20 December 2017

Review: Pretty Gifted Personalised Gift Wrap

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I love giving gifts to family and friends and getting to wrap the gift is all part of the magic. I never understand why some people dislike wrapping presents so much. I honestly love nothing better than sitting down to wrap some gifts with music on in the background and a glass of fizz in hand. There’s just something so nice about it all. It’s even nicer when you have fabulous wrapping paper to snuggle the gifts in too. That’s why personalised gift wrap from Pretty Gifted is perfect to show the recipient how much thought you’ve put into their gift.


Pretty Gifted offer affordable bespoke foiled gift wraps which look and feel luxurious to the eye and touch. It instantly adds a personal touch to your gifts and will be well and truly appreciated by the gift receiver. Pretty Gifted have a wide range of personalisation options to choose from and the paper, colours and fonts have all been chosen to complement one another. It really couldn’t be easier to use either. It’s a 3 step process with paper selection first, font style next then onto the metallic foil choice. It’s so simple.


So how did I get on using the website and ordering my own gorgeous gift wrap? Well in short it was effortless even my 8 year old son could do it without hassle. Pretty Gifted even have an inspiration section to get the creative juices flowing before you start! After navigating to the Make portion of the website I began Step 1 and chose my paper. I was going to use this gift wrap for my son’s 8th birthday present so I wanted something he would like. I choose to use Silver paper and moved onto Step 2.


Step 2 was selecting the Font. There are five different fonts to choose from all just as lovely as each other. There’s Candy, Split, Monster, Arro and Lulu. I choose Monster as that seemed funky and cool for an 8 year old. Step 3 was choosing a foil colour for the writing on the gift wrap. I choose Aqua as it just stood right out on the silver paper. You can also choose Silve, Gold, Copper or Rainbow. I really like the idea of rainbow for myself.


Last but not least you have to write what message you wanted repeated on the gift wrap (maximum 60 characters). I choose Happy Birthday Logan with his date of birth and what time he was born to make it super special. I then decided to have the font size as medium (8mm tall) and added in a little lightening bolt icon to separate the text. There are 11 different icons to choose from. At the end you get to preview your design before you order which is very handy. You then select how many sheets you would like (each sheet is 70cm x 50cm) – 1, 3 or 5 and add to cart. One sheet costs £7.95, three sheets cost £18.95 and five sheets cost £29.95. They’re pretty big so could wrap a decent sized present or a handful depending on what size they are. It’s worth noting the prices include carriage and a free gel pen plus luxury gift tag which is a really nice touch.


Once I received the gift wrap I was pleasantly surprised by how thick and strong it was. It made wrapping Logan’s gift so much easier and I can confirm the cello tape stuck to it just fine with no issues. I’ve heard horror stories of luxury gift wrap not being compatible with cello tape but this definitely didn’t happen here. You can see for yourself from the photos.

Overall I was really pleased with my experience of the Pretty Gifted website and their product is as lovely as promised. Logan was really happy to read the wrapping when he received his gift and I would highly recommend to friends and family for that extra special touch.

I was sent this gift wrap free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

19 December 2017

Fabulous Christmas Gifts for 3 Year Olds

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With Christmas literally around the corner now I thought I’d put together a lovely little gift guide for 3 year olds. My daughter will be turning 3 in January and below are some of the nice things she would love to receive from Santa this year. She really hasn't asked for much at all so maybe she'll get what's on her list. So read on for some inspiration for those last minute gift ideas of your own.


Fairy Tale Dome Musical Jewellery Box
If your daughter or son is like mine then they’ll be in desperate need of a storage box to keep all their cute dressing up jewellery in. Harlow has such a range of her own but keeps losing it amoungst her teddies and books! That’s why I love this gorgeous fairy tale dome musical jewellery box from Lucky Locket. Not only will is keep all her jewellery in one place but it’ll keep her amused with a dancing fairy and soothing music.

Feisty Pets
Who doesn’t want a pet that looks sweet but also doubles as a fierce bouncer for your tea parties! Feisty Pets are the newest trendy toy sweeping the web. They look super innocent but as soon as you squeeze their cheeks a snarling feisty side comes out. You’d think some kids would be terrified of these but Harlow saw them and laughed! Says it all really.

My Pocket Money Toy Subscription Box

This is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’re really stuck for ideas then this is the perfect present for you. It’s a toy subscription box that you can sign up to and have delivered straight to your door. You can of course get one off boxes however I think a 3 month subscription is pretty good to see how you get on. We’ve had these boxes and personally love them. Kids love getting mail and even better when it’s a box crammed full of quality children’s goodies.

Moluk Rain Cloud
Having fun at bath time is what we’re all about in our house (when I can get the kids in the bath that is) so to tempt the kids into the bath with eagerness you really should purchase one of these fab Rain Clouds from Moluk. They’re so easy to open and wash as well so can be used again and again unlike other bath toys. Definitely well worth a purchase and they’d make a great stocking filler.

Build a Bear Soft Toy
My daughter loves cuddly toys. Her room is bursting with them at the moment and we some how seem to acquire more. I don’t mind when they’re good quality toys though and that’s why this year I’ll be treating her to a Build a Bear Horse! There’s so many designs to choose from of course but Harlow loves horses and I cannot wait to see her face when she opens up the box.

14 December 2017

Review: Googly Fruit - The Perfect Snack for Little People

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I don't know about you but I'm always on the look out for new, exciting and healthy snack ideas for my toddler. She can be a bit of a fuss pot at times so trying to get the good stuff down her neck can be quite the challenge when she's not playing ball. Step up to the bat then Googly Fruit who have given fruit and veg a fantastic makeover to cater for little taste buds.

New brand Googly Fruit Organic are on a mission to help kids make a lifelong friendship with fruit and veg. They make eating fruit and veg fun for toddlers, with their range of tasty and attractive 100% organic fruit and veg snacks. Harlow was lucky enough to be sent a hamper of all the tasty treats to try out, even her big brother got stuck in too. Here's what we thought.


Crunchy Puffs
First up to the taste test was the Crunchy Puffs. Harlow was sent 3 packets of these each a different flavour to try out. There is; Corn, Banana & Strawberry, Corn & Carrot and Corn & Tomato. Harlow loved the design of the packaging and thought the fruit and veg looked funny with their big googly eyes. They come in 20g bags and each packet has a different shaped crunchy snack. They're basically like crisps but a hundred times healthier. So the Corn & Carrot had long finger shaped puffs, the Corn & Tomato had wheel shaped puffs and the Corn, Banana & Strawberry had heart shaped puffs. The Corn & Carrot and Corn, Banana & Strawberry were definitely Harlow's favourites. I loved the taste of the Corn, Banana & Strawberry myself and could see me purchasing them for my own lunch! The Corn & Tomato sadly wasn't as tasty as we had hoped and was a bit bland. These might be good however for younger children who are doing baby led weaning.


Squeezy Pouches
You're never too old for a squeezy pouch and the variety from Googly Fruit had Harlow humming with delight. We received 5 different flavoured pouches and Harlow loved them all. I love these squeezy pouches too as they're so handy to throw in my handbag or Harlow's little back pack when we're on the go, they're easy to open and store and there's no hassle or mess. Harlow really thought they were all super tasty with flavours including; Apple, Sweet Potato & Clementine, Apple, Blueberry & Purple Carrot, Apple, Mango & Peach, Apple, Pear, Carrot & Pumpkin and Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry & Raspberry. All brilliant and perfect for a snack before dinner.


Real Fruit made Crunchy
Last but not least is the Googly Fruit real fruit made crunchy. I think these are totally amazing and will definitely be purchasing them for the kids in future. They're basically resealable pouches of freeze-dried fruit and oh my goodness they taste delicious. My mouth is literally watering thinking about them. The whole family enjoyed these pouches of yummy goodness and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to try something a bit different. There's 3 different flavoured pouches in the range; Banana & Raspberry, Apple & Blueberry and Strawberry. Definitely go get some if you can.

Googly Fruit really is a fab new company and all these goodies can be purchased directly from Ocado, Superdrug or KidsChoo. Myself and the hubby were really impressed with this children's food brand and think the quality, flavour and price are all on point. Why not treat the little ones in your family to an amazing Googly Fruit Organic hamper this Christmas!

I was sent a hamper of Googly Fruit Organic to try in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

13 December 2017

What Does Mum Really Want for Christmas

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Christmas is a time for joy and festive celebrations but it often leaves us mum's a little frazzled and stressed trying to make everything perfect. I always panic that I don't have enough for the kids and spend far too much. Then on Christmas Day I'm like why did Santa bring all this stuff!! So to make mum feel better about the Christmas stress why not treat her to something she would really appreciate. Read on to see a few of my suggestions for what mum's really want for Christmas.



Peaceful Bath
We're constantly bathing the kids but how often do us mum's ever get the chance to enjoy a relaxing bath on our own with peace and quiet? Not often enough I know. I can count on one hand how many baths I've managed to achieve this year and it's not many. I've had to go for the quick shower dash instead. So I'd really love a quiet peaceful bath this year and to help me relax some nice bath bombs from lush and a few scented relax candles wouldn't go amiss. Just saying!

Cosy Slippers
I never ever used to wear slippers but I now find I need some extra cosyness for my toes as they get quite cold these days. I'm also running around like a loony back and forward to the bins outside, running round to the neighbours etc and I don't want to be faffing around putting shoes on and off all the time so I need some cosy slippers to keep my feet warm. I've spied a gorgeous pair of fleece slippers from Hunkemoller that will do the trick nicely.

A Long Lie
I seriously do not know what a long lie is anymore!! My kids get up at 6am, 7am if I'm lucky, and I really would like a lie in just one day a month maybe. Is that too much to ask for? To help with said requested lie in I could probably do with a fabulous eye mask to keep my eyes fresh and block out the pesky light. Maybe throw in a few ear plugs as well to banish the wails of my two kids when they start annoying each other.

Luxury Chocolates
Being the amazing mum/goddess that I am I really do deserve some treats as a thank you/sacrifice for all the hard work and time I dedicate to my family every year. This is why only the nicest luxury chocolates will do and this cute box from Not On The High Street look delicious.

Personalised Family Necklace
Now us mums may moan how hard we have it every now and again (a lot) however that doesn't mean we don't love our family dearly. To show our joy and pride at raising such wonderful young people I'm sure every mum would love one of these stunning personalised duchess necklaces by Merci Maman. It's perfect for keeping your family close to your heart.

8 December 2017

How to Make Christmas Magical for Kids

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It’s getting so close to Christmas now I can almost taste the turkey and cranberry sauce! It’s one of my favourite times of the year and I can’t wait to start wrapping presents and listening to Christmas songs with a glass of prosecco in hand. Every year though I really want to do something lovely for the kids and with them too. I like to try different things and make Christmas as magical as possible for them so I’m sharing my ideas with you all so you can make Christmas magical too. Read on to see how to make Christmas magical for the kids.

Advent Book Calendar
The past few Christmases I’ve noticed a lot of parents starting to take part in a book advent calendar for their children. It’s simple, fun and easy to do and reasonably cheap as well. You basically purchase/ acquire 24 Christmas themed books, wrap them in Christmas paper and have the kids open one on each advent day to read together. It’s a great way of getting into the Christmas mood, boosting reading skills and having some nice bonding time with your little ones. The books don’t have to be bought brand new either. You can easily get them from charity chops or second hand markets or why not swap a few with friends.


Elf On The Shelf
If you haven’t heard of Elf on the shelf then where have you been for the last 2 years!? Parents across the land have been adopting a little toy elf over the festive period to make Christmas more fun and to hopefully get the kids to behave a bit better. The elf stays a toy by day but magically comes alive at night (with the help of parents) and gets up to all sorts of cheeky fun. The elf usually leaves a task or two for the kids to do and also some treats along the way. Great idea if you have some spare time and a fab imagination. I’ve yet to do my own Elf on the shelf!

Christmas Eve Box
I started doing a Christmas eve box around 4 years ago and it’s the best thing ever. It’s a lovely little pre-Christmas day gift for the kids and something to wet their appetite for the big unwrapping bonanza on Christmas day. Some people purchase very fancy personalised boxes, and I should really do this, however I’ve stuck with a wicker basket with some festive red shredded paper and it still looks nice. I normally fill the Christmas eve box with a new set of pjs, a Christmas DVD to watch, favourite sweeties, chocolate coins, Santa key so he can get in our house, cosy bed socks, a new Christmas book and any sort of little Christmas themed items I find when I have a nosey around the shops. The kids love it and it doesn’t cost a lot to do.


Visiting Santa
Christmas wouldn’t be magical without the big man himself so it’s only natural that some children will want to visit Santa. I say some as we recently had the pleasure of visiting Santa and Harlow wasn’t impressed. In fact she hid from him behind my chair! I’m sure she’ll come round eventually. Logan on the other hand really enjoyed seeing Santa and chatted away to him quite happily. There’s normally lots of local Santa visiting opportunities but we went to Santa’s Cove at the intu Breahead shopping centre in Glasgow in case you fancy that one. A quick check of Facebook or Google should inform you of local events though.

Christmas Parties
I don’t know about your kids but mine love a party so any excuse for a dance and games is right up their street. There’s usually some parties at the local school and toddler groups but we have a few soft plays around Fife which host their own Christmas parties for kids to attend as well. Bongos Soft Play in Glenrothes is usually a really good one. I’m hoping Fife Zoo will have a party at their Sloth Play as well because they did their Halloween party so well in October this year.


Christmas Markets
It’s not something I’ve really done as they’re quite busy but Christmas markets definitely get you in the mood and feeling magical. There’s normally some rides and activities for the kids as well so worth looking into. I know that our nearest big Christmas market always has lots of fab things happening and this year there’ll be a Santa train, big wheel, ice rink, festive grotto and even some fab theatre shows on offer. Well worth a visit even just to walk round as the sights and smells of Christmas are amazing.

Christmas Light Shows
This year seems to be very popular with the light shows doing the rounds. A few close by to us in Fife which look really promising are the Five Sisters Zoo Illuminations and the Giant Lanterns of China at Edinburgh Zoo. We've never been to a light show before but thought it would be pretty good to visit one soon. I'm sure the boy would love it.


3 December 2017

What Every 8 Year Old Wants for Christmas

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Christmas is now in full swing and it's time to start getting your loved ones some fantastic gifts they'll truly appreciate. I have quite a few people to buy for this year and one of the most important is my son Logan. He's getting older now (almost 8) and luckily still believes in Santa, which is really nice, so this time of year is always magical for us. With getting that bit older it's harder to find gifts that he doesn't already have or something that'll tickle his fancy. I'm sure there's a few of us in the same boat so I've put together a lovely gift guide for ideas on what every 8 year old really wants from Santa this Christmas.


Augmented Reality Books
Technology has moved so quickly over the last few years that we now have totally awesomely cool augmented reality books at our disposal. All you need is some sort of tablet device (usually an iPad) for them to work and away you go. Carlton Books have a ton of amazing AR books on offer so do check them out. One of our favourites is the Jurassic World book.

Horror Sound Machine
What kid doesn't love a cheeky little sound machine and they certainly won't be disappointed with the Horror Sound Machine from What2Buy4Kids. It's a snip at £8.99 and would make the perfect stocking filler from Santa. With 16 creepy sound effects such as screams, cackles and spine-chilling music, it's perfect for playing tricks on friends and family but is also great for encouraging children to make up their own spooky stories. Well worth a purchase as it's something totally different but sooo fun! To make it even better I have a 10% off discount code you can use for What2Buy4Kids as well. Simply enter BREASTNEWS2018 at the checkout.

Micro-scooters
This year most of Logan's friends seem to have gone up to 2 wheeled scooters and it's something he's noticed and fancied for himself. He is a lot bigger and taller now and feels he's too grown up for his 3 wheeled Micro-scooter. We've had Micro-scooters from when he was a tot and really like the brand and build of the machines. Lucky for us, and you, they have tons of scooters in their range to choose from and even though they are a bit more expensive they are well worth the investment.

Cozmo the Robot
Last year it was Anki Overdrive and this year it's Cozmo the cute little Robot. We saw this last year when it was released in the US and couldn't wait to get our hands on it for Logan this year. Cozmo is a charming and intelligent robotic sidekick that explores, remembers and reacts to his environment and to you as a person. Logan is fascinated by artificial intelligence at the moment so this will be right up his street. Cozmo is currently retailing for around £159.99 and you can even get a smart carry case to keep him in.

Fingerlings
This years must have present seems to be Fingerlings. They're baby monkeys who come to life with over 50 animations to let you know how they feel. How cute is that! You can swing them, pet them, hug them, kiss them and rock them to sleep. Everything your kids will probably love. You can even buy a play gym for them. The only trouble is they're like gold dust so if it's on your little ones list this Christmas you best start looking. The retail price for these are £14.99.

15 November 2017

Review: Prestige Hampers

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Every year it gets more and more difficult to decide what to get for our loved ones. Kids are quite easy but the adults of the family, including grandparents, are always a bit of a struggle. They tend to have everything they need and buy what they want when they want it so it's hard to get something that will be appreciated. This is where Prestige Hampers comes in. Prestige Hampers are an online gift service based in Cheshire that specialise in hampers containing only the finest foods and wines. I was very excited to receive my hamper so let me tell you all about it.


Prestige Hampers sent me a lovely Cheese and Wine gift basket which is my absolute fav. I love a good bit of cheese and always go for the cheese board dessert option when it's on the menu. A couple of years ago before the toddler was born I used to make my own foodie hampers as gifts for relatives. I quite enjoyed doing this however I really don't have the time required to complete a fabulous hamper anymore. It makes me happy though that Prestige Hampers can fill that void.


Inside my Cheese and Wine gift basket there was; Wendsleydale with Cranberries 100g, Waxed Cheese with Red Wine and Chilli 100g, Waxed Cheese Double Gloucester 100g, Louis Filipe Cabernet Sauvignon 37.5cl, Beetroot and Orange Chutney by Mrs Bridges 130g and Walkers Highland Oatcakes 280g. Not to forget the handmade country style basket which the recipients can keep after they've finished their treats.


Priced at £34.99, but currently on offer for £29.99, it's the perfect gift for the Granny's and Grandad's or Mummy's and Daddy's. I love a food themed gift myself. It's tasty, brings you joy, can be shared and doesn't take up room! What's not to love. I'm not a fan of the tat gifts so this is the perfect thing for me.


Prestige Hampers offer a wide range of gifts on their site with a price to suit all budgets. There's Christmas Hampers, Festive Food Hampers, Sweet Hampers, Chocolate Hampers, Fruit Baskets, Beer Hampers, Champagne Hampers, even hampers for Pets!! Price range is from as little at £9.99 all the way up to £1,000. They honestly have tons of fab hampers to look through so do have a nosey. Another good thing is that they deliver right up to Christmas Eve which is great for a last minute gift if you're struggling for ideas or have forgotten something.

I was sent the hamper shown in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


14 November 2017

Look Stylish This Winter with LOTD

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Winter is definitely coming. You can feel it in the air, the crisp frost in the grass and the low rise and fall of the sun. I do really enjoy this time of year but I totally have to update my wardrobe with some new pieces to keep me warm and stylish through the colder months. So I was delighted when LOTD (Look Of The Day) got in touch and offered me some lovely clothes to review.

LOTD were generous enough to let me choose a few items from their website so I opted for a cosy jacket, knitted jumper, slogan tee and simple nude earrings. Since it's currently freezing outside I'll start with the jacket. It's described on the website as a Black Long Oversized Coat With Faux Fur Hood and I chose this particular jacket because it was slightly longer, had a nice warm hood and was black in colour so would go with anything really. It's the perfect jacket for casual or office work wear and it definitely keeps you warm. At only £35 it's a complete bargain too and really did meet all my expectations. I ordered a medium (size 10-12) but wished I had went for the large only to accommodate my larger bust. So something to think about when ordering.


Next up is the knitted jumper which is described as a Mustard Distressed Straight Ribbed Knitted Jumper on the LOTD website. The colour is fabulous and even though it has the fashionable distressed ribbed detail down either side it really does keep you warm and cosy. If I'm wearing this on the school run I don't bother to wear a coat as I'm out of the car and into the school within minutes still warm and snug. The jumper is easy to wear and could be dressed up with heels if you wish but I'm sticking to boots at the moment. At £20 this jumper is a snip and I choose the M/L size as I love big jumpers.


You really can't beat a slogan tee can you. I have several in my wardrobe so when I laid eyes on the LOTD "This Girl Can" t-shirt I had to have it. It looks great underneath my gorgeous new jacket and comes in red and white also if you fancy something other than black. At £8 for this beautiful tee you'd be silly not to buy it. I've worn and washed this t-shirt a few times and had no bother with fading/shrinkage etc so it really is well worth a purchase.


Last but not least I snapped up some lovely Nude Cube Earrings for £2 people! They are very comfy to wear, not heavy at all and don't fall out. They have a gold coloured mount and backing so you can really wear them with anything. I've been throwing them on for work or when I'm with the kids at home as they don't get in the way but make me feel lovely. There's something nice about wearing earrings and not having to worry about a small toddler getting their hands on them.


I was sent a bundle of clothing in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

7 November 2017

Imagination Fun at Little World of Play

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Having fun and letting your imagination run wild has to be one of the best things about being a child. Recently Harlow was invited along to Little World of Play, a local soft play centre, to try out their fun, exciting and very different set up. I've classed the business as a soft play however they are so much more! Read on to see what Harlow got up to and what Little World of Play are really all about.


"Imagination is more important than knowledge" a very strong quote and statement from Albert Einstein and one which Little World of Play definitely live by. You see not only does Little World of Play have soft play equipment but they also have a fabulous miniature town for your little one to enjoy. I've honestly never seen anything like it in Scotland before and it's breaking the mold for children's play centres.


Little World of Play have a different style of booking as well. They're very busy, as you can imagine, so to make it easier for parents and carers they have an online booking system where you can book one of three slots per day. There's 9.30am, 12.30pm or 3.30pm. The 3.30pm slot is only offered on certain days. Between each slot employees tidy up the mini town so the next lot of children can come into it all set up. Very well thought out. Booking is 100% advisable as they're often fully booked and will put updates to say such on their Facebook page. Pricing is reasonable with adults free, under 6 months free, none-walkers £1.50 and steady walkers £5.50. They do offer childminder packages and eat and play options for the 3.30pm slot so plenty of offers.


When we arrived 5 minutes before our time slot we waited in a little waiting room before an employee opened the door and took our name as we had pre-booked. A quick note to say there's plenty of parking on site. Harlow strutted her way into the play centre and headed straight for the mini town to find a baby doll of all things. Once she located a baby doll she decided to investigate each area within the town. It's honestly really cool and included 12 different areas. There was a vets, police station, fire station, beauty salon, hospital, construction site, petrol pumps, a cafe, supermarket, theatre with dress up zone, a stage and a disco. There was of course plenty of little cars to drive around in and not to forget a lovely soft play as well including a baby soft play area. They really have crammed so much in it's fantastic.


Like I said Little World of Play is nothing like I've seen before and having it so close is a blessing. We do love a good soft play but children can get bored so having a more imaginative play centre is fantastic. Harlow completely loved it and dragged that poor baby doll around each and every zone with her. She made her baby feel better in the hospital, took it to the supermarket to get some shopping, earned a days wage in the construction zone building a wall (not trumps) and took a trip to the beauty salon to get her hair done. Harlow really got into it and it was just lovely to watch her play. Luckily Daddy was with us too and he was dragged guided from zone to zone by Harlow's keen hands.


Little World of Play is situated in a town called Cowdenbeath which is around 10 minutes from Dunfermline, 20 minutes from Kirkcaldy, 30 minutes from Perth, 40 minutes from Edinburgh and 60 minutes from Glasgow. It really won't take long to get to at all and if you're like me you'll have travelled far and wide to sample every children's play centre within your reach!


I'd definitely recommend Little World of Play to family and friends, it's a great play centre, reasonably priced and for 2 hours you can let the tiny humans run loose and that's their imaginations too. As you can see from the photos Harlow had a brilliant time and we'll definitely be back in the near future. Hopefully next time we can go along with friends so she has a little buddy to join in the mini town fun.





Harlow received free entry into Little World of Play in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

6 November 2017

How to Encourage A Reluctant Washer to Get In The Bath!

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Recently in our house it's been a bit of a nightmare to get my almost 8 year old son in the bath. He used to love bath time as a baby but now it's more like a chore for him and just another distraction on the list of things keeping him from his iPad/TV Programmes/Playing outside with friends.

It actually got to the point where I was literally having to drag him into the bath and of course he was becoming quite distressed with it all but he can't not wash. He's getting older and changing and well he really needs a good scrub after he's been running around with his friends or playing football etc.

The hubby and I finally managed to crack the bath time dread when I received some bath bombs for my birthday and the boy was intrigued by what they did. I honestly couldn't get over how quickly he jumped in the bath so from then on we've been using bath bombs from Lush to make sure he has a wash ha ha. It totally works for us and might not work for everyone and that's why I asked fellow parents what they've done to get their reluctant washers in the bath.


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Victoria from The Growing Mum says: "This one might depend on the child's age but getting into the bath with my 8 month old stopped him crying immediately he was placed in it. We also played with the ducks outside of the bath so he recognised them when he was inside the bath."

Elizabeth from The Home Makers Journal says: "Make it really fun - we make it a race and see if we can do the whole bath before a timer that I set for five minutes goes off. Sometimes we’ll have a dance party shower—singing and dancing in the shower together."

Kirsty from Winnettes says: "I find music helps, any type of music, even upbeat and fast not necessarily calming music. Also having a selection of bath toys that I keep out of sight and in rotation can help with the excitement of bathtime so they are more willing to be washed."

Susan from Susan K Mann says: "Foam soap or under water lights help make it fun & different textures. Also body colour soap shows them where they’ve washed."

Alana from Baby Holiday says: "I've bought a couple of bath bombs for my boys. They love throwing them in to watch the bubbles, and it helps that the water turns a cool blue colour!"

Pete from Household Money Saving says: "When we had problems, I let my daughter choose some music she liked from YouTube. I put it on my phone and she could listen to it in the bath."

Jenny from Monkey and Mouse says: "My 6 year old loves being able to take some sort of toys into the bath, making bath paint to use on the tiles and bath bombs or similar. Anything that makes it that little bit more exciting!"

Michelle from Time and Pence says: "We bought a Tomy Foam Cone Factory. Making ice creams in the bath did the trick."

Christy from Welsh Mum says: "You can get bath lights which you drop into the water and the water really glows! I think this is a fun and easy way to get them in the tub."

Beth from Twinderelmo says: "Swimming goggles may help. My son hated getting water in his eyes so goggles made him feel “safer” plus now he likes to be able to see under the water with them."

Emma from Ready Freddie Go says: "Bath jelly! It really made baths fun for my little one again and he felt safe once more to enjoy his baths."

Jo from Ojo's World says: "My son has a *shath*, we run the shower over the bath while he's in there. Add a cup and some cheap shaving foam, to make volcanoes. Also toys that work best under running water, makes it great fun. If all else fails, a favourite film playing, we sit his tablet on the toilet or towel basket."

Sarah from Mummy Cat Notes says: "Lots of toys and I brought a couple bath bombs for them, they love it when the bath changes colour."

Claire from Bumps Babies Tots and Teens Mummy Diaries says: "Does your child have any sensory issues? Maybe introduce water play, let them take a toy of their choice (within reason) into the bath with them, lets them help run the bath, agree the temperature of the bath, let them choose wash products. Maybe experiment with bath bombs, foams, sponges, brushes etc. If still reluctant maybe try a shower or use the shower head over the bath to speed up the washing process."

Laura from Mummy Lauretta says: "We bought some of that new Palmolive chocolate shower gel and the boys can't wait to get in the bath and use it! It's smells so sickly but they love it."

Cass from Frugal Family says: "Bath crayons always used to make bathtime fun for my two - just remember to clean their 'drawings' off quite quickly afterwards or they're quite hard to get off!"

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4 November 2017

Our Night in with #GoBinge

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Don't you just love binge watching a new TV series or the latest Netflix hot picks like Narcos or Star Trek. If you're like me though you'll loathe having to use up any mobile data to do so and that's where Go Binge from Three comes in.


So what is it all about? It's basically a new initiative launched back in July this year by Three called Go Binge. Go Binge allows customers to use Netflix, TV Player, Dave, History, Deezer and Soundcloud without using mobile data. It's available to all new and upgrading customers on the following tariffs: All handset Advanced plans of 4GB and above. All SIMO Advanced plans of 4GB and above. All Pay monthly MBB plans of 5GB and above. Since it's only on offer on certain data allowances please do head to their website to find out more. However if you are on the right plan the excellent thing is you can stream as much as you want as long as you have some data remaining in your allowance. How totally awesome is that!


So to celebrate this amazing Go Binge offer, Three sent the hubby and I a lovely goody bag to help us binge watch some of our favourite shows. We chose a Friday night to have our night in binge as the toddler would be in her bed early (knackered from a busy toddler life week) and the boy would probably be staying at his Granny's house. Three had kindly included a fab Pizza Hut voucher for us, so not just a binge on programmes, and the other half and I decided to share it with the kids. It only made sense as there's no way we'd eat everything. Logan was very excited at the prospect of binge night so we went all out and got large stuffed crust pizzas, ice cream, cookie dough, onion rings and fries. Honestly it was a proper binge fest.


After the kids were fed and happy we sent one to bed and one to Granny's so we could get properly stuck into some binge watching time. The hubby and I snuggled up on the sofa with our cosy new #GoBinge blanket and put Narcos on. We hadn't watched the latest series so there was loads of juicy episodes to catch up on. Perfect for a binge night. Three sent us a popcorn machine too so we made our own from scratch. It was really awesome and I saved some of the popcorn maize so the kids could enjoy making and eating it too.


As you can see from the photos we had a right good time during our binge night and it's something we'll definitely be doing again. We even had a smartphone projector so we could watch our binge episodes in big screen format. When you have kids you don't often get out so a Saturday night binge watching our fav programmes and series is perfect. Even better if the hubby and I don't want to watch the same thing there's no arguing as I can simply stream my own favourite programmes with Go Binge and relax in bed.


Did you know you can also stream your favourite music without using up your data too!? Go Binge really is the way forward but please make sure and check out the Three website for further details.


This is a collaborative post with Three. All opinions are my own.

3 November 2017

Your New McDonald's at Newbridge Edinburgh

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McDonald's is always a firm family favourite in our house. It's quick, easy, good value for money and is super tasty that the kids scoff it down every time. I've been going to McDonald's for years and have been taking the kids for ages. It's such a handy place to go when we're on the road, in a different part of the UK or even in a different country as you always know what you're getting. The whole family enjoy it. I was super thrilled then when McDonald's invited me along to their newly refurbished Newbridge store on the outskirts of Edinburgh to see all the fab changes that had taken place and of course make my own Big Mac!!


McDonald's have really went all out when refurbishing their stores and have definitely caught up with the future of technology going forward. I was impressed to see plenty of tablets on centralised tables for the kids, it's a fab little treat for them when visiting and makes it easier for us parents to actually order some food if they're occupied.


Speaking of making ordering easier! McDonald's have installed some new fancy self ordering machines. It's like a giant tablet computer and all you do is tap away to select your food and use your card to pay. It's great. There's so many food options and combos I didn't even know about so having a big interactive menu on hand is amazing, especially if you have fussy eaters or are counting the calories. Yes that's right it shows calories as well and if you have your hands full why not get your order delivered to your table. Total genius. I've done it a few times myself and makes such a different since Harlow's a complete diva.


Did you know if you download the new McDonald's mobile app you can even order your food before you've stepped foot in store! Once you arrive at your chosen restaurant you simply scan the special barcodes to say you've arrived and they start preparing your food straight away. You can then decide if you want to take away or sit in. It's all very handy and time saving.


Making your food to order is also a new way of thinking for McDonald's or "Made for you" as they like to call it. It means that there's no more batch cooking and food is only prepard when an order is placed when you come into store. It's still quick for the customer and I got to witness this first hand when I donned my McDonald's uniform and entered the kitchen.


Watching the McDonald's team at work was like watching a well oiled hive of super organised bees busying themselves away with everyone's orders. Each person had a specific job so they knew it inside out and was done to perfection. This also ensured no cross contamination between food either and I saw with my own eyes how all the food is individually stored, handled and discarded if it has sat for longer than the food agency standard time. McDonald's carefully manage their stock though so there is very little wastage at all. I really was very very impressed with everything and it gave me such confidence in McDonald's and how they treat their staff and customers.


Being in the kitchen was such a privilege and even better was that I got to make my very own Big Mac! I honestly was far too excited for this and couldn't wait to get stuck in. I of course made sure my hands were all washed before hand and a lovely lady showed me the whole burger making processes before I was let loose. It really was an awesome experience and one I'll never forget.


Did you also know that McDonald's at Newbridge is actually a franchise and the owner fully helps and supports local charities around the area! I thought this was lovely and such a great way to involve and aid the local community. I always feel big charities get all the press and attention so little local charities and groups need all the help they can get. Well done McDonald's, you're doing the right thing.


Overall my time at McDonald's was fabulous, the staff were so friendly and not to just me but all their customers and nothing was ever too much trouble. So if you're near Newbridge do pop in and say hello and why not try out all the new tech, it'll honestly make your life so much easier.


This is a sponsored post in collaboration with McDonald's however all opinions are my own.

26 October 2017

Our 3rd Family Break to Leicestershire with Stay Play Explore

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In some parts of Scotland the schools here get 2 weeks holiday during October half term and that just happened to be us! It can be a long time for the kids without a routine of school days and clubs so we decided on our way home from Bluestone that we would pop back into Leicestershire for a few nights and visit more of the attractions on offer. It would give us something to do and also keep the kids happy and occupied.


I hunted around for a cheap hotel for the four of us in the Leicestershire area as we still had Drayton Manor tickets to use and it’s close by but did you know it was still cheaper to book a Stay Play Explore break (which includes breakfast each day and entry into 3 major attractions) than booking a cheap hotel! I was honestly shocked and quite pleased that the Stay Play Explore break was much cheaper and better value and this time we decided to stay at the Hilton Leicestershire Hotel instead of the Sketchley Grange Hotel.


So as we left Wales to travel to Leicestershire we decided we’d pop into the Richard III Visitor Centre with our Stay Play Explore ticket as we would arrive earlier than check in time for our room. The visitor’s centre website advised people spend around 90 minutes at the venue so this was plenty of time for us to have a nosey before heading to the hotel. The Richard III Visitor Centre shows where they found Richard’s remains under the council car park and the whole place is dedicated to his life and how he died. It’s all very fascinating but definitely an attraction for older kids. Logan was quite fascinated and read all the different information but as you can imagine Harlow ran around a lot which was fine as she was happy.


The hotel was very easy to find and just off the motorway. With it being a Hilton it as all very modern, the room was massive with two double beds, a big TV, sofa, desk, bathroom etc and the staff were lovely. We even received a package of goodies every morning including wine, bottled water, nuts and sweeties for the kids. Even the breakfast was tasty with lots of options. I even asked for plain granola one morning and it was never too much trouble. Totally fab place to stay.


The next morning we decided to hit Drayton Manor as it was meant to be a nice day and I'm glad we did. It was so hot and sunny it really was the perfect day for a theme park. On our last day we decided to squeeze in two of the Stay Play Explore attractions so we visited the National Space Centre again since it was a bit drizzly. It was Logan's choice and he had a brilliant time. Since it was almost half term in Leicestershire there was lots of extra Halloween activities on for the kids. So something different from our last visit and they had a new exhibition open. In the afternoon we drove a quick 20 minutes from the space centre along to Stonehurst Family Farm and I'm so glad we visited. It's a real life working farm that has just had a few things added for the kids like a play park, tractors and pony rides etc but it was amazing. We got two bags of animal feed as part of our Stay Play Explore entry into the park and it was great as you get to feed all the animals up close. I think this was the highlight of the kids weekend as they couldn't get enough. Normally Logan's not fussed for animals but since he got to touch and feed them he was thrilled.


As you can see from the photos we all had a totally awesome time and I can't recommend Stay Play Explore enough. It's such excellent value and we've been 3 times now! Definitely booking up to go again soon.



 

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