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.
 

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