Prima Princessa Sleeping Beauty DVD *Giveaway*

Ideal for your little princess, the Sleeping Beauty DVD from Prima Princesses helps to teach your ballerina the basics and features fantastic footage from the Royal Ballet.




After the success of Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker, the next show in this children’s series, Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty, is now available to buy on DVD for £5.99 and is suitable for children aged 3-7.

It contains a mixture of both live ballet and ballet step demonstrations that your children can copy at home. There is an animated ballerina-fairy that guides you through the live ballet and then encourages your child to learn new ballet steps which are demonstrated by students from the School of American Ballet. The steps include piqué arabesque, piqué attitude, demi-plié and several others between the 4 acts.

It's nice to see a combination of both professional ballet with the steps to learn at home as it allows young children to be active while watching. It is easy to follow and the demonstrations are helpful for pre-schoolers.

Once the ballet has finished there are bonus features to view which include a tea party and craft ideas.



*** WIN ***

 

For your chance to win a copy of Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

 

The giveaway closes on 19th June 2013.

 

Good luck!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty is a Parents' Choice Award winner.

You can visit www.PrimaPrincessa.com for colouring pages, online educational games for children as well as information on the Prima Princessa product range.

 

 

*We received a DVD for the purpose of this post. The opinions given are honest and our own.*

 

 

Reasons To Be Happy

 

 

Minxy is off to London for the day with school and it was a completely FREE trip. I didn't even have to pay for the transport, which is unheard of these days! The school has been selected along with a few others to take part in a funded ballet experience so they are watching a show today... did I say it's for FREE?! *Closes purse and saves pennies*.

She has been counting down the sleeps and is very excited.

 

 

Sports day is tomorrow and both of the Mini Mes have been training. When I say training I mean jogging around the house like herds of elephants complete with sweat bands and squatting down into positions I didn't know existed. They are eager to be involved and I'm pleased that they love running and athletics. I shall be cheering along at the sidelines... hopefully there isn't a mums race this year but at least I'm still young enough not to require Tena Lady.

 

 

I have a child free weekend ahead so the Mr and I shall be watching Fast and Furious 6 at the cinema and probably playing poker with my parents. I never really win, not that we play for money or anything, but it's lovely to catch up with family and enjoy a relaxing evening together.

 

 

 

 

What reasons do you have to be cheerful this week?

Crealy *Review and Giveaway*

Crealy Adventure Park situated in Devon is a fantastic day out for all of the family and with indoor and outdoor activities there is always something to enjoy - even if the weather isn't on your side!

Upon arrival we received our wristbands and entered the park, heading to the rides first while the sun shone. Queues were very small, we only waited about 5 minutes for each, and the rides were spaced out well so there was plenty of room for prams and wheelchairs to get around with ease.

 

 

At 12 metres high Vortex is the world's first triple tube water coaster and is great for little thrill seekers. We went on Vertigo and Viper out of the three slides for twists and turns in the dark and a

vertical drop experience!

New for 2013 the Safari Express is perfect for everyone with no minimum height restrictions. As the family ride goes around the track you can look out for all of the different animals... including a rather large Gorilla and Spider at the entrance to the ride.

Maximus, a Roman themed roller coaster, was our favourite ride which we rode several times during the day. It has a tunnel and a few twists that that had the Mini Mes giggling with excitement - we smiled for the camera too as it takes your picture during the two circuits.

The Aqua Blasters are really fun circular boats that you can steer around while squirting water at other riders and passers by. These were very entertaining and with a rather competitive Mr he was keen to get us all wet!

The Honey Swing is aimed at smaller children and in twos you fly around the giant hive like little bees. A gentle and relaxing ride which is located indoors.

There are many other rides including Meteorite, Tidal Wave and a Carousel, the majority of which are suitable for toddlers making Crealy ideal for young families.
 

We got to see meerkats, monkeys, cows and guinea pigs. With goat feeding and pony grooming there was plenty of interaction with the animals and the Mini Mes really liked Pets Corner in particular because of this. Friendly staff were on hand to answer questions and assist if required and the bags of food were low in cost. There was the opportunity to get up close to the goats outside where you can enter the field with them and the chance to ride a pony where you get a rosette once you dismount - a great souvenir to take home.
 

 

There is a HUGE indoor play area with slides, climbing apparatus and ball shooters including the new Jungle Wars enclosure. The arcade area has favourite soft toys like Moshi Monsters and Angry Birds to win and outside there are several areas for a run about. The Mini Mes really liked the Funambulist challenge where they had to get around a course without touching the floor and Wilderness with its tree houses and different methods of crossing the river.

I was really pleased by how much there was to do and the variety in activities. With a farm, rides and several play areas we were entertained from opening to closing. The cost for entry is £63.80 for a family of 4 at the gate but discounts are available online if you book in advance plus children under 92cm go free! We took a picnic but there are several places to eat. The Mama Mia's Italian Cuisine Restaurant has an all you can eat buffet style menu which includes salad, pizza and pastas and was really great value - we would eat there if we go again.

 

Jamster: "I loved the Maximus ride, it was awesome."

Minxy: "I liked taking care of all of the animals and the big slides with mats to sit on."

 

 

 

*** WIN ***

 

For your chance to win a family pass to Crealy for 4 people you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

 

The giveaway closes on 18th June 2013.

 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase tickets here: https://bookings.crealy.co.uk/devon/shop-buy-day-tickets.aspx

*We received entry to Crealy for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own.*

Summer Bucket List

It won't be long until the summer holidays are here so like previous years we have created our bucket list; things we want to do before the Mini Mes return to school in September.

 

It's a great way to work out in advance how much trips will cost and to plan your activities around the weather forecast. It ensures the Mini Mes are kept busy and happy for the full 6 weeks so there are no (or few) tears and tantrums!

 

Summer 2012

 

 

 

2013 Bucket List

Camping

A day at the seaside

Play croquet

Kite flying

Strawberry picking

Lollibop festival

Bike rides with picnics

Gruffalo wood

Zoo

Farm

Go on a ferry

Water park

Balloon festival

Cinema

Bowling

Thorpe Park

Fair

Theatre

Country park

Badby Woods

Stanwick Lakes

Visit Ducksford, Shoe and History museums

Stoke Bruerne Canals

Make a womery

Make an ant farm

Crabbing

Chessington World of Adventure

Circus

Zorbing

Something for charity

 

 

Last year we managed to do quite a lot of the things on our list but I'm hoping this year we manage to do everything! We will be scrap-booking along the way to record the activities and as lovely keepsake for the memory boxes too.

 

 

 

What is on your summer bucket list?

 

A weekend in Norfolk

 

 

This picture sums up our weekend away, perfectly.

 

We travelled for a few hours north in the car to Feather Down Farm for a relaxing break, glamping.

If you aren't keen on the idea of popping up a tent in the middle of a field but like the thought of beautiful scenery in a peaceful environment this is the perfect get-away.

The tent is already assembled for your arrival, it has proper beds and wooden flooring.

It's cosy and comfortable with the natural world on your doorstep.

 

Sitting by the wood burning stove Saturday night, playing cards by candlelight and having a few drinks with the Mr was lovely.

I hadn't felt so stress-free in quite a while and getting back to basics with no technology in site makes you appreciate the important things in life, like good company.

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Drink



The Funny Things Kids Say and Do

I know when the Mini Mes are up to something as I can hear their giggles a mile away!

Luckily I saw the trainers that were placed above Jamster's door this morning before opening it.

He and Minxy have been playing little tricks on each other for a few weeks now and this is the latest idea - although I don't know how he manages to reach up there to line up his shoes, books and Moshi Monsters. I think he must use his cabin bed to his advantage on this one!



Some of our conversations from the week....



Minxy: I can't believe you remember my friends name mum, you haven't seen her in ages.
Me: It hasn't been that long Minxy.
Minxy: Well you are getting old now so I didn't think your memory would be working.

Thanks!!

------

Jamster: Can we go and milk the lambs now please?
Me: We can feed the lambs milk if that's what you mean?
Jamster: Doh! I think I'm going crazy mum.

------


What has made you laugh this week?


I'm linking this with...

 

Father's Day - Gift Guide

With Father's Day fast approaching now is the ideal time to pick up the perfect pressies for Dad, but I'm sure with the same chocolates and novelty socks each year it can become a little bit boring!

Selecting something to suit dad's taste can be hard but working around their personality and hobbies can hopefully help you choose a gift that he will love....

Outdoors and Adventure Dad
This is definitely the Mr. He has driven tanks, bungee jumped and loves paintballing so a gift experience day is always a hit. With indoor skydiving, hot air-ballooning and so much more there is something new for him to try each year - something he will never forget.

Sports Mad Dad
If dad is a sports fan you can purchase some great themed photo upload cards and if your budget doesn't stretch to match tickets, some memorabilia of his favourite team will go down well. For something more fun and hands on a remote control car or bath basketball might be the answer.

Foodie Father
My dad loves his beer and chocolate but giving those as a gift can be a little predictable. Last year I sent him on a brewery tour where he was able to try different products and he really enjoyed it - perhaps a cooking lesson, a meal out or a hamper of goodies will be this years option!

Gadget and Gizmo Dad
The Mr loves the latest technology whether it's for the desk or his pocket so quirky toys are ideal for him like a movie maker set, a parking timer or Robo Fish, which you can get from Hawkin’s Bazaar. They have lots of bizarre gifts and gadgets for men.

Fashionable Father
Whether he likes his Converse or designer shirts a personalised gift can go well with his stylish dress sense. Fingerprint cuff links, footprint dog tags and the children's artwork put onto chains add a special touch to a present he can wear.

 

What will you be getting dad this Father's Day?

Aquarelle *Review*

Minxy is the artistic one of the family and loves being creative and crafty so she was pleased to receive Aquarelle from Ravensburger which makes watercolours easy.

 

Aimed at children aged 8-13, Aquarelle includes everything your child needs to make some beautiful artwork;

 

• 3 watercolour paper canvasses with paint resistant image outlines
• 5 liquid watercolour paint bottles
• 1 double sided paintbrush (2 sizes)
• 1 water pipette
• A mixing palette
• Instructions

The instruction booklet has a very useful guide on how to mix up different colours and explains different techniques artists use when painting. Minxy found it easy to follow and enjoyed sitting and painting the horses. The paint resistant outlines helped to keep the canvas tidy and made it near impossible to go over the lines meaning the paint stayed where is should be.

 

The paint being in small bottles with dropper style lids minimises spillages and makes it easy to mix the exact colour you require. I could leave Minxy without worrying I'd return to a messy floor and sides and I didn't feel the need to have layers of newspaper down either!

 

The palette has lots of areas to organise your colours and the pipette makes adding water to the paint simple. The brush is small which allows finer detail to be added and creates lovely results - it's great for those with a delicate touch or a heavy hand.

 

We were all very impressed with the final product... she has even tried sell her masterpieces to grandparents!

 

 

Aquarelle has other styles available in the range which include cities, dolphins and fairies so there is something for both sexes to appreciate.

 

You can purchase a set on Amazon

 

 

 

*We received Aquarelle for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own.*

Meal Planning Monday

We had a fantastic weekend in Norfolk at Feather Down Farm and our wood burning stove cooked our breakfasts and dinner beautifully. The Mr rustled up a delicious Quorn curry Saturday complete with naan bread and he did a BBQ last night, so I enjoyed a complete weekend without cooking!

This weeks menu

Roast gammon, jacket potato and vegetables
Sweet and sour pork with noodles
Pasta bolognaise with garlic bread

Wednesday we are eating out to celebrate birthdays for my mum, sister and sisters boyfriend.
Friday- Sunday we are child free so we will get something nearer the time depending upon what we fancy.

 

What's on your menu this week?

I'm linking this over with At Home With Mrs M.

Start up a small business from home

Have you ever thought of starting up your own business, but not known what in or where to market it? It can be difficult when you are a full time mum, juggling responsibilities of running the household and keeping the family in check. Everyone relies on you… But it’s important that you also have something YOU can get your teeth stuck in to.

There is nothing better than being able to work for yourself. You choose what you want to do, where you want to work, how many hours you put in, along with when you want to take some time off. Fair enough once the orders start pouring in you may have to put in a fair amount of hours, but it will pay off, and eventually you may be able to branch out and hire an assistant.

One industry that is calling out for unique business ideas and bespoke services is the wedding industry, worth over £10 Billion! Want a slice of that? Let’s get down to business…

 

What are you going to offer?

First decide how much work you are willing to put in. Do you want to go all out and offer unique venue decoration? Or offer the little extras to make that all-important day memorable? If you want to start off small, why not look in to offering wedding favours, handmade confetti, invitations or get super crafty and make elegant head pieces for the wedding party.


Need Inspiration?

Once you have decided what you want to do, you may need some ideas to get you going. Check out sites like Pinterest, Etsy or Folksy to see what the competition offers, and sign up whilst you’re there too. There are delicately laser-cut paper designs that will add a touch of class to any wedding. Classic books like Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights and Alice and Wonderland, which are often utilised to create decorative flowers and confetti, adding that personal element.


Get the Materials

Got an idea? Start scouring the internet for your materials. If you are really serious about it, buy in bulk, as you will be able to negotiate costs and make a saving! Head down to charity shops and car boots too. Often you will find people are getting rid of some good quality gear! You will also be able to find plenty of tutorials online too, so if you know want you want to make, but don’t know how, don’t worry… The internet is a wonderful place.


Network Yourself and Your Product

Have fun with it. Get out there and build friendships and working relationships. Get on all of the social networking sites you can think of and maintain them. Use a tool like HootSuite to help you manage these. Get a website set up, and talk about what you are doing, along with the trials and tribulations of setting up your own business. Even contact your competition to get hints and tips; most people are friendly enough and will help you where possible.


Work out a strategy

You’ve got a product. You’ve got contacts. Now get yourself down to some craft fairs! Find out what people are looking for, and get feedback on your product. Get some business cards printed up and offer free samples or a competition for the more likes, shares and comments on your social networks, and even for the first 10 orders of the day in order to add an incentive. Once the orders start coming in, try to have a quick turn around, you will get good reviews from the quality of your product and your efficiency. There are eBay couriers that offer great savings on delivering your goods and keep your spends at a minimum.




Once you have a few orders behind you, you will be able to ask for testimonials, and then… The world is your oyster!





*Guest Post*

 

Child-proof Your Home: How to Make Your Space Safe

From the moment you brought baby home, you've had every gadget imaginable installed, every tiny space and easy to reach device locked and put away, and plugged up anything with a hole in it. You've spent many a night worrying about some minor safety detail while your child was an infant, however, now that they're a little older and you've been through the scares that accompany your child's exploration of the world you’re concern will change. Although you no longer have to fear for your children's safety like you did when they were babies, you must still be vigilant about keeping your ever-growing, ever-curious children safe at home.
 

 

 

Burns, slips and falls, and poisonings are only a few of the at-home risks your children face if you don’t properly child-proof your abode. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), every year more than 5,000 people in the UK die in accidents in the home and 2.7 million seek medical attention due to accidental injuries at home. Some safety hazards, such as a toy being left in the middle of the floor, are obvious, while others, like a loose railing on a stairway, aren't as easy to identify. Have home insurance from Aviva to help safe-guard your home against certain accidents, however, you must incorporate your own in-home safety routines and rules to ensure that your children are safe at home.

 

 

Burn Safety

 

 

500,000 under the age of 4 are injured in the home every year, and fire is the greatest cause of accidental death, with 46 percent of fatalities being the result of fire accidents. Younger children are most likely to sustain injuries from scald burns caused by hot liquids or steam, while older children are more commonly burned from flames caused by direct contact with fire.

• Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home, on every floor, and near all rooms occupied by family members.
• Remember to test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they are working properly.
• Devise a fire escape plan and practice this family fire escape route and specify a central meeting point for everyone.
• Make sure there are at least two ways out of every room - don't block windows or doors.
• Be cautious when you cook - never leave food on the stove unattended and supervise or restrict your children’s use of microwaves, stoves, and ovens.

 

 

Hazardous Chemicals Safety

 

 

While all parents know it isn't wise for your children to handle any hazardous chemicals and materials, children can still find a way to get their small hands on these dangerous products. Poisoning is the third leading cause of unintentional death throughout Europe, with 3,000 children 14 and under dying of acute poisoning each year. 

• Keep all dangerous chemicals , medicines, and toxic products, such cleaning agents, out of the reach of children and in places where they can’t see them as their curiosity may get the best of them and prompt them to investigate the product.
• Don’t keep hazardous products around that you no longer use or need.
• Always safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
• Remember to properly read the labels, particularly those regarding dosage, and follow directions when giving medicines to children.

 

 

 What tips do you have to keep your children safe at home?

 

*Guest Post*

 

Walkers Baked Hoops & Crosses *Review*

It can sometimes be a bit of a struggle to get our little ones to always eat what we provide, with them turning their noses up at certain greens and shaking heads to fruit. But Walkers have come up with the new Hoops & Crosses range to make boosting their wholegrain intake easy.

 

 The baked snack is made from 56% wholegrain with no artificial colours or preservatives.

Each bag is only 85 calories so they are great for mums and dads trying to watch their weight too! They are ideal for days out and lunch boxes and perfect for picnics now that summer is finally approaching.

 

We received a lovely delivery from Walkers including a very cute monkey, a book on the importance of wholegrain and a packet of crisps to try.

The Mini Mes were eager to dive straight in as they definitely love their savoury foods.

They were packed with flavour yet light in texture. They make food fun which is always beneficial when it comes to encouraging children to eat and being shaped as hoops and crosses we could use them to play noughts and crosses before eating them!

 

 

 

 

There are three flavours to choose from, all of which are suitable for vegetarians; Roast Beef, Salt and Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail. We all agreed that they were very nice and I've since purchased multi-packs to use for school - at just £1.79 for 6 bags they are great value too!

 

 

You can find out more information on the Hoops & Crosses range here: http://walkershoopsandcrosses.co.uk/

 

 

*This is a sponsored review. The opinions given are honest and our own*

 

 

 

Reasons To Be Happy

Our Feather Down Farm trip is fast approaching and I'm really looking forward to it. A nice family break in the great outdoors, collecting our own eggs each morning from the chickens and cooking on a wood burning stove - good times!


The Mini Mes have sports day next week which is always something they are excited to be involved in. The event lasts the entire day so I shall pack up a picnic and enjoy a day watching them run, skip and jump in the sunshine (hopefully).

You know that feeling where you are focused and really determined to complete something. That. I am doing really well with weight loss and exercising at the moment and I feel proud of myself for sticking to it. I was always strong at first and then slipped back into old habits but I'm keeping on track. Watching The Biggest Loser has spurred me on and I'm keeping in mind that it took a while to put weight on so it will take a while to shift it.

What reasons to you have to be cheerful this week?