Is Breakfast More of a Breaktask?

Breakfast here Inside the Wendy House during term time is not a pretty affair.  Ella, who catches a ridiculously early bus for college, grabs a cereal bar and is out the door by 7.15am while I am still in bed.  Freddy will undoubtedly be lying on my head at this time, as he still ends up bed-sharing and has never slept through the night to date.  At 8am I have to wake him up and coax him into getting out of our comfy kingsize and downstairs for breakfast.  Thankfully, Kizzy is a very independent 10 year old who gets up and ready for school without any need for nagging, but the occasional hunt for discarded school sweatshirts, tights without holes, swimming kits and a matching pair of shoes can pose an unexpected early morning problem.

Eventually we make it downstairs to the kitchen where the standard item on the breakfast menu is toast and apple juice for the kids, black coffee for me.  Thankfully my husband is in charge of packed lunches which he makes before dropping Ella at the bus stop on his way to work. That means one less task for me (I love that man!!)  Getting Freddy to eat is quite a task as he is too busy playing some imaginative, make-believe game involving zapping power and shrinking spells.  I try to put on his shoes and coat if he stops moving long enough for me to do so.  If we are too pushed for time, the toast comes with us in the car to school and nursery.  I often find fossilised crusts down the back of Fred's car seat!

Warburton's have commissioned some research that has proved that mums juggle twice as many challenges in the morning than senior businessmen and women do in the first 73 minutes of the day.  There are an average of 9.8 chores during the average breakfast hour which can prove very taxing.  In fact 27% of mums say they find the breakfast rush hour and school run more stressful than a visit from the in-laws!  Breakfast time is all about multi-tasking in an effort to get all the jobs done and the kids off to school on time.

Warburtons are in the process of compiling a book of  useful tips, ideas and recipes to help families across the nation make the breakfast rush-hour less stressful and more enjoyable. Check out the Warburton's Facebook page where you can give your own advice and have a chance of winning prizes!!

Warburtons sent us a hamper of their baked goods to inspire us at breakfast time.  Having different loaves such as the half and half, the seeded batch or the farmhouse white, makes breakfast time more interesting. Just to have a change from toast in the mornings now and again is nice, so switching to crumpets or brioche makes a great alternative and takes no more time to prepare.

My top tip for breakfast times is definitely to delegate.  With Ian preparing the lunchboxes, the kids getting their school stuff ready the night before and Kizzy popping the bread in the toaster for Freddy and herself while I get Fred dressed, the stress levels are greatly diminished!

At weekends when time is not an issue, we have a later breakfast and enjoy egg or beans on toast....lovingly made by daddy!

My New Look Wish List

As a mum of three fashion conscious girls, I am a regular in New Look.  Much of  my daughters' clothing comes from there and I enjoy shopping with my favourite fashionistas as we browse the latest styles, fashions and trends. Although they enjoy picking out items to revamp their own wardrobes and to get the latest looks, they also encourage me to treat myself to some long overdue key pieces that will bring my dress sense up to date.  So next time I find myself shopping in New Look for Kizzy's latest party dress, Ella's latest skinny jeans or Meg's latest ankle boots, I will definitely be looking out for something for myself too!

The Monochrome Look

I really love the current trend for monochrome.  It is such an eye-catching style, reminiscent of the Mod era of the 60's.  New Look have a gorgeous range of dresses, trousers, tops and accessories that can give you this season's monochrome look.  You can go all out in black and white, or add a key piece to your everyday outfits to pay homage to this latest fashion must-have. I have chosen a wishlist outfit comprising of some of New Look's new seasonal lines.

The Te Amo chevron knitted jumper is a gorgeous design, with its flattering and very fashionable shape.  Teamed with some high waisted jeans this would look great and be comfortable to wear.  The Chelsea Boots are gorgeous and a real classic that can be worn throughout the season.  The Le Breve quilted jacket is stylish and practical and would be perfect at this time of year.  I can imagine going on a walk with the family wearing this outfit.  It'd look good and feel good to wear, being casual, comfy yet totally on trend.  I think my girls would approve too!

Te Amo Black and White Chevron Knitted Jumper £24.99 

High Waisted Jeans £22.99

Black Leather Chelsea Boots £69.99

Le Breve Black Quilted Jacket £69.99

Disclosure

Lovepickle if You Like it HOT!!

When it comes to spicy food, the hotter the better is Ian's motto.  So how could I resist letting him try this authentic Indian pickle made from premium ingredients.  Lovepickle is made from fresh tomato, chilli and a selection of quality spices to give a deliciously spicy kick to everyday dishes or to accompany an Indian meal.

Is it available in Mild, Medium, Hot and Extra Hot.  I went for Hot so that I could try some too.  Extra Hot with 50% extra chillies would have been just too much for me!  (In fact I'm probably more of a Mild girl these days!)

The flavour is rich, tangy and distinctive and not completely overpowered by the heat (although it does come with a very fiery kick!)  It is perfect with poppadoms but also is great in a sandwich.  Ian is adding some full-on oomph to his cheese sarnies at lunchtime and assures me that it is delicious.

The real beauty of Love Pickle is that it is very versatile.  It is an authentic condiment with Indian food, but it isn't out of place served as an alternative to ketchup or chutney with any meal.  If you like a bit of heat, Lovepickle will add a whole new dimension of flavour to your dinners.  With four different heat varieties, there will be a Lovepickle that will be just right to spice up your life!

Lovepickle Mild, Medium, Hot and Extra Hot is priced at £2.95 per jar. The full range is available to purchase directly from the website www.love-pickle.com and can be found in specialty food stores, delis as well as fine food shops and markets across the UK.

The product is made in the UK and does not contain any added colours, flavours or preservatives.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovepickleuk

Twitter: @Lovepickle_uk

Matt Hatter - Defending The Universe

There is a great comic for kids out this month based on the CITV animated series Matt Hatter, which airs at 7.40am on CITV and ITV1 every Saturday and Sunday.  The series tells the adventures of a 13 year old boy, Matt Hatter, whose life changes forever when he discovers his family are guardians of a secret dimension called the Multiverse.  The gateway to the Multiverse is accessed through The Coronet movie theatre, which is Matt’s home.  Famous villains from movies screened at The Coronet have escaped into the Multiverse and are now under the control of evil Lord Tenoroc.  In a quest to protect the Multiverse and save his Grandpa, Matt must become the new Hatter hero and together with his best friends Roxie and Gomez, defeat and capture the villains using their ultra-cool gadgetry.  Matt hatter will appeal to 5-10 years old, especially those who enjoy TV shows such as Ben 10.

I've been sent a copy of the comic Totally Matt Hatter for the kids to take a look at.  They are not familiar with the Matt Hatter brand but were happy to give it a read and play with the freebies that came with the comic. (That is always Freddy's favourite part of any comic!)

The comic itself is big and glossy and includes comic strips, a quiz, fun facts, puzzles, a poster and a section on how to draw Matt.  The free gift was a 3D Crossbow Blaster which can be used to shoot the cut out Spatter Trap creatures from the back cover.  The blaster shoots plastic discs and is quite lethal in the hands of a 3 and a half year old so beware!!  Much of the mag is in 3D and the funky Matt Hatter 3D multivision visor was quite a hit!  Kizzy enjoyed reading the comic strip with the added bonus of it being in 3D.

Totally Matt Hatter is aimed at gadget-loving boys aged 5-10 and is priced at £3.99.

Can You Can Save £££'s on Valentine's Day

In times of financial hardship, things like Valentine's Day can cause us unnecessary pressure as we want to spoil our loved ones, but can't afford to splash out a lot of cash.  If you have a spending budget for Valentine's Day in mind, you can make that money go further by opting for a home cooked special meal instead of dining out.  Enjoying a candlelit dinner for two at home can save a fortune in babysitting fees and taxis too.  An added bonus is you can both enjoy a tipple and get snuggly together in the privacy of your own home.

There are lots of ways that you can add to the occasion.  Poundland have a great range of novelty items for just £1 each so you can add some fun presents and decorations to the proceedings for just a few quid!

The quality, plastic gift bag is a perfect place to pop all your gifts to surprise your Valentine.  Poundland also stock cute teddy bears, Valentine's Day cards, toiletries, confectionery, candles and other heart emblazoned goodies to make the perfect romantic gesture for just £1.

To create the perfect ambience, they sell pink heart fairy lights, heart balloons, red napkins, love crackers and confetti.  The red, heart champagne flutes are a fun way of toasting your love to each other.  It's a lot of fun to enter into the spirit of the day, and you don't need to spend a lot at all.

My favourite thing is the Cupcake Set consisting of heart print cake cases and cake toppers in heart, lips, rose and love designs.  They will make cupcakes look perfect for the occasion.  Making a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes or Chocolate and Bailey's cupcakes using this set will make a wonderful, inexpensive, home made gift for a loved one.  I'll definitely be making some Valentine's Day cupcakes this year!

Valentine's Day doesn't need to cost much at all!  Even if you do plan on buying an expensive gift for your other half,  Poundland's bargains allow you to keep the theme of the day going which is something I really enjoy.  I love an excuse to include the children and let them celebrate the day too.  It's amazing how a few balloons, some heart-shaped choccies and some novelty tableware can make the day special for everyone.  And when those things only cost £1 each it is a very affordable way to spoil your loved ones!

www.poundland.co.uk

Disclosure: Poundland sent me and their other ambassadors some Valentine's Day goodies to enjoy.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Launches Joyville Made

Customise Cadbury Dairy Milk bars and send them to your friends and family

I love personalised gifts.  There is something so special about seeing your own name, a personal message or photograph emblazoned on a gift that thrills me much more than it should!  It transcends an ordinary gift into something that often generates far more excitement than the actual gift itself!   I'm not sure if it's because it takes a lot of thought from the gift giver, or simply because I'm a narcissist!

Almost everyone enjoys receiving chocolate as a gift.  Now, thanks to Joyville Made, you can personalise Cadbury choccie bars too!  Cadbury have just launched Joyville Made, which is an innovative online experience where you can customise two different sizes of Cadbury Dairy Milk, add a name or message on the front of the wrapper, and add a message to the back of the wrapper.  However, the customisation doesn’t stop with the packaging.  If anyone wants to make the present even better, they can add a unique web card, which displays more photos from Facebook and videos, all included in the cost of a bar.

Check out these screenshots for more details:

Go to www.joyvillemade.com

Choose the size bar you want to customize.

Use the online tools to add text and pics.

Create a unique webcard (the URL is included on the packaging)

Joyville Made allows us to put our own spin on this popular brand by creating deliciously unique gifts to send to friends and family.  I was over the moon to receive my very own 200g customised Cadbury Dairy Milk bar through the post.  The front had my name on it and the back included a photograph from Facebook and a link to my very own unique webcard.  When I opened the box I actually squealed a little bit, seeing my name on the iconic packaging. 

Anyone for a Wendy Bar?

Include a memorable photo on the back!

These bars would be great for Valentine's Day, birthdays or for any occasion. Or simply to let someone know that you are thinking of them.  It's a great and innovative idea from Cadbury.

Find out more at www.joyvillemade.com

Shake It Up with Magic Moves

Young children love playing pretend games and I'll often find Freddy pretending he is a dinosaur, a lion or a dog in the throes of some imaginary game he is playing!  They also love to move about: dancing, crawling, wriggling and jumping.  Magic Moves is an electronic light-up wand that combines these two activities to provide a toy that encourages exercise, creativity and listening skills.

With 90 fun creative movements and 26 musical tunes, the Magic Moves wand gets little ones up and moving as they follow the spoken commands and pretend to be an assortment of animals and objects and move around and interact  in special ways.  Being a wand, children can imagine themselves being magically transformed into a hopping frog or a stomping dinosaur as they enjoy this high energy, creatively expressive game.  To add to the magic, the wand has a light up bulb on both ends which play twenty-six different colourful, twinkling light shows.

I have been sent a Magic Moves wand for Freddy to try out.  The wand is easy for a little one to operate with a play button and a repeat button as controls.  Pressing play gives the child one of 90 different commands along with its music and light show.  Pressing repeat allows the child to hear the last command again.  Surprise commands enliven the game as children are told to Freeze, March or Dance along to one of three different style tunes (in Techno, Afro-Pop and Latin Salsa styles).  When the command is heard, children can imagine that they are a bouncing kangaroo or a spinning top and move around the room whilst the music plays.  It is a great way for them to get up and get active, whilst having some fun structure to their play.

Freddy, assisted by 10 year old big sister Kizzy really enjoyed playing with the Magic Moves wand and embarked on a session which entertained them (and me!)  The wand engages them in a play session that uses their imagination, exercises their bodies and encourages creative performance.  The lights, sounds and special commands add a real element of fun to playtime. It enhances listening skills, direction following, develops gross motor skills and also teaches some great vocabulary with verbs such as swooping, stomping and soaring allowing children to explore language and come up with their own ideas for movements. Freddy absolutely loves it.

The Magic Moves is an excellent educational resource for home or at school or nursery for children aged 3-7.  I think it is excellent and am really impressed with how engaged Freddy is when he plays with it.  It is also nice to have older kids and parents joining in, which is something little ones really enjoy.

The Magic Moves electronic wand can be bought from Learning Resources for £17.94 (VAT incl.)