Magpie Monday - Autumn Walk

Such an improvement weather-wise on last weekend.

On Sunday, we all donned our wellies and wrapped up snug for a crisp walk around the woods.

A flask of hot tea, sipped on tree trunk stools, fingers stained purple from blackberry picking, clouds of hot breath steaming from our mouths like dragons.

Ruby was suitable attired for the autumn weather.

Fur collared double-breasted coat - £4 (charity shop)
Purple knitted hat and scarf - 10p each (jumble sale)
Attitude - model's own. Grab the badge and link up.

What second-hand bargains have you picked up lately?  Grab the badge and link up.

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Your child's big questions - do you know the answer?

There are some questions that Ruby comes out with which just floor me.  I find myself racking my cobwebby brain trying to remember school lessons so I can answer such gems as "why is the sea salty" and "where does the moon go in the day time".

Given that I spent most of my science lessons dicking about at the back of the class with my mates, trying to gas each other with Bunsen burners, I generally fail to come up with suitable/accurate/vaguely true responses.

My stock answers are:

a) It's magic

b) Let's Google it

c) Let's ask your uncle (who, according to Ruby, is an 'astro-phizzlestick')

But, my pain is over.  A brand new book launched today will answer all those searching questions, in a succinct, child-friendly manner.  What's more, the responses come from some of the greatest known minds in the country.

 
Created by Faber and Faber for the book Big Questions From Little People. INFOGRAPHIC: What Big Questions are on Your Child's Mind?

Proceeds from the book go to the NSPCC and what's more, if you have a tricky question posed by your little one that you're struggling to answer, you can ask away today on Twitter.

Simply follow @BigQuestionsBK and ask away and help them find the nation's biggest Big Question.

Justin Fletcher's Funny Faces

The demi-god that is Mr Fletcher has just launched a new activity book - set to become a pre-schooler stocking filler essential.

Tell me, what kid doesn't love Justin and what kid doesn't love stickers?

The book comes with tonnes of reusable stickers featuring various funny features so you can make funny faces to your heart's content.

Mix and match, and re-use over and over again.

We had a right giggle!

The sticker activity book releases today, and will be available nationwide with an RRP of £3.99.

Disclosure: We were sent the book for the purposes of this review, however all opinions are our own. 

Jingle Puzzles

I'm really glad that Ruby enjoys music so much. I don't have a musical bone in my body, I never learnt to play an instrument, and I make dogs howl when I sing.

But, she's now got a great teacher at school who is very talented and enthusiastic, so she comes home daily with new songs to her repertoire. She's even learnt to do 'Jazz Hands'!

When we were sent the Jingle Puzzle set to review, I knew it would be right up her street. It basically contains all her favourite things - stickers; a jigsaw and a music CD. It was bound to be a hit really.

We played with the Five Little Speckled Frogs set, which contains a CD of lots of counting songs. It's a great addition to her school learning, and lots of the songs she's already familiar with and she joins in loudly, including her new favourite which I swear I thought was called 'Alistair Campbell's got 5 humps".

There are over 20 stickers to either decorate things (including the dog in our case) or as reward stickers (with wording such as 'great work' and 'amazing singing').

The sets are aimed at 3-6 year olds, but I'd say the simplicity of the puzzle would put it at the younger end of that range. She did the puzzle fairly easily, but still got great pleasure out of it.

We have the CD on in her playroom, and get silly doing the actions to all the songs.

Retailing at £9.99 I think this is great value for money when you consider all the extras that are included. Each pack has song sheets, activities, a metre long puzzle, a music CD a bonus story and the stickers.

A great little Christmas present. Choose from this one, Old Macdonald's Farm; Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or The Wheels on the Bus.

Disclosure: We were sent the set for the purposes of this review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

Jungle Junction - Race Launcher Review

We recently got to try out the new toy sets from Jungle Junction.

Here's how we got on...




The Jungle Junction Race Launcher is available from all good toy shops.

Check out also our vlog review for the Jungle Junction Taxicrab Boat Set.

Disclosure: We were sent the toy set for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are our own.

Jungle Junction - Taxicrab Boat

We recently got to try out the new toy sets from Jungle Junction.

Here's how we got on...




The Jungle Junction Taxicrab Boat Playset is available from all good toy shops.

Check out also our vlog review for the Jungle Junction Race Launcher.

Disclosure: We were sent the toy set for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are our own.

Magpie Monday - Light Fantastic

What an icky day.  I think the car boot sales are pretty much finished now until next year, although every cloud and all that...it's Jumblie season!! I went to one on Saturday.  A proper one, that smelt of wee and everything.

All the clothes I bought for re-purposing are currently in quarantine soaking in Ace, so those will have to wait for another show-and-tell day.

Instead I'll show you something I picked up at a boot sale a few weeks back.

This little vintage paper parasol was £3 and made me do a little yelp when I spotted it.

I knew it would be perfect to suspend from Ruby's very un-aesthetically pleasing spotlights in her room.

It prettifies her ceiling and softens the harsh light.  I'm very happy with this find.

What have you been thrifting lately?

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