Bonfire Night Food Review Round Up - featuring Heinz and #PopWorks

This weekend is set to go off with a bang as Bonfire Night is celebrated. It's a great time of year for families to get together to enjoy a bonfire party or a firework display. I've been sent some food samples that will make great additions to any November 5th celebrations.

Heinz Classic Soups

The nation's favourite canned soups make an easy, warming, wholesome treat for a cold autumnal evening. Served in a bowl or a cup, soup is the ultimate comfort food for this time of year. We received five vegetarian varieties from the Heinz Classic Soup range: tomato, carrot & coriander, potato & leek, vegetable and lentil.

All, bar the potato and leek soup, provide one of your five a day in each tasty serving and they keep you feeling full for longer making them a good food for anyone watching their waistlines in the run up to Christmas. They are also really good for when you are feeling full of cold!

Heinz Classic Cream of Tomato Soup is one of Freddy's favourite foods. He loves it as an after school snack and I'm happy he is getting something healthy and well balanced.

Find Heinz Classic Soups in supermarkets nationwide.


Pop Works Flavoured Popcorn

There is a new range of popcorn on the market for those looking for some unique, quirky tasting snacks that are a bit different to the norm. In Apple Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Peanut Butter & Caramel and Sweet & Salty flavours, it is perfect for sharing as you watch the fireworks!

Using a wet popping method, the popcorn is very light and crunchy. Each piece is lightly dusted with a delicious, flavoured coating for a taste sensation.

I received the Peanut Butter & Caramel flavour and the Sticky Toffee Pudding flavour to test out. They are extremely moreish! I liked the fact that they are dusted rather than coated with sticky caramel. It makes it easier to tuck in and share. The Peanut Butter & Caramel flavour was so good with the saltiness and sweetness combining nicely with a hint of peanuts for a very tasty satisfying snacking experience. Pop Works popcorn is a really fun treat from a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously - but that knows how to make a seriously good snack.

Pop Works popcorn is available in supermarkets nationwide priced at £1.49 for a 90g bag.

Mr Tumble's Christmas Party album out on November 4th

This festive season will be made even more magical as little ones will be able to listen to Mr Tumble's first ever album, Mr Tumble's Christmas Party. Featuring twenty much loved Christmas classics, children will be able to sing along to favourites such as Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frozen's Do You Want To Build a Snowman. Each track has a Mr Tumble twist, keeping little fans enthralled and entertained. Each track has been newly recorded and sung by Mr Tumble and his popular friends, Justin, Lord Tumble, Aunt Polly and Grandad Tumble!

Justin Fletcher, the man behind the CBeebies character Mr Tumble, has previously enjoyed chart success and already has a gold selling album to his name! I'm sure Mr Tumble's Christmas Party will be equally well received by pre-schoolers, and will make a brilliant stocking filler.

Justin's distinctive voice and child-friendly delivery is instantly recognisable on the tracks. Little ones will really enjoy spending Christmas listening to these familiar and much loved characters and will know a fair few of the songs too. It'll be perfect for Christmas parties, get togethers or for listening to on car journeys, building the excitement of the season. It is an album designed with the youngest audience in mind and they will love it.

Mr Tumble's Christmas Party album is released on November 4th and is available on Amazon for pre-order priced at £9.99 for the CD (correct at time of writing). It's also available to download. So get into the festive spirit, sing along and have a Something Special Christmas Party with the family!

Tracklist:

1             Here Comes Santa Claus

2             Do You Wanna Build a Snowman

3             Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4             Winter Wonderland

5             Frosty the Snowman

6             It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

7             A Sleigh Ride Together with You

8             White Christmas

9             I Can't Wait for Christmas

10          Silent Night

11          Let it Snow

12          Jingle Bells

13          All I want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth

14          Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

15          Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

16          12 Days of Christmas

17          Little Drummer Boy

18          The Xmas Song

19          Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas Time

20          We Wish You a Merry Xmas

CBeebies Kazoops songs released on new album Just Imagine Volume 1

Little fans of the CBeebies show Kazoops, which launched earlier this year, have now got another way to enjoy their favourite show. The music from the top rated animated  TV series, has just been released for the first time on album by children’s TV producer, Cheeky Little Media. ‘Just Imagine – Volume 1’ contains a total of 20 original songs from the popular Kazoops series. It's available from digital service providers including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and Youtube. Fans of the pre-school TV series will be able to either buy the whole album for £7.99 or choose individual songs to download. 

Kazoops stars six year old Monty, who challenges life’s questions both big and small with the help of his limitless imagination and his best friend, Jimmy Jones, the family's pet pig. In each episode, the duo enters make-believe worlds to challenge everyday preconceptions, finding the answers to questions such as 'do all games need rules?' Each episode includes an original song, written and performed by Scott Langley, which inspires children by highlighting the magic and power of their imaginations. With clever, funny lyrics and combining a number of musical instruments and genres, they complement the show but also make lovely standalone songs for pre-schoolers to enjoy.

With titles such as 'Matching Socks', 'Rain Song', 'Space Games' and 'Celebrate', the songs feature ideas and concepts that kids will relate to. The songs don't patronise the young listeners, concentrating on quality rather than gimmicks. They have educational content and explore things in an interesting child friendly way. Even grown-ups can enjoy the songs and might find themselves singing along!

You can watch a YouTube video of one of the songs 'Dino Saurus Games' by clicking the button below. We love the quirky animation, cute characters, funny lyrics and the catchy tune. If you haven't discovered Kazoops already, give it a go!

The album has launched in English but will be followed by a subsequent global music release in 2017 in 18 other languages. You can find Kazoops Just Imagine Volume 1 on Amazon now.

Digital Kids Show at Event City Manchester #DigiKids

We were invited to attend the Digital Kids Show held at Event City in Manchester this weekend. This brand new event showcases the latest in kids' tech, toys, games, apps and devices, alongside lots of exciting activities and opportunities to meet and greet some of the UK's best YouTubers.

Both 7 year old Freddy and 14 year old Kezia came to the event with us, and we spent the whole day there (with an hour taken at lunchtime to pop to the Trafford Centre for food - the catering at the event wasn't great for vegetarians).

There are lots of stands at the event with exhibitors such as YouTube Kids, Scalextrix and CBBC.

You can learn about internet safety, discover new STEM toys, listen to stories, play with apps, do some crafts and try yoga. There is an inflatable planetarium where Freddy learned about the star constellations and he visited the moon using a VR headset with Google Expeditions.

Much of the show is dedicated to gaming and whether you want to do some retro gaming, play Minecraft, test drive racing games, experience VR or try out the latest games on the XBox One, there is something for everyone.

The main stage had a line up including Q&A's with YouTubers such as Netty Plays, Smallish Beans, Ethan Gamer, Ash Dubh, LD Shadow Lady and Amy Lee. There were performances from BGT finalists Mythical PSM and Boogie Storm, which we enjoyed. There was also organised meets and greets for autographs and photos with the vloggers.

Highlights of the day included the inflatable Wipe Out equipment which Freddy loved. It was great to get him doing some physical challenges, competing against other kids in such a fun environment.

The Young Driver lessons were brilliant. Freddy drove a Firefly designed for kids aged 5 to 10 and Kezia drove a real full size car, giving her a taste of the road. They both did really well behind the wheel. What a fantastic opportunity and all included in the ticket price!

Freddy discovered Magformers a new construction STEM toy that uses magnetic geometric shapes to build 3D structures. He loved it so much we bought him a set (review to follow). It is a great educational toy that sparks imagination and helps brain development.

We enjoyed a full and action packed day. There was some queuing involved, as is the case with any event and the wi-fi wasn't great inside the venue, but aside from that it was a great experience giving both Freddy and Kezia a chance to try new things. I liked the mix of physical activities alongside the gaming and tech opportunities. There was lots to see and do and learn.

Full and half day tickets are still available for tomorrow (October 30th) priced from £12.50. Most activities are included and Dick and Dom will be there too.

Find out more at: http://www.digitalkidsshow.co.uk/

Num Noms Halloween Fun #SpookySenses

This Halloween, Num Noms have come up with a fun Trick or Treat Game and a Num Noms inspired spooky recipe, perfect to keep little ones entertained this weekend. 

The Num Noms Trick or Treat Game is a blindfold guessing game where the kids get to eat mystery foods, some delicious as a treat, some slightly more gross or unexpected as a trick. When you are blindfolded it is always a bit nerve wracking putting unknown food into your mouth. Use food such as sweets, crisps or fruit as the treats and use things such as olives, cold beans or pickles as the tricks. You could even award a prize to the person who correctly guesses what they have eaten. The Num Noms blind packs make great little party prizes. Tasting games use the senses of smell and taste and are a fun sensory experience for little ones.

The Num Noms Crispy M Mallow Brains recipe is a spooky take on the classic puffed rice and marshmallow cake, inspired by the M Mallow Num Nom, which is shaped and decorated like oozy brains! They are a no-cook recipe which can be done under adult supervision. Younger children will enjoy helping to mix the rice pops into the melted marshmallow mix, shape and decorate the brains.

Inspired by the collectible, scented, stackable, mix and matchable Num Noms toys, both activities will add to the spirit of the season for any party or Halloween get together.

Just click on the image of  the activity sheet above to open it up and print off.

Doing our #FrubesMoves with Angry Birds

When it comes to fun family films, The Angry Birds Movie was such an absolute unexpected gem. We saw it at the cinema, knowing that 7 year old Angry Birds fan Freddy was going to love it, but were totally delighted when we were just as enthralled! We all agreed that they did a great job of creating some hilarious characters and an exciting storyline from the iconic game.

Frubes, the squeezy tubes of yummy yogurt, have partnered up with Angry Birds, with each tube featuring a favourite character from the movie. Red, Chuck, Bomb, Terrence, Mighty Eagle, Matilda and the Pigs add some extra fun to each tube. In strawberry, red berry, peach and banana flavours, they contain added calcium and vitamin D, both essential for strong, healthy bone growth in children and are suitable for vegetarians. Frubes are offering families the chance to win a holiday in the Bahamas to celebrate their partnership with The Angry Birds Movie. Hurry though, the promotion ends on October 31st. Just buy a promotional pack and enter the unique code online for your chance to win a holiday in the sun for your brood.

As well as entering the competition, you can take part in a crazy online dance off game. You can pick the characters, the stage, the moves and the music, and then egg on the birds or the pigs in the ultimate dance battle. Only one side can win. Can you pick the winner? Will it be a case of Strictly Ham Dancing or Dancing in the Tweets? I particularly enjoy the pigs' dancing, they really know how to hog the dance floor! Some funky and funny moves certainly go down on both sides of the dance off, inspiring kids to get up and boogie along, busting their own Frubes Moves.

Britmums have challenged bloggers to share their own family's Frubes Moves, seeing whether our style is more Angry Bird or naughty Pig. My Freddy has always loved dancing. Ever since he was a baby, the sound of music just gets into his soul and he can't resist the urge to move to the beat. From snake hip wiggles to street dance jiggles, I love watching him strut his stuff. However, as he gets older, the insecurity of performing in front of other people means he is a little less free with his spontaneous public dance routines. But you can still catch him re-enacting the dance scenes from Teen Beach Movie or grooving along to the latest YouTube sensation (Pen Pineapple Apple Pen is his current favourite!) Dancing is such great exercise for kids and it gives them the freedom to express themselves through movement.

As a family, we often put on a record from our vinyl collection, switch on our mini disco ball (yes we do actually have one!) and have an old school family disco. I think it's important that we can all get together, throw out our inhibitions and do some crazy dance moves to some 80's compilation LPs, old Disney collections or to my own personal favourite, Bat Out of Hell. It is stress relieving, it boosts confidence and gets us all up and moving.

I asked Freddy to create his own Frubes Moves dance. He used some Frubes as props, put on his Angry Birds T-shirt and rocked out some super funky moves!

There were some shimmies, dabs, whips, nae naes and some old skool moving and grooving - but most impressive of all was the Tail Feather Shaking! Very appropriate for The Angry Birds Movie! I think that Freddy would definitely win a dance off against both the pigs and the birds using these moves!

Frubes are available to purchase in leading supermarkets for £2 RRP. Find details of the competition and play the Dance Off game at https://angrybirds.frubes.co.uk.

This post is an entry for BritMums’ #FrubesMoves Linky Challenge, sponsored by Frubes.

Celebrate The World of Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is an iconic children's book that has enthralled little ones since its first release in 1969. Over the years the beautiful classic, designed, written and illustrated by the  amazing Eric Carle, has become a firm favourite in many households. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was the first book that Freddy developed an attachment to. Whenever I'd pick him up from nursery he'd be lying on a rug in the book corner, listening to the audio book while following the story on the colourful pages. He could recite all the words and knew all the food that the caterpillar gobbled up on his journey to become a butterfly. It's a very special book to us.

The World of Eric Carle is a range of new, exciting products based on the books and artwork of the man himself. Created by a number of companies, the range includes plush toys, puzzles, games, homeware, ceramics, clothing and partyware. I have received a selection of wonderful items based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar to review, and can honestly say that they are all so gorgeous! They have all the charm, nostalgia and magic of the classic book, embracing the gentle illustrations and original style, whilst staying modern, fresh and relevant to kids of today.

The range includes greeting cards. The birthday boy and girl designs are colourful and come in a sunshine yellow envelope, guaranteed to brighten up the birthday boy or girl's day.

Carrying on from the birthday theme, the range includes partyware for themed party clebrations, perfect for little ones. The 3m long paper garland comes with sixteen motifs, such as the caterpillar, his food and a rainbow, pre-strung with green cord. The table napkins feature strawberries and the caterpillar and come in a pack of 20 x 3 ply paper napkins.

I absolutely love this Nature Walk Scrapbook, which comes with 70 stickers. It encourages children out into the outdoors where they can try to spot all the wonderful plants and animals around them. The pages invite children to record their findings by drawing pictures or sticking things in or even by leaving a muddy welly print on the page. It is beautifully illustrated, with engaging words and interactive activities for little nature hunters to enjoy.

My Natural Trail Adventure is a 2 in 1 jigsaw puzzle and counting fun set. It contains a big 36 piece 40 x 40cm puzzle. It is double sided, with one side featuring insects that can be coloured in once the puzzle is completed. The activity book features lots of full colour, simple counting picture puzzles for little children. The chunky box has a velcro fastener to keep everything safe inside.

The 4-in-1 Games Box includes Matching Bingo, 4 Shapes-in-a-Row, Snap and Twisted Pairs  games. The chunky playing pieces teach shape recognition, picture matching, memory and turn taking skills. Everything fits into the cube box and has a cord handle for carrying it around. It is aimed at children aged 3+ due to having small pieces.

This activity set comes in a beautiful, reusable metal tin. Inside there are 3 fun pads filled with colouring in pages and activity puzzles, 4 felt tip pens, 50 stickers and a double sided poster that has one side for colouring in. There is plenty here to keep children occupied and entertained on rainy days.

My absolutely favourite piece is this beautiful Caterpillar Shaped Party Plate from Portmeirion. It has four sections across the body of the caterpillar, perfect for holding small snacks such as pieces of fruit. It would be lovely on a themed party table, but is equally good for using all year round. Children would be encouraged to eat their fruit knowing how much The Very Hungry Caterpillar enjoys eating his! It is a high quality item, made with attention to detail and  true to the illustrations of Eric Carle. It would make a lovely collectible piece for Portmeirion collectors with fond memories of the book. Portmeirion also do a range of other ceramic gifts such as figurines, moneybox, mugs and bookends, all featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

This duvet cover and pillowcase set is suitable for cot bed sized duvets, so is perfect for a toddler's nursery. It has a gentle design featuring the caterpillar and his food. The pillowcase is reversible so you can choose between the same design as is on the duvet cover, or go for a big caterpillar with the wording "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". If this book is a child's favourite bedtime story, just imagine how comforting it would be for them to immerse themselves in the familiar illustrations as they snuggle down to sleep.

The World of Eric Carle products promote the joy of playful learning and discovery, inspiring children to explore and grow. There are products for play, for wearing, for cuddling, for bedtime, for parties and for being out and about. The Very Hungry Caterpillar can accompany little ones through many aspects of their lives, bringing familiarity, comfort, fun and inspiration.

You can find information on the products from the World of Eric Carle on the official World of Eric Carle Facebook Page. They make wonderful Christmas presents for children, with products suitable for all ages.