Sunday, 21 December 2014
Monday, 15 December 2014
Nanoblock Review - The Alternative Construction Toy
Both my older boys are Lego mad. They have boxes upon boxes of them in their bedroom and play with them so much that I`d say that they are qualified construction workers by now!!
When I was offered to review the alternative construction block toy to Lego - Nanoblocks - I was intrigued to see what the boys thought of them.
Nanoblocks have been around since 2008 but to be honest I hadn`t heard of them before. They have taken Japan by storm and are featured in some of the biggest department and toy stores throughout Japan.
The main distributor of Nanoblocks in the UK is Marbel, check out the whole range available HERE
At just 1/8th the size of standard construction blocks, the things that you can create with Nanoblocks are so intricate seeing is definitely believing.
The amount of Nanoblock`s in each construction set varies between 80 for the miniature sets to 6000 for the ultimate in Nanoblock creations - the Behemoth!! Prices range from £4.99 - £199.99.
We were sent the Statue of Liberty set to test out.
All I can say is WOW, these pieces ate TINY!! I`ve taken a photo next to a one pence piece to get a perspective of just how small they are.
Alfie and I sat down and laid everything out that we received on the table. Straight away I realised that even though at 7 1/2 years old and an avid Lego constructor that he was going to struggle. The pieces are just so tiny that he found it hard to hold them and press together, also the instructions were very complicated for him to understand.
If you have an older child; I say 10 years plus than this toy is absolutely amazing and will keep them entertained for hours. In the end Alfie gave up and I was left to keep building, it took me a good 2 hours to complete from start to finish. I cant imagine how long it would take to do the Behemoth, the ultimate in Nanoblocks!!
I have to say that I am very proud of my creation and wouldn`t mind if I was to get another set for Christmas...hint, hint hubby!!
I received this kit free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
When I was offered to review the alternative construction block toy to Lego - Nanoblocks - I was intrigued to see what the boys thought of them.Nanoblocks have been around since 2008 but to be honest I hadn`t heard of them before. They have taken Japan by storm and are featured in some of the biggest department and toy stores throughout Japan.
The main distributor of Nanoblocks in the UK is Marbel, check out the whole range available HERE
The amount of Nanoblock`s in each construction set varies between 80 for the miniature sets to 6000 for the ultimate in Nanoblock creations - the Behemoth!! Prices range from £4.99 - £199.99.
We were sent the Statue of Liberty set to test out.
All I can say is WOW, these pieces ate TINY!! I`ve taken a photo next to a one pence piece to get a perspective of just how small they are.Alfie and I sat down and laid everything out that we received on the table. Straight away I realised that even though at 7 1/2 years old and an avid Lego constructor that he was going to struggle. The pieces are just so tiny that he found it hard to hold them and press together, also the instructions were very complicated for him to understand.
I received this kit free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Saturday, 13 December 2014
El Rhey - ColourMe Wellie`s Review
Isn`t social media amazing??
I first `met` the great team at el Rhey through twitter; purely by chance I came across their twitter account and realised they were only down the road from me in Bournemouth.
el Rhey are a new company hoping to take the outdoor clothing sector by storm with their customisable products. The first of many products to be launched is their ColourMe Wellies.
These wellington boots are made from super-soft rubber and come in a choice of either a moth or zebra design ready for you to let your budding picasso`s loose on. The idea is to let your children colour them in as they want and so in turn wear them more often.
Each pair of boots is supplied with 3 dual ended permanent pens of various colours. One end has a broad nib for large area colouring and the other end is thin which can be used for fine detailing.
Because the pens are permanent you really need to colour the boots in on a covered table or on an old towel, and adult supervision is required at all time when using the pens to ensure the kids dont draw on themselves instead of the boots!!
el Rhey kindly offered Alfie the chance to try a pair of these cool boots to see what he thought of them.
When I told him about these boots he was really keen to get his hands on them and start scribbling. He took a good hour or so to finish them which was great as not many things keep his attention for long.
The only downside to these boots that I have found is the amount of pens and the colours provided. Alfie was ok to use the pink colour but would of preferred a blue or black pen, saying that he decided to colour the front of both boots in pink!!
Typically we haven`t had any good rain to test these beauties out in so we christened them at the beach.
These boots are an amazing idea as it helps nurture your child`s creative side in creating a work of art that they can wear anywhere.
Prices start at £20 for the boots and pens, all in a drawstring bag or £25 for the boots, pens and colouring book of all the artwork created in the design of the boots and a lovely keepsake box.
Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the next product in el Rhey`s impressive range. It`s amazing, I have been privileged enough to see it months before launch and all I can say is "WOW"!
Check out el Rhey`s product video below
I was given a free pair of boots in exchange for a true and accurate review of the product.
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
I faced my childhood fear!
Today I faced a fear that I have had since I was a teenager......going to the dentist!
Now I know I am probably going to be judged as a bad and dirty person for not going but hear my reasons first.
By the time I was 12 years old I had had 12 teeth taken out due to overcrowding. Those were the days when you had an injection and then had to take a seat for 20 minutes whilst the anaesthetic took effect. My dentist was what I now see as `old school` and didn`t have the best bedside manners.
My fear of dentists arose after I went to have my last set of 2 teeth removed. I was injected; waited and was then sat back down in chair, the dentist then proceed to try and pull my teeth out......I could feel everything and tried to stop him but he carried on saying that I was being a drama queen. Eventually he stopped but not after my mum asking him to stop numerous times. He didn`t believe me that I could feel anything but injected me again, this time my the whole side of my face went numb and I looked like I`d had a stroke!!
After that incident it was safe to say I never wanted to go back to a dentist and I hadn`t for 16 years; until today.
Last week part of my back molar broke off so I bit the bullet (get it?!), registered at my local surgery and made an appointment. I explained to the dentist how my fear of going dentists came about and she said that she could completely understand why I hadn`t been sooner. To cut a long story short I needed a filling and the tooth rebuilding asap.
Today was the day of my appointment for the filling and for some reason I was very calm and not half as nervous as I had been previously. The dentist had put me at ease at my last appointment and assured me that I wouldn`t feel the injection as she had injected a 4 year old the day before and he didn`t bat an eye lid.
Yeah right, not feel the injection??? I didn`t believe that for one minute but do you know what?? I didn`t feel a single thing, not even a tiny scratch or anything!!
The whole experience today has changed my perspective of dentists and feel like a fool now for waiting so long to go and see one.
I can highly recommend the Bear Cross Dental Practice to anyone in the Bournemouth area, they are absolutely amazing and have cured me of my half-life long fear xx
Now I know I am probably going to be judged as a bad and dirty person for not going but hear my reasons first.
By the time I was 12 years old I had had 12 teeth taken out due to overcrowding. Those were the days when you had an injection and then had to take a seat for 20 minutes whilst the anaesthetic took effect. My dentist was what I now see as `old school` and didn`t have the best bedside manners.
My fear of dentists arose after I went to have my last set of 2 teeth removed. I was injected; waited and was then sat back down in chair, the dentist then proceed to try and pull my teeth out......I could feel everything and tried to stop him but he carried on saying that I was being a drama queen. Eventually he stopped but not after my mum asking him to stop numerous times. He didn`t believe me that I could feel anything but injected me again, this time my the whole side of my face went numb and I looked like I`d had a stroke!!
After that incident it was safe to say I never wanted to go back to a dentist and I hadn`t for 16 years; until today.
Last week part of my back molar broke off so I bit the bullet (get it?!), registered at my local surgery and made an appointment. I explained to the dentist how my fear of going dentists came about and she said that she could completely understand why I hadn`t been sooner. To cut a long story short I needed a filling and the tooth rebuilding asap.
Today was the day of my appointment for the filling and for some reason I was very calm and not half as nervous as I had been previously. The dentist had put me at ease at my last appointment and assured me that I wouldn`t feel the injection as she had injected a 4 year old the day before and he didn`t bat an eye lid.
Yeah right, not feel the injection??? I didn`t believe that for one minute but do you know what?? I didn`t feel a single thing, not even a tiny scratch or anything!!
The whole experience today has changed my perspective of dentists and feel like a fool now for waiting so long to go and see one.
I can highly recommend the Bear Cross Dental Practice to anyone in the Bournemouth area, they are absolutely amazing and have cured me of my half-life long fear xx
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Getting Hot And Bothered Over Shoes!! Hotter Shoes Review
I hold my hands up and admit that I HATE shoe shopping; I LOVE clothes shopping but for some reason loathe shoe shopping.
Since having the boys I have noticed that my feet have seemed to of spread a lot so need wide fitting shoes or a size bigger than normal.
My hatred of shoe shopping has been quashed by the lovely people at Hotter Shoes!! Have you ever heard of Hotter Shoes?? I had but thought that they were more aimed at, um how do I out this nicely??..the older population...how wrong was I!!
I was invited along with a handful of other amazing local bloggers to attend a Hotter Shoes event that showcased their current and new styles of shoes.
So along I went to their Bournemouth store and met up with Laura from MaxAndMummy, Elaine from EntertainingElliot and Natalie from onebusyWAHM.
We were treated to some lush nibbles and allowed to peruse and try on shoes and boots from their new AW14/15 range. The lovely Mel who is the head of PR for Hotter Shoes then gave us a really interesting talk on how Hotter Shoes came about and their journey from humble beginnings in 1959 making comfortable slippers to today being a worldwide brand.
When I tried these boots on it was literally like putting on a pair of slippers!! They were so comfy that I couldn`t even tell that I was in a heeled boot, they felt as if I was wearing flats.
If I had my way I would of had a pair in each boot in the AW14/15, the Lomand definitely came a very close second in my wish list to the Justina boots, they were all gorgeous but I had to choose the Hampshire boots.
Check out below their first trip out on the school run......finally yummy mummy!!!!
You MUST check out the Hotter range, I promise you that you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can get for your money. Also just in time for Christmas they have some amazing offers on.
I received a pair of boots from Hotter Shoes free of charge in return for an honest review.
Since having the boys I have noticed that my feet have seemed to of spread a lot so need wide fitting shoes or a size bigger than normal.
My hatred of shoe shopping has been quashed by the lovely people at Hotter Shoes!! Have you ever heard of Hotter Shoes?? I had but thought that they were more aimed at, um how do I out this nicely??..the older population...how wrong was I!!I was invited along with a handful of other amazing local bloggers to attend a Hotter Shoes event that showcased their current and new styles of shoes.
So along I went to their Bournemouth store and met up with Laura from MaxAndMummy, Elaine from EntertainingElliot and Natalie from onebusyWAHM.
We were treated to some lush nibbles and allowed to peruse and try on shoes and boots from their new AW14/15 range. The lovely Mel who is the head of PR for Hotter Shoes then gave us a really interesting talk on how Hotter Shoes came about and their journey from humble beginnings in 1959 making comfortable slippers to today being a worldwide brand.
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| Hampshire |
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| Lomand |
Whilst looking around the shop I was instantly drawn to the boot section and fell in love with the Hampshire boots; a gorgeous looking pair of just below the knee boots with a full length zip and mid height heel. Now I have always wanted a pair or knee high boots that I could team up with some leggings or skinny jeans but was worried about how practical and comfy they would be.
When I tried these boots on it was literally like putting on a pair of slippers!! They were so comfy that I couldn`t even tell that I was in a heeled boot, they felt as if I was wearing flats.
If I had my way I would of had a pair in each boot in the AW14/15, the Lomand definitely came a very close second in my wish list to the Justina boots, they were all gorgeous but I had to choose the Hampshire boots.
Check out below their first trip out on the school run......finally yummy mummy!!!!
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| I am soooooo in love with these boots! |
You MUST check out the Hotter range, I promise you that you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can get for your money. Also just in time for Christmas they have some amazing offers on.
I received a pair of boots from Hotter Shoes free of charge in return for an honest review.
Monday, 1 December 2014
The Christmas Tag
Laura had answered some Christmas questions called the Christmas Tag, these were questions about herself and how he celebrates Christmas, they were great questions so I thought I`d answer them too.
So here goes!!
1.What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
My favourite thing about Christmas is that it enables all of my family to be together for at least one or two days a year, enjoying each others company.
2.What is your favourite make-up look for the festive season?
I am a tad stuck in my ways when it comes to make-up and have had the same evening look for a while now. I love dark and smokey eyes with heavy eye-liner and mascara.
3.Real or fake tree?
I LOVE the smell of real trees and before the kids came along we had a real tree every year. But we now use the family heirloom of the 8ft Spruce tree, a lot easier to put away and no pine needles to deal with!! This year I am trying a product out called Scentsicles, they are small green hanging decorations to put on the tree with festive aromas, I have gone for Spruce this year.
4.Giving or receiving presents?
Obviously when I was younger it was all about receiving presents but with 3 young boys Christmas is totally and utterly about them so now I`m a giver.
5.Do you open your presents in the morning or evening?
If we have Christmas at home then the boys rush downstairs at some ungodly hour and rip them apart in minutes but if we spend it at either of the grandparents the boys are amazing and wait till after Christmas dinner is over with.
6.Handmade or shop bought Christmas cards?
I`d love to say home-made cards but with 3 boys I just dont have the time!! So shop bought cards all the way for me!
7.Favourite Christmas film?
Hmmm, now that`s a hard one! We bought The Polar Express as few years ago and it has become a firm family favourite. I personally like Love Actually.
8.Favourite Christmas food?
My favourite food has to be Christmas cake. I have very fond memories of helping my Nan to decorate her hand-made masterpieces. I have tried many times to recreate her creations, only coming close once. I will keep trying though.
9.Favourite Christmas gift?
My favourite gift ever has to be a bike when I was about 7 years old. My Mum was a single parent for a while and she struggled to get us what we wanted. One Christmas she came into our lounge where my sister and I were playing and she told us to get in the garage and cleat up the mess in there. We hadn't been in the garage but went in there anyway rather upset at being told off only to find a new bike for us each with ribbons on the handle bars and those click-clack balls on the wheel spikes.
10.What tops your tree?
For many years we had a lovely little vintage Santa but sadly last year he became just a tad too worn so we replaced him with a silver star.
xxx I`d love it if you would answer these questions too. Let`s all learn more about each other and get twitter buzzing with #ChristmasTag xxx
Leave me your blog URL below so I can be nosey and read your answers.
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| The Wood Christmas tree 2014 xx |
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