toy requires 3 x AA Batteries which are included in the box...what a thoughtful addition that other toy manufacturers should take note of...thanks Golden Bear!

The set included the train, the story carriage with opening doors and book trailer, a fully articulated Driver Dan figure, a magnetic Twinkle figure and three story books.  The pieces felt strong and robust and the carriages coupled together easily but securely.  My first impression was of a well made and well conceived toy, true to the CBeebies show.

The books insert into a slot in the story carriage and Driver Dan tells the story.  They fit either way so there isn't any fiddly or frustrating technique for children to master in order to insert the books and hear the story. The three titles are The Treasure Hunt, The Hip Hop Song and Driver Dan's Present.  Children will enjoy choosing and listening to their favourite story.  The sound quality is good and easy to understand, using the voices from the show.  They are quite short and snappy, so don't expect a full length story.

Easy to insert books.

The Dan figure stands in his train and Twinkle sticks to the funnel thanks to a couple of well placed magnets!  The books store in the trailer, ready to be played.  The story plays both when the train is still or when it is being pushed along.  It is a good looking toy that is a lot of fun, especially when the child recognises the train from the TV show.

Articulated Dan Figure and magnetic Sparkle.

The books store safely in the trailer.

The Story Train joins the cuddly Talking Driver Dan, Pull Along Tallulah, Pull Back Vrooms and soft collectible plush toys all available to purchase direct from Golden Bear or from other good retailers.  Perfect for Christmas presents!  The Driver Dan's Story Train has an RRP of £34.99.

Check out goldenbeartoys.com for full details on their Driver Dan Story Train range, as well as their other super character toys featuring favourites such as My First JCB, Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly, Chuggington, Pingu, Thomas the Tank Engine and Timmy Time.   Whatever your pre-schooler's favourite, Golden Bear Toys can deliver the perfect toy!

Le Toy Van Noah's Ark from Wooden Toy Shop

Sometimes you just see a toy that is so aesthetically pleasing, that you can't help but give a little gasp of joy as you remove it from the packaging.  This is how I felt about Le Toy Van Noah's Ark Shape Sorter as I took it from its box.  The gorgeous wooden ark is painted  in subtle colours and has details such as raindrops on the roof and fishes in the waves that lap against the bow.  Noah and his wife and the seven pairs of animals are sweetly and simply designed and well finished.

The story of Noah's Ark is one of the most memorable Bible stories and we all know the song about the animals going in two by two!  It is a nice way to introduce the story to a new audience through play.  The idea of Noah, his wife and the animals escaping the flood water is very exciting, and this toy combines re-enacting the story with the challenge of shape sorting.


Animal shaped holes in the sides of the ark are well cut and the animals fit into them making a shape sorting activity to develop hand-eye co-ordination and spatial awareness in young children.  The ladder allows animals to climb up onto the ark which adds to the play value.

Freddy enjoyed making the animals fit through the holes although the shape sorting aspect of the toy isn't an exact science.  They can post through horizontally into any of the holes, but I liked the fact it kept him engaged without getting too frustrated.  To get them in properly is a little bit fiddly. As he gets older I'm sure the challenge of finding the correct hole for each animal will prevail.  He liked making the animals walk up and down the ladder and also matching the pairs of animals.  He discovered lots of different ways to play with the ark and we sang the 'Two by Two' song together too!

The roof has two removable panels and the frame doubles up as a useful carry handle with all the pieces fitting into the base of the ark, keeping it all neatly packed together when not in use. I found this feature to be really useful....there is nothing worse than toys that come apart, do not store easily and the ensuing scattering of small pieces across the floor which inevitably get lost and ruins the toy!

In an age of technology, with all singing and dancing toys and gadgets, it is refreshing to have a traditional wooden toy like this.  It allows kids to make up their own rules, explore using their own imagination and enjoy a real hands on experience.  The wood is so much more inviting than the cold, hard plastic that monopolizes the toy market today. It will last for years and look great up on a shelf in a nursery.  I think it is important that children today get to enjoy the simple pleasure of playing with traditional wooden toys such as this one from Wooden ToyShop.

**Noah's Ark Shape Sorter is available from Wooden Toyshop for £23.86**

We received the toy for the purposes of this review.

I'll leave you with a joke...

What was the name of Noah's wife?

Joan (of Ark!)

Savings at Shoe Zone

In these times when our finances are being stretched by the ever increasing cost of living, it is nice to find a company who offers good quality and good value.  Shoe Zone is the "No 1 Value Footwear Retailer" with over 550 shops across UK and Ireland.  They sell approximately 30 million pairs of footwear per annum...which is about 57 pairs every minute!!  Prices are kept keen with an average price of 40% of the national average.

They sell a great range of shoes for Men, Women, Boys and Girls at really competitive prices.  Their range includes footwear for fashion, work, school, sport and fun  I have been lucky enough to get a selection of shoes for Kizzy and Freddy to try out.

Check out these gorgeous wellies in multi-coloured heart print.  They have a trendy buckle trim and a low heel.  The design is fun and girly and Kizzy loved them.  They are going to perfect for sploshing through puddles.  At just £9.99, they are excellent value.

The Heart Buckle Girls' Ballerina Shoe is a sensible but stylish shoe, perfect for school.  The heart shaped buckle is a lovely detail that adds a pretty touch which girls love. The flat heel is something that is important to me when choosing footwear for my daughter, and it is nice to find a flat shoe that is so girlie and which Kizzy loves. They cost just £9.99.

The Boys' Cross Over Strap Shoes with Lights are perfect for little lads.  They are practical and durable to withstand rough and tumble.  They have light-up soles which is not only fun, it also adds a safety element which is important now the evenings are getting darker.  I love how chunky and hard wearing they are because Freddy is tough on his shoes!  The fit was really good for an off the shelf shoe and the adjustable velcro strap was secure.  They are just £12.99.

Freddy and Kizzy have loved modelling their new footwear, especially Fred who is jumping everywhere to light up his blue flashing soles!!

                              

Shoe Zone offer an online click and collect in store service, free delivery on online sales, free return to any store and next day and Saturday delivery (chargeable).  

Check out this season's new arrivals online at www.shoezone.com or instore now.