Learning Another Language with FlashSticks

I have always wanted my boys to learn another language but with the age differences between them I had to find a system that allowed their different reading levels to be catered for.

FlashSticks to the rescue!!

FlashSticks is a revolutionary method of learning a new language quickly and easily.

Richard, the founder of FlashSticks, wanted to learn Spanish quickly. He was taking lessons but wanted a more efficient and fun way to learn.
He found himself starting to write down the word he wanted to learn on a sticky note with a simple picture of the meaning of the word, the word in Spanish and the pronunciation underneath the picture. Different coloured notes helped him remember the gender of the word.

Being on sticky notes you could then stick the note on the actual item, the idea is that you repeatedly see the item and the language description next to it and learn to associate them together making learning quicker and more fun.

FlashSticks are available in many languages including Spanish, French and even Sign Language! There are multiple levels to each language starting at beginner right up to advanced when you are becoming fluent in your chosen language. Each pack has around 100 sticky notes to stick around your house or workplace. Click HERE to see the while range of languages available to purchase.

When I was approached to try FlashSticks I had never heard of them. After some research I was pleased to find out that the price of each pack is very reasonable with a RRP of £4.99. I have looked at many other teaching methods but was put off by the high cost of each method, the price definitely got my attention!!

After explaining how each note worked the boys were really keen to start learning...to begin with we decided to stick the notes on the wall next to the dinning table so we could go through each note during dinner.

Only after a few days of the notes being there the boys were actually starting to pick up the words and quizzing each other. Every few days I tested them and amazingly they had remembered the words! We add new words to our learning area every few days so not to over load the boys; they are loving it. I honestly cant believe how quickly they are picking up each new word...I think that the pronunciation section makes a big difference as it allows them to break the word down phonically.

The FlashStick App has been created to run in tandem with your sticky note learning path. Available on both android and ios operating systems you`ll be very unlucky to find a device that wont run the new app.

The app is FREE and is a digital version of the sticky notes; you can track your progress on the app which shows you just how much you are learning.

FlashSticks app has a unique feature of the Worlds first object translator...you use your devices camera to scan an object and the app will tell you what the object is in your chosen language.

The boys love to scan random things when we are out and about to see what the app comes up with!

I would strongly recommend this learning system to anyone looking to learn a new language whilst having fun, the price is great and the different levels available will suit everyone.

Check out the video below of he boys showing just how easy it is to learn with FlashSticks.



We were provided the starter pack in Spanish to review free of charge in exchange for an honest review of the product.

Happy Birthday Chococake

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Hazel and Wayne who own and run Chococake in Wimborne, Dorset.

Chococake is a cafe and chocolate shop stocking Chococo chocolates as well as locally produced confectionery goods from around Dorset. Both Hazel and Wayne are avid bakers and this shows in their impressive range of baked goods available fresh each day.


The business has been going form strength to strength and on the 3rd of November Chococake will be celebrating its 3rd birthday.

To help celebrate their birthday Chococake and I have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a medium sized (16) selection box of Chococo chocolates with a RRP of £14.95.

To be in with a chance of winning this rather scrummy prize all you need to do is fill out the Gleam widget below.




Please note the contents of the prize may differ to the image above.

Terms and Conditions

• Open to UK residents only
• Closing date : 9th November 2015
• If the chosen winner is not local to Wimborne, Dorset and cannot collect then the selection of chocolates will be sent by post.
• The chocolate selection may contain fresh cream products so it is advisable for them to be consumed within 2 weeks.
• The chocolates have been produced in a food prep area that has used nuts and may also contain nuts. 

Medium Box of Chococo Chocolates (16) From Chococake

Chococake - A Chocolate Education

Hands up if you like chocolate and cake ( holding both hands up very high!!).



Recently I visited Chococake of Wimborne, Dorset and found that they have expertly combined both in one shop.

Wayne and Hazel opened up the shop in my local town of Wimborne a little over 2 years ago. They used their extensive knowledge of the catering business and combined their passions of chocolate and cake creating Chococake.

The store stocks an impressive range of Choco Chocolates which are made in the neighbouring town of Swanage. They stock anything that can be made from chocolate...VW vans. 3d robots, football boots, bunnies, chocolate logs, pumpkins...literally anything!!



Hazel and Wayne pride themselves on supplying their customers with quality chocolates and home made bakes using almost exclusively local produce thus supporting local businesses....something that I believe in strongly. For example the nougat and marshmallows are made down the road in Colehill and some of the vodka chocolates use vodka made in Dorset!! The range of home made bakes is immense, both Hazel and Wayne love cake making and have made some very impressive bespoke cakes as you can see below.

If I have to describe Chococake in one word it would be `passionate`. All the staff are passionate about their jobs and their products. Wayne blew me away with his knowledge of how each chocolate is made step by step, he even gave me a mini chocolate lesson on the differences of their chocolate compared to the mainstream chocolates....I was very impressed!

So impressed that I am hoping to be partnering up with Chococake in the next few weeks with an amazing chocolate give away for you lovely readers, so keep checking back to see what we have to offer.

One Proud Mummy

Regular readers of my blog will know that last year Alfie took part in his first race being held during the Bournemouth Marathon Festival.

For his age he was allowed to enter the 1.5k race; the course of which took him along Bournemouth seafront, up and down Bournemouth Pier with the finishing line just before the iconic seafront bridge.

Last year Alfie did the course in 8m 18s. But for some reason Alfie wasn`t as confident as last year and kept saying that he didn`t want to do it as he thought he wouldn`t be able to beat last years time. We explained to him over and over again that the timing didn`t matter one bit; as long as he was having fun that`s all that mattered. Plus with being a year old, having longer legs and more stamina we were sure he`d beat last years time.

Saturday afternoon we made our way down to Bournemouth seafront to find it heaving!!!! This was the events 3rd year and was visibly a lot more popular than last years festival.

Hubby made his way to the start line with Alfie whilst I made a bee-line straight for the finishing line as last year we learned that if you wanted a good view point you would have to get there about 20-30 mins before the race started.

I was stood ready with Jacob and Ben waiting for Alfie to come over the finishing line when all of a sudden 2 out of Alfie`s 3 sets of grandparents appeared out of the crowds to cheer him on!!

We assumed the race had started by the fact that the timer was running above the finishing line, I say assumed as the start line was well out of eye and ear shot so couldn`t hear the starting gun go off.

Due to Alfie`s time last year of 8m 18s I had told myself to get my camera ready about 6 minutes into the race as no-one would of come over the line by then....how wrong was I?? At 5m 30s a young boy came zooming past me to finish in the courses fastest time ever!!

At 6m 50s I heard my mum screaming "he`s coming!!", and sure enough Alfie was sprinting towards the finishing line!! I barely had time to get my camera ready and managed to take 2 not so great pictures of him whizzing past me.

My amazing son had shaved off 1m 19s off of last years time coming in at 6m 59s!!! I was so proud of him I instantly welled up with tears as I knew he`d of done his best to finish so quickly.

When I collected him from the holding pens he had the biggest smile on his face; he didn`t know his official time but he knew he`d done well. When I told him he was so happy it made my heart melt. We collected his amazing finishers medal and goody pack which included a finisher t-shirt which he instantly put on...as you can tell from the photo below he was so proud to be showing off his medal.

I am so proud of you Alfie for completing the race and beating last years time. You will do even better next year in the next age group up and longer race of 2k xxx

How Time Flies, But I`m Back!!

I can`t believe that I have published only 3 posts since the start of the summer holidays and feel really guilty about it. I can honestly say that I have been so busy over the last few weeks that sadly blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

With Ben starting nursery 3 weeks ago I now have 3 hours a week to myself , but what am I going to do with it I hear you ask?? Well sadly I am not going to be having some chill out time; instead I have decided to take my hobby of crocheting to the next level and have set up a new blog to document my patterns and creations plus a YouTube channel for video tutorials of the patterns. So my 3 child free hours a week will now be spent recording and editing video tutorials, plus writing and blogging about what I have created....am I mad??

The new blog is called Crochet Bliss UK, please feel free to take a peek...I hope you like what you see!!
It is a work in progress so please be kind!!

So then, hopefully I will be back publishing posts about the antics of the Wood family more often, see you soon xxxx