Two little monkeys went shopping one day…

They stopped in at Clarks to view the display

Miss M fell in love with these snuggle pies straight away and looked no further because that’s what 6-year-olds do #stubbornasamule.  We’d seen them on the website and they were even nicer in real life.

Yes my kid has cat ears on

The 11 year-old was looking for a slightly more sophisticated look

..and we though we had it, but then she changed her mind when she saw these snuggle funs

..because you can fold the tops over or keep ‘em up if it’s a bit chilly, as you can see by my arty shot below where Miss E is modelling hers with a nice pair of baggy school trousers – tres chic.

Miss M’s look much cooler with her leggings and a looooong jumper, but still pretty cute I think.  :D

What can I say?  Clarks, I love you.

Always have, always will

NB  Unless you run over my hamster or anything

PS  Thank you Clarks for the gorgeous boots.  They’ve lasted really well so far and still look as good as new 2 months on.

Sounds good right?

And as they agreed to donate £50 to The Joseph Salmon Trust in exchange for a review I couldn’t really say no.

But even better

..I really like it.

It downloaded fast and I could use it straight away.  The four main categories are Businesses, Movies, Restaurants and Events and the app picked up tons of stuff in my local area.

I chose to just use my ‘town’ as my location rather than it pinpointing the fact that I’m on my settee in my lounge as I’m a bit wary of that kind of thing after a recent internet safety thing I attended, but this didn’t stop POYNT from impressing.

I love:

• That under ‘restaurant’ I can filter my search by cuisine.  (I can see the Indian and Italian sections getting plenty of use.)
• That under ‘movies’ it not only finds my local cinema, but also takes me immediately to the films on show, AND if I click them I can play trailers, read reviews and (after clicking on my chosen cinema)  call them directly to book tickets, view a map and get directions.  Very cool.
• That under ‘events’ the categories cover all mine and my families entertainment needs and that I can look for local activities for the next day, week or month so I can plan ahead or be all spontaneous and in the moment.
• That I can search for local taxi companies – so useful when you plan on getting the last bus home from Nottingham but the night is proving too much fun and you don’t want it to end.

I do not like:

• So far I have nothing

I seriously can’t see a downside to this app, and there are lots of plusses.  It could be brilliant on holidays, if stuck for something to do of a weekend, or if you need a plumber, vet, wedding photographer or monkey trainer.  If there is one in your local area it’s likely this app will find it.

It’s available on all mobile platforms and I will definitely be recommending it to friends.

Lightning McQueen, Mater and the gang started the show with stunts and banter, and even though my two are typical girls and not that interested in cars beyond what colour they are and whether or not they have a CD player, it was great seeing these life size characters zooming around the ice in an attempt to help Mickey and Minnie solve their car troubles.

A quick change of scenery and we were whisked to Atlantica where subtle lighting, shimmery costumes and delicate floaty fabrics made the dazzling skating even more mesmerising. M is a big Ariel fan and she didn’t take her eyes off the ice.

Next we’re transported to Pixie Hollow where Tinker bell is welcomed by the Disney Fairies and discovers her talent for tinkering. Miss M loved seeing all the characters she knows from watching the films time and time and time and time and time and time again, and the skating and stunts were phenomenal.

After a quick break where we sampled multi-coloured snow cones and mingled with a multitude of small people dressed as Princesses, Fairies, Woody and Buzzes, we returned for the second half, a toy story spectacular. The toy story gang must escape from Sunnyside Daycare and find their way back home, but the huge Lotso Huggin Bear has other ideas…

This was THE BEST of the lot. How the skaters managed to move around and perform in the brilliant costumes is beyond me. The staging was fabulous, the characters adorable and Ken’s hair was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time.

Seriously, we loved it as you can see from the photo below. Miss M couldn’t take her eyes from the ice, even to pose for pictures.

The Disney on Ice World of Fantasy Tour ends its run at City West Hotel Dublin from December 26th 2011 to January 1st 2012, but if you haven’t managed to catch this fab event then don’t worry as March 2012 brings a new show in the form of Disney on Ice Princesses and Heroes, featuring Ariel and Prince Eric, Prince Philip and Aurora, Jasmine and Aladdin, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana, and yet more ‘high flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends’.

I’m sure it will be just as amazing as the one we experienced, if not even better, and I know I have two little girls who will want to go.

Information on Disney on Ice events and tickets can be found by clicking the link.  I urge you to go if you can.  Believe me you won’t be disappointed.

Before you say it, I know everything has been designed by somebody – even that vile top at the back of your wardrobe, you know, the one with the sequins and the green corduroy patches and the stick on tail –  but the word DESIGNER, when said in a certain way, is kind of magical.  It has connotations of style and quality, something we all need a little bit of every now and then, and while I will never be a label hound the thought of owning a beautiful pair of glasses, of having the pick of the store (not just for me but also for my 7-year-old niece) was too fab a chance to miss.

So, last Saturday we made our way to Vision Express in Mansfield to test the service and review how well they work with children.

What can I say, they were lovely.  My niece has had poor eye sight from being very young and was only recently discharged from the optomotrists at our local hospital.   She has been wearing contact lenses  since she was six and like me she has an optician she attends for regular check ups and with whom she has a good relationship.

Neither of us have ever been to Vision Express.Part of me expected to be treated in quite an impersonal, ‘one in one out’ sort of way.

I was very very wrong

We were met at the front counter by a very smiley lady who noted our arrival and sent us to some comfy chairs to await our pre-appointment checks.  The store was bright, modern, cheerful and spacious and the young woman who checked us in was brilliant with Miss ME (who was a little nervous).  ME sat on Mummy’s knee, followed the clear instructions and was very at ease.

Her appointment was just as good and I was met with a very happy Miss ME and Mummy after her visit with the optician.  My own appointment was great and my sis-in-law and I had identically good experiences.  We didn’t feel rushed.  The opticians were very thorough, happy to explain and really friendly.  Their findings corresponded with that of our own opticians which is what I expected.  And my eyes were photographed at the start to add to my profile which little ME found amazing

When it came to choosing our glasses again there was no rush.  There was a wide choice, all beautifully displayed and they had a system where they could photograph you in each frame so that you could put your current goggles back on and actually see how you look in them, instead of just a blurry fuzz in the mirror.

Would I recommend them?

Yes, I would definitely recommend the Mansfield Store.  They’re a great bunch, the facilities are fabulous and their system works really well.  I had my glasses within an hour and a half, and my niece who has a really strong prescription had them by Tuesday.

If they’re a representation of Vision Express Nationwide then wow, they’re definitely getting it right.

Information:

Find your nearest Vision Express

Book an appointment

P.s.  I chose these.

I know this can be an iffy subject for some people who see it as a form of bribery, but I think there is a place for saying thank you to the people who have taught, nurtured, listened to, advised, humoured and ‘mopped up vomit after’ (Miss M) your little one, for the past few months.

I’m not planning on buying stuff for E’s teachers now she’s in Secondary school as I think it’s a very different relationship.  There is none of the hand holding, knee providing, face wiping and cuddle giving that Primary School teachers supply on a daily basis, and well, let’s face it, it’s just not cool is it?

The thing is, I often struggle on what to get them.  I don’t spend a lot, (unlike some people, blimey), but I do like to get them a little something to show that I appreciate what they’re doing for my monkeys.

And this year, they will be getting these:

How cute are they?

I was offered one to review and I bought two more immediately as I think they’re wicked.

As you can see they’re personalised chocolate bars from The Chocolate Library and there are tons to choose from to suit pretty much anyone you have an urge to send yummy chocolate too…

Can you tell I love them just a little bit???

AND, not only can you emblazon your chosen recipient’s name in stars across the bar, you can also add a personalised message on the back for no extra charge, and they start at just £3.95 each for this size bar.

Postage and packing comes in at £2.45 for single items throughout the UK, and there is a flat fee of £2.95 thereafter regardless of weight, with FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER £30 (going to one UK address).

M is so excited about giving them to her teachers, and it hasn’t broken the bank.

I reckon they’re sure to bring a smile.

What do you think?

P.S  There’s still time to enter my fab Christmas Competition.  Some lovely prizes for one lucky winner.  :D

Can I do Christmas for one of my girls on a budget of £75?

According to research by price comparison site Idealo, the average child’s Christmas goodies came to £168 in 2010 compared to £75 in 1995, so we’ve more than doubled our spend in the past 15 years.

To be honest I had my doubts, but with the added opportunity of trying Idealo.co.uk to find the best prices possible, and as it wasn’t my money (bad Jo), I decided to go for it.

So Miss M can expect…

1 Monster High Ghoulia Yelps doll with pet owl Play.com 14.99

2 Barbie Princess Charm School Delancy Doll Amazon £13.00

3 Barbie Thumbelina DVD Amazon New £3.99

4 Super Mario 64 DS game Trade Your Games £19.00

5 Guess Who Extra Play.com £14.99

6 Rainbow Magic book – Honor the Happy Days Fairy Amazon £2.40

7 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever Amazon £6.49

To be honest I found them all on idealo, even though they didn’t insist that’s what I should use, and I was really impressed.  They’ve all arrived and I have to say it looks like a fabulous haul.

As you can see Miss M is VERY into Barbie and Monster High dolls, but I also managed to get a DS game, an electronic board game, a DVD and a couple of books!!  I reckon that’s pretty good.

I chose items with free or low postage to help with my save, and it made me try companies I might not have otherwise known about.

I’d be really interested as to how idealo might work out for an older child as they invariably want more pricey items such as ipods, phones, jewellery etc, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the other idealo bloggers bought for their sprogladites, especially lovely notsupermum, but I reckon I’ve saved about £50 by shopping online.  Result!

PS. I have already used idealo to source other stuff, and spread the word to my family and friends – that’s how good I think it is.  So if like so many of us, you are shopping on a budget this year, try idealo.  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

P.P. S Thanks for the £75 worth of swag Idealo, it will be very much appreciated.

Four years on and we’re no longer together.  We’re friends, and things are going well, but I am now a single mum with all the extra responsibilities and challenges that title precludes.  (NB We still have two beautiful little girls).

But, I am not a single ‘parent’ in that I do not parent alone.  Mr B and his new partner are obviously involved financially, but, more importantly they are involved practically and emotionally.  We do it together.  Because we love our kids and because we’re in a position to do this.

We are lucky.

A little while ago I was contacted by Erin at Toto Knits, a company based in Nairobi in Kenya.

They produce a stunning line of ethically made, organic cotton knitwear for children, as well as beautiful gift items and the most gorgeous Christmas cards you could imagine.  You can even detach the knitted item and hang it on your tree.  How lovely is that?

Each piece is hand-made by a single mother in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, so as they say “It’s the kind of product that not only looks good but makes buyers feel good too.”   Every item is signed by the knitter who made it- and because they use organic cotton and bio-friendly dyes, you can feel good about the (lack of) environmental impact too.

Have a look at their web shop – www.totoknitsshop.com.  The gorgeous jumpers and knitted lovelies speak for themselves really, and as they sent me one of these for my nephew I can promise the quality is fabulous.  The wool is very soft, the colours strong and vibrant, and they have that ‘made with love’ feel that comes when it is obvious something has been hand knitted rather than factory produced.

I promise its even cuter in real life and they now have some gorgeous winter hats including this zebra hat which I love.

So if you’re after something a bit special this Christmas, or just in general, have a look.  Toto knits is not only producing gorgeous stuff, it’s also giving Mums the chance to make a better life for themselves and their little ones without the constraints of childcare issues.  (Something every parent is more than familiar with right??)

Toto Knits have also just launched their new ‘Design Your Own Sweater’ feature too which is well worth looking it for a very special gift idea.

AND they’re currently having a 20% off sale.  Just use code: BABY when prompted.  :D

Luckily, the lovely people at Brabantia have helped by giving us the chance to review their stunning new dining range.

I went for the grey ceramics and the lovely shiny serving bowls and plates and oh my bob they are gorgeous.

On the day they arrived I was instantly inspired to make a lasagne

And when friends came round I was able to display some yummy cakes on their shiny servers.

Though I also covet one of these;
My fruit bowl is the classiest in the land and I have gone all Greek as an excuse to use the dip trays, oil/vinegar bottle and gorgeous salt and pepper crusher set.  I have invited friends round just to model my stunning apron and oven gloves, and the tea towels just make me happy.

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I suppose what I’m saying is that Brabantia has improved my home, my diet AND my social life.

How cool is that?

Now all I need is a new car, a new body and at some point a new man.

How about it Brabantia?  It would even fit in with your ‘Get Together‘ theme…

#justsayin

A slow cooker is one of those kitchen things (technical term) that I’ve often wondered about but never bought.  Questions such as ‘will I EVER use it’ always niggled in the back of my mind and stopped me putting my hand in my pocket.

I’m a vegetarian, not much of a cook – though I’m trying harder – and my kids are the fussiest kids in all of fussygoddamblummingkidland.

Now I am kicking myself for not having bought one before.

Why?

Well they’re so blumming easy, even I can do it, in fact even if I go a bit wrong and don’t exactly follow all the guidelines I can do it!

On my first attempt I bunged fresh onions, frozen carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, green beans and quorn fillets and the required amount of water into the pot.  I didn’t have tomato puree so added a tin of tomatoes instead.  Then having done that I realised I should have added the Schwartz recipe mix to the water first and blended…

Sooooo I sprinkled the powder on top of the frozen mush, gave it a little stir and hoped for the best.  I used the Chicken in Red Wine flavour.

After having a quick flick through the simple instruction booklet I also realised I should possibly not have used frozen veg, and as for the quorn, well…

Wait for it

Dadaaaaaaaaa

That looks ok right?

And here are Miss M and Miss E’s reactions.  Listen out for an ‘odd’ ingredient as you’ll need to note it down if you would like to win a fab new Morphy Richards Flavour Savour Slow Cooker courtesy of the lovely Morphy Richards Innovators people.  They also do a fab Slow Cooker Cook Book that’s well worth buying.  You can even make puddings and risotto, slurp.

Did you catch it?

So to enter just leave a comment below stating what unusual flavouring Miss E described.

And for another entry please tweet:

Win a #MorphyRichards Flavour Savour Slow Cooker with Jo Beaufoix to get you through the winter. Just visit http://t.co/S6VbO5tj
Or something along those lines.

Lots of luck, and if you don’t win, just buy one. I wouldn’t be without one now, it really is that good and the Schwartz sauces are yum. We love the chicken and red wine. E and M found the sausage and bean one a bit spicy but I love that one too. I have the curry one lined up for tomorrow.

UPDATE:  And we have a winner.  Congrats Mr Fortune.  Hope you enjoy it.  I’ll get the cooker in the post as soon as I get your address.  And I’ll throw in the Schwartz Beef & Tomato Slow Cooker sauce too as I’ve not worked out a way to do that with quorn yet.

Other information:

Competition closes 16th November 2011
Entrance only open to UK readers as I’m footing the cost for the shipping and I’ve had to pay for a gerbil funeral this week.

P.S. Apologies to Schwartz for describing their slow cooker mixes as ‘lovely powdery things’. For some reason the word sauce eluded me.

P.P.S Morphy Richards are looking for a ‘Home Made Cook of the year’, someone who can cook a delicious main meal to a set budget of £7.50 to mark their 75th anniversary!  There’s a fab prize package.

You can find out more about the competition here

Or maybe I’m in lust?

I mean, it’s not like I want his babies or anything, but when I look at him I swoon a little, when I hear his deep warm tones I feel all full up and satisfied like an over-stuffed feline who has dined on fresh salmon while perched on a velvet cushion stuffed with catnip and goose down.

He’s smart and functional yet somehow retro chic.  As I gaze at him, echoes of Marvin Gaye’s ‘I heard it through the Grapevine’ ooze like chocolate through my mind, and visions of hunky men in just their pants tiptoe delicately across my synapses leaving me all fulfilled and happy happy happy.

So who is he??

‘He’ is my gorgeous, fabulous A MAZE ING new Samsung Eco Bubble washer.

Seriously people, I love it like I have never loved a kitchen appliance before, (though if anone wanted to send me one of those really cool Smeg Fridge Freezers then the competition would be on.)

It looks amazing, is sooo much quieter than any other machine I have ever owned, and is very easy to use.  There are cycles to make sure my kids clothes are as soft as can be and don’t retain detergents which can irritate their eczema (Baby Care).  There are cycles that mean I can wash Miss E’s new school blazer and not have to iron the mad creases out afterwards with an industrial steam roller borrowed from a friendly road worker.

And, I can wash that much needed top in 15 mintues.

That’s

15 MINUTES!!!!

And you’re saving energy and therefore money and the environment due to “Samsung’s Ecobubble technology which uses a bubble generator to dissolve detergent into the water and then inject air, producing a rich soapy foam cushion. The detergent is so thoroughly dissolved into the water, it doesn’t need as much hot water to aid the cleaning and penetrates deeper into clothes up to four times faster than conventional washers. The Super Eco Wash programme washes at just 15°C, with the results of a 40°C wash, using 70% less energy as a result.”

How cool is that?  Bubbly washing!

So while there won’t be any of these…

There will be lovely clean washing from a cool, quiet, fabulous washer, with added echoes of this…

Sighhhhhh, perfect.

Disclosure: Samsung provided us with our fab 8kg Ecobubble Washer in exchange for this review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.