Warner Bros Welcomes Bloggers

Batman, Ultra Violet and Blinkbox With Warner Bros!

Yesterday I ventured into the big smoke with my blogging buddies Lou and Helen to attend the Warner Bros Bloggers Event at their head office in Central London.  Upon arrival, we were greeted by a lifesize Batman and a six foot tall Happy Feet Mumbles penguin model.  My love of movies was instantly re-ignited!

We were given the opportunity to find out more about the latest technologies in film viewing including Ultra Violet, blinkbox, Rovi, Flixster, X Box Live and PSN.  We also had a sneaky peek of a brand new WB game due for release in Summer.  There was a plethora of knowledgeable young men eager to chat about their areas of specialism, plus a constant supply of food and drink.  I was set for a good couple of hours of being immersed in the Warner Bros. experience.

Here Inside the Wendy House, we love films.  I was really interested to discover the new ways to watch them, utilising games consoles, tablets, laptops, iphones and PCs.  The world of digital technology is opening up our viewing options allowing us to have movie experiences wherever, however and whenever we want them.  With options to stream or download films, this is the future of movie entertainment.

I was particularly impressed with blinkbox which is a simple and easy to use, non-subscription based service enabling you to pay for the things that you want to watch and view them instantly.  With a huge library of over 10,000 titles from all genres of movie and TV, blinkbox lets you watch movies on your Smart TV, games consoles (such as via XBox Live), PC or tablet.  New films become available on the same day as they are released on DVD making your choices totally up to date.  Films can be rented for 48 hours or purchased and remain on your account indefinitely. Excitingly, blinkbox has just become part of Tesco.  Anytime you buy a new DVD release  from Tesco and swipe your Clubcard, you will get a digital copy stored on your blinkbox account to watch anytime you like. I have made an account and am really impressed with the range of free films and shows available to watch and the special offer rentals which start at just 99p.  I've already watched Battle Royale  for free on my laptop!  I was very pleased to see the series of Alcatraz on blinkbox as I missed the first two episodes...I'll be catching up tomorrow!

Ultra Violet seems to be the next step in flexible film viewing.  Blu-Ray Triple Play Packs include a UV digital copy allowing you to watch your film on the go.  The movies are stored in a free online personal library so they can be viewed on laptops, tablets or smart phones, anytime, anywhere.  It adds another dimension to your choice when it comes to buying and watching films.  Warner Bros are at the forefront of this, being the first studio to launch Ultra Violet enabled titles last year.

The real appeal of having 'virtual' copies of films as well as the original discs, is the fact that I will no longer have to deal with the unholy combination of kids and DVDs.  I like my children having the independence of watching a film on their own terms, but hate the aftermath of sticky finger prints, scratches and lost discs.  Letting them choose from a virtual library online will keep my discs safe and sound.  Especially now when we are venturing into ugrading our collection to Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray, the discs are more expensive and I'd hate to see them damaged by my over eager film buffs.  I wonder how long it will be before hard copies become obselete?

The highlight of the day for me was watching some of the yet to released game Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, being played by the supreme gamer Dan on a cinema size screen!  I know it's a bit geeky but I thought it was totally awesome!  We are big fans of the Lego videogame franchise having the Harry Potter, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman titles.  I love the combination of humour, action, puzzles and animation that make up the games.  They are sheer genius.  The latest title takes the genre a step further with some amazing  new features.  The Dynamic Duo join forces with other DC super heroes to stop the notorious super villains from destroying Gotham City.  The new and original story sees players fighting to get the bad guys back behind bars.  The co-operative play is intuitive and entertaining, and the unlockable characters are a joy to behold!  I won't give away too much as it is all a bit hush hush at the moment...but this is definitely going to be on my wishlist this summer!

A range of Lego toys:  The Super Heroes DC Universe collection have just been released and include sets such as the Batcave and three buildable action figures.  Well worth checking out!  The Lego Joker was fantastic.

We were given a fantastic bundle of goodies to take home with us including some 3D Blu-Ray titles.  My husband has now got the excuse he has been waiting for to invest in a 55" 3D TV.  He has started Googling them already!   On our way out, me and Lou took a look at an amazing display of genuine Harry Potter props including the Nimbus 2000 and a Death Eater mask.  We got a bit over excited truth be told!  Unfortunately the tight security did not allow photos to be taken, but trust me when I say it was quite incredible.

I left the event, very excited about the future of film, gaming and their associated technologies...thank you Warner Bros!

Limited Edition ghd Peacock

Have a 'Good Hair Day' with the Sapphire Peacock ghd

Brand new for this season, ghd have launched their limited edition range, the Peacock Collection.  Available in three gorgeous colours; Emerald Green, Amethyst Purple and Dazzling Sapphire, the Peacock ghd is a pimped Gold Classic Styler, transformed with striking coloured plates and accents and a co-ordinating satin roll bag and heat mat. The peacock feather embroidery on the roll bag is simply breathtaking!

I was beyond thrilled to receive a pair to review.  The quality of the ghd is evident from the moment you see the box!  The Dazzling Sapphire  Hair Straighteners ooze style and elicited a gasp of delight from myself and my daughters who coveted them instantly!

The lush satin feather-design roll bag opens up to provide a handy heat resistant mat...no more scorching your dressing table.  The straighteners fit inside the zip up compartment which protects them when not in use.

The blue theme continues across the styler with coloured plates, logo and power light.  Every attention to detail has been met in this limited edition design.

The addition of a cap to keep the straighteners together is most useful.  It prevents you from getting burned on an open cooling straightener (we've all done that one!)  

Aesthetically, the ghd Peacock is simply stunning with its embellishments and design features.  But how does its functionality compare?

The body is light and remains quite cool to touch. The cord is long which is very useful.  They heat up really quickly, but there is only one heat setting.  The cord is attached using a swivelling connection which prevents getting twisted up, a real stroke of genius!  There is a sleep mode if the straightener is left unused for 30 minutes, which is a reassuring safety feature.

 The ceramic plates glide through the hair effortlessly leaving a shiny, sleek finish.  They can also be used to create a multitude of styles from curls to flicks to waves, aided by the rounded barrel.  This is where my eldest daughter Megan comes in. 

 She is a dab hand at using ghd's and has curled her sister's hair to demonstrate the versatility of this product.   She was very impressed with the features and how easy it was to use.  The rounded barrel was perfect for wrapping sections of hair around to create curls.

Take a look at this tutorial to see exactly how to curl your hair using the ghd Peacock Collection.

The Peacock design ghd retails for £119 and comes with a 2 year manufacturer's guarantee and certificate of authentication.  You'll be as proud as a peacock with one of these beauties in your hair styling collection!   Look in your local Regis hair salon to see the gorgeous ghd Peacock Collection.

Kizzy is a Mini-Baker!

Kizzy has won the Fabulous Bakin' Boys Mini- Baker Competition!

Last year the Fabulous Bakin' Boys launched a competition to find a Mini-Baker to help them design a brand new flavour of cupcake.  Kizzy, who is a big cake fan, came up with a tasty tropical treat and we entered the contest.  Whilst we were away on holiday we found out that she had made the regional finals and today it was announced that she has won the coveted title of Mini-Baker!

As part of the prize she will be going to their factory in the heart of Oxfordshire to help bake the cakes which will be going on sale nationwide.  What a wonderful experience for her!  

I am very proud of my own little cupcake Kizzy!   She loves baking and often helps in the kitchen.  She has made Big Foot Cookies, Cornish Ginger Fairings and Betty Crocker Cupcakes for posts here on the blog.  She really is a budding Nigella!

Mario Party 9 Review

Mario Party 9 on the Nintendo Wii...Fun for all the Family!

The ninth instalment of the Mario Party gaming series for the Nintendo Wii is now available.  The colourful characters and lush Mushroom Kingdom landscapes provide the perfect setting for some fabulous family fun.

In a change from its predecessors, Mario Party 9 has opportunities for teamwork as the characters travel around the playing board together in a vehicle collecting mini-stars, each taking turns to captain the team.  You can compete in eighty Mini-Games, many of which are suitable for younger players allowing them to join in the fun and keeping the party atmosphere going for everyone.  Everyone unites against the bosses who are Bowser's minions who are trying to steal the stars.  This common goal makes for a much more relaxed gaming atmosphere which is more family friendly.  There is no cut-throat competitiveness which is something that I really liked. The characters' animations and antics really are quite adorable and kept the kids entertained.  

There is a solo mode on this game, but the real joy of it is the party mode which is for up to four players.  The mix of co-operation and competition is just right for keeping the atmosphere relaxed and fun for everyone.  And as many games are purely down to chance, the playing field is levelled for younger children to participate in.

We were sent the game to try out along with ideas to have a real 'Mario Party' Party!  The Super Mario hat was a big hit!  

Daddy, Ella and Kizzy joined forces in the whimsical adventures of Mario, Toad, Daisy, Peach, Koopa and friends as they journeyed across the boards, battled Bowser and competed in fun mini-games.  Freddy joined in too by cheering them on and wearing Mario's hat.  He loved the characters and the iconic Mario soundtrack to the game.

It really was a lot of fun.  Kizzy said "Some of the mini games are a bit tricky, but it is really fun and a lot of laughs!"

Ella did rather well in a lot of the games.  She enjoyed it better than Mario Party 8 and enjoyed playing with her younger siblings.  She is quite a gamer and had a solo game against the computer, which she enjoyed winning!

Ian enjoyed the family fun element of the game.  It made a nice change from his usual shoot 'em up genre of gaming and he said it was "a bit of fun, great to play with the kids!"

Mario Party 9 was definitely great fun for the family and good for mixed aged and ability players. Removing some of the more cut-throat elements and incorporating team work into the gameplay is definitely a step in the right direction for our family, but might make this game a bit too 'gentle' for more ardent gamers!

It is available to purchase for the Nintendo Wii now.

Silent Sunday #Project 52

Discovering Treasure

 

You Me At Six Guitar Tutorial

You Me At Six's 'Time is Money' Guitar Tutorial

One of the things I love about being a mum to a teenager is that I get to know a whole load of bands that may otherwise have passed me by. You Me At Six is one such band. In this tutorial video made for the O2 Academy TV, Chris demonstrates how to play "Time is Money". As both Ella and my husband Ian are guitarists I am sharing this tutorial video. I hope to soon hear them performing this You Me At Six track! They can consider themselves challenged!!

Kelloggs Mini Max for Breakfast

Mini Max...Mini Morning Maximizers for Your Kids (as long as they aren't vegetarian!)

Kellogg's Mini Max is the new cereal from Kellogg's.  Crunchy little bundles of  baked wholegrain wheat provide the right balance between a breakfast that is good for the family along with a taste they will love.  They are high in fibre and low in salt.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and so enticing the family with something tasty and appetising yet packed with wholegrain goodness, ensures they will get a good start to the day.  That is the idea behind taking mini Shredded Wheat and slathering them in a tasty topping!

The wholegrain parcels in the Mini Max Original that we were sent to try, are coated with a sugary crust and fortified with vitamins and minerals.  Kizzy immediately tucked into a bowl with her usual soya milk and really enjoyed them.

Unfortunately, after she had finished her bowl of cereals, I had a close look at the packaging and was quite horrified to see Beef Gelatin listed as an ingredient making them unsuitable for vegetarians.  As a vegetarian family, this is really a big deal.  I assume that cereals will always be vegetarian and as there as no no "not suitable for vegetarian" labelling on the product packaging I did not think I needed to read the small print on the back of the box.  I am really disappointed in Kelloggs for using bovine gelatin as an additive, making these cereals out of bounds for veggie families. 

Before realising this fact, we were impressed with the Mini Max cereal, and as most people are not concerned with consuming gelatin, this will not pose a problem to most families. They do provide a tasty and filling breakfast.   But sadly, Mini Max are off the breakfast menu here Inside the Wendy House.