Moo and Baa Tack Zap from HABA

HABA is a German company renowned for its fantastic quality wooden toys.  Freddy was delighted to be sent a lovely Moo and Baa Tack Zap game to try out, and was eager to get stuck in!

Tack Zap is a beautifully crafted kit that consists of wooden pieces, tacks, hammer and cork board for little ones to create their own masterpieces.  The 45 cute and colourful animal and scenery pieces have a hole in them for the tack to go through, pinning it to the board.

At first I was worried about the combination of toddlers and sharp, metal tacks!  However, I was impressed with Fred's ability to use the little wooden hammer to bang the tacks through the animal shapes.  He was very dextrous and enjoyed making a picture, naming the objects as he went along.

The set is suitable for boys and girls aged 3 and over.  Freddy was perfectly able to play on his own (whilst I was close by just in case of a hammer/tack emergency!)  The characters are so appealing with their soft, pastel colouring.  They feature in a whole range of wooden toys from HABA.

After seeing how well he got on, I really like that this set uses real tools giving Freddy a chance to learn skills at a young age. He really enjoyed playing with this craft set and was very proud of his finished masterpiece!

Check out the HABA website to see more beautiful wooden toys and furniture.

TLC For Your Kids

Tender Loving Care have launched a revolutionary range of vitamin products especially for children.  Chewy Vites and Choccy Vites are the most appealing nutritional supplements that will appeal to even the fussiest-little-eaters, making it easy for parents to ensure their children are getting the vitamins and minerals they need.

Chewy Vites come in five varieties: Vitamin D, Multi Vitamin, Vitamin C, Propolis & Echinacea or Iron.  The fun teddy bear shape and soft, easy to chew texture makes them perfect for children of all ages.  They taste really fruity and are a really fun way of getting vitamins into your kids.  As they are gelatin-free, they are suitable for vegetarians so Freddy and Kizzy were very happy to test them.

We received a pack of Propolis and Echinacea Chewy Vites for the kids to try out. I was very pleased as they boost natural immunity which is really important especially with the kids going back to school.  With winter also approaching I will be glad for any extra help when it comes to keeping germs at bay!

Both Freddy and Kizzy thought they were really yummy.   The only problem was that Freddy wanted more than one, thinking they were sweets.  I had to explain that they were special and he was only allowed one a day.  Thankfully they have a safety lid that children can't open.

We also received the Choccy Vites which are available in Multi-Vitamin, Pro-Biotic and Omega 3 varieties. We had the multi-vitamin variety in milk chocolate flavour.  They can be chewed or dissolved into hot milk and are a chocolatey teddy shaped treat.  Again, Freddy needed to be told that he was only allowed one a day.  He will get used to that concept eventually I'm sure!

From the kids point of view, these are a yummy treat that they enjoy after their breakfast.  From my perspective they are an excellent and easy way to get essential vitamins, minerals and supplements into my children without any fuss.  I love that they are gelatin-free and contain no artificial colours or preservatives.  That gets a big thumbs up from me, as I often struggle to find vegetarian friendly supplements that are suitable for kids. 

As they are indistinguishable from sweets in both flavour and appearance, it is vital to keep them out of children's reach.  We will be making them part of our morning routine and I'm sure Freddy will quickly understand that they are a one a day treat as it can obviously be harmful for children to consume too many supplements. 

Chewy Vites and Choccy Vites contain the essential vitamins and minerals that children need for growth and development.  The Multi Vitamins and Vitamin D varieties are available in Superdrug with an RRP of £6.99 and the whole range is available from independent pharmacies RRP £7.99.  These really are a great solution to ensuring children get the nutrients they need.

Healthy Lunch Box Treats

Sainsbury's Healthy Fruity Snacks For Kids

My children return to school tomorrow.  The summer holidays have gone in a flash and I'm now preparing myself for the routine of the school run, uniforms and packed lunches.  Thankfully, a much appreciated delivery from Sainsbury's will help me out with the organisation of packed lunches.

We received a really cute pink owl design lunchbox which Kizzy has fallen in love with.  It is a good size with insulated walls, a sturdy handle and zip.  Perfect for school.   

Kizzy was even more delighted when she saw what was inside!  Sainsbury's have a range of healthy, satisfying fruit based snacks and smoothies designed for children, which will provide them with energy to keep up with the demands of the new term.  They are a great alternative to unhealthy snacks like biscuits and sweets.

Kizzy loves anything fruity and she was delighted to discover the mini packs of Raisins and Blueberries and Bite Sized Apricots.  A perfectly sized portion of dried fruit to add a sweet but healthy treat to her lunchbox. The Strawberry Fruity Flakes and the Yogurt Coated Raisins are also delicious snacks packed with taste, offering a twist on traditional dried fruits.  The fun characters on the packaging will appeal to younger children, encouraging them to try them.  Who said healthy can't be fun??

The Smoothies in Orange and Mango or Apple and Blackcurrant are naturally sweet and come in a convenient pouch with a screw top.  Not only will they be perfect in a lunchbox, they are also great for travelling, offering a healthy solution to hunger pangs!  Freddy loved them and enjoyed slurping them from the pouch.

The Smoothies cost £2.59 for a pack of five and the Fruit Mini Bags are 38p each from Sainsbury's.

Get A Great Deal With Groupon

I have been a fan of Groupon for a while now.  Whether I am looking for a day out for the family, a new photobook or a hotel break, I always check out what is on offer at Groupon.  Everyday I get the Deals email for my local area and often grab myself a bargain.  The deals are available thanks to the power of collective buying allowing merchants to offer great prices on their products or services.  

Ella had a session at a recording studio in Birmingham last year through a Groupon deal and recorded this original song receiving a CD and video of her experience.  It cost a fraction of the full price.

My girls are attending a local music festival which cost them just £16 each instead of the full price of £35.  That is a great saving on tickets to a great local event!  I love a good bargain and Groupon really delivers!

We have also purchased a memory foam mattress, snow socks for our car and photo products through Groupon Deals.  Sometimes you have to wait a little longer for delivery due to the sudden massive demand generated by the Groupon deal, but it is a small compromise when the financial saving is taken into account.  I have never been disappointed with anything I have purchased and generally have been kept informed of delays in delivery where that has been an issue.  As nothing I ordered has been time sensitive, I've not been disappointed by this, but do take it into account if purchasing as a birthday gift.  

Groupon even offer deals on wedding packages.  I've been tempted to renew my vows when I see a full wedding on offer for such a low price!  My son has just got engaged to his girlfriend and I'll definitely be alerting them to any wedding deals on offer!

Some deals have date restrictions on them by the merchant so be sure to read the small print after making a purchase to avoid any disappointment.

I was contacted to see whether I would like to share my experiences of Groupon on my blog.  I was offered the chance of trying out another deal for free and so when today's deals popped into my inbox, I opted for a deal on a family day out!

Blackbrook Zoological Park is set in 30 acres of Staffordshire countryside and boasts a collection of over 300 species of birds as well as some amphibians, small mammals, fish and reptiles.  It also is home to a scenic tearoom called Scarlet and today's offer includes entry to the park as well as a cream tea in the tearoom.  For just £18, four people can enjoy a fabulous day out!  This is a discount of 61%.  I am looking forward to taking the family for a lovely day out very soon courtesy of Groupon.

In today's economic climate, I love to get a good bargain and Groupon provides a huge selection of great deals on a daily basis.  I have had a lot of very positive experiences with both my dealings with Groupon and with the merchants themselves.  I'll be reporting back on our Blackbrook Zoolological Park experience after we visit.  

Check out Groupon's deals and sign up to receive the daily email notifications here:

http://www.groupon.co.uk/vouchers/

Exciting New Honey From New Zealand

Flavoured Manuka Honey From New Zealand Honey Co.

When the cough and cold season descends, my family's favourite natural remedy is honey.  Whether it is eaten by the spoonful or put into a hot cup of juice, its healing properties and soothing consistency works wonders in making everyone feel better naturally.

We were recently asked to try some flavoured Manuka Honey from the New Zealand Honey Co.  The 100% pure honey is given an exciting addition of root ginger or lemon to create a whole new taste sensation.

The Manuka Honey with Lemon has a zesty zing and is packed with vitamin C.  This is a perfect addition to our store cupboard essential making it even better for you if you want a medicinal hot honey and lemon juice drink when the cold germs do their rounds once the kids are back at school!  The honey is smooth and fresh tasting, with the sweetness offset by the citrus kick.  It is perfect to add to smoothies, salad dressings and desserts.  Not only is it delicious it has the health benefits to put a spring in your step!  When used as a sweetener, honey boasts lower GI properties as well as a host of other health giving benefits as it is antibiotic, pre-biotic and an antioxidant, making it a much healthier option.

I love root ginger with its warming properties and depth of spicy flavour.  Combining it with pure honey creates a combination of distinct flavours that call out for experimentation.  Perfect to give you a boost when added to a hot juice drink or even spread on bread, the honey is rich, warming and intense.  It is an interesting ingredient for culinary usage, lending itself to oriental cookery, marinades and dressings to add real depth to a dish.  My husband declared the Manuka Honey with Root Ginger a real triumph and will definitely be warding off germs with its immune boosting powers!

I will definitely be using some of the flavoured honey to add a twist to some of my favourite baking recipes.  Making Honey Cake or biscuits using the flavoured honey will definitely add something extra special!  

For information and inspiration take a look at the website at www.newzealandhoneyco.com

The Manuka Flavoured Honey costs £9.99 RRP.  The New Zealand Honey Co products are available from Asda, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett and Morrisons.

Silent Sunday - Mini Baker

Country Kids/ Project 52

Walking in the fields enjoying the last of the summer holidays at Fordhall Farm.