Ben and Holly - Toy Review

We were recently lucky enough to receive a bundle of toys from the hugely popular children's TV series Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.  Now, we've outgrown Peppa Pig in our house but I'm glad that Ruby is still clinging onto Ben and Holly because I have a bit of a soft spot for it myself.

Although I was sent it to review on the blog, I'm getting a bit concerned about the message it's sending out giving Ruby new toys 'just because' so I held them back a few days and presented them to her as a Well Done on her brilliant school report.  She had her eyes tightly closed for her surprise and her face was an absolute picture when I gave her the Magical Castle - she screamed "oh Mummy, THANK YOU, I've always wanted this, it's the best present EVER!!!"

From my perspective, first impressions were good.  One of my biggest bugbears is packaging which needs an entire toolbox to crack open.  It seems that Golden Bear Toys have listened to customer feedback, and come up with a new way to attached items to their packaging.  This was a breeze to open, paper-type string, simply twisted together - you don't even need scissors!

Once we'd set the castle up (again, very simple to do) Ruby went about decorating it with the stickers provided.  The set comes with 4 figures and a 'magic wand'.  We were intrigued to see how exactly it would perform it's 'magic spells', but lo and behold, as if by magic when the wand is waved over certain parts of the castle, things happen!  Holly's toy chest magically opens; the fridge door opens and the bath magically fills amongst other things.

My only criticism would be that if an adult doesn't properly slot the castle tower into the base, it has a tendency to topple over and as a consequence, re-arranges the furniture!  However, Ruby loves it and spends ages happily setting up scenes and making up stories about Nanny Plum and Ben Elf's adventures.

At nearly £25 it is a little on the pricey side, but I do like that they also sell a 'spares set', so if pieces are lost, all is not lost.  I wish more toy companies would do this.  As kids get beyond the age of 3 and apparently instantly stop putting things in their mouths, their toys inexplicably seem to come with tonnes of teeny tiny pieces which invariable end up sucked up the hoover so a spares set is a great idea.

We were also sent a set of dominoes, and have been playing these as together as a family.  We often play a board or card game before bed, so it's nice to have something new to add to our collection.  The dominoes are chunky and wooden and easy to grasp.  I would say at the age of five years, we really could have done with some numbers on them to test her a little further, but for younger children it's a great way to learn the art of dominoes, and teaches taking turns and matching skills.

Finally, we also had one of the wand and figure sets.  These are reasonably priced at £3.99 and make a nice pocket-money type toy or gift.  Available with different characters, I guess the idea is to collect the set.  But since we already had a wand with the castle, we had much more fun doing things like this with them...

Have you figured out how the magic works yet?!

Disclosure: We were sent the toys for the purposes of this review.  All opinions and pictures are our own.

Free Forest Fun

The Forestry Commission have today launched some research which shows that parents spend a staggering amount of money entertaining their kids.  On average, each family spends nearly £4,800 per year on activities; entertainment; games and attraction tickets.

With the summer holidays here (or just around the corner for us as we break up next week) here's some ideas for free activities you can enjoy in your local woods.  Half of the population in England lives within 6 miles of woodland, so let's make the most of it!

1. Climb a tree or a stump.

Be careful to respect Mother Nature and don't damage the bark.  Climbing up high gives kids a whole new perspective, it builds confidence and agility skills, is great physical exercise, and let's face it is a fundamental part of being a kid.  The Forestry Commission actively encourage children to climb - so you won't get told off!

2.  Practise balancing skills.

Find a fallen tree and pretend you're walking the plank; balancing on the high beam or walking a tightrope.  Have competitions to see who can get the furthest.  Hold hands for younger children for safety, but still allow them a sense of achievement.

3. Build a den.

Great for team work.  Get the whole family involved and check out these great tips from the experts for how to do it safely and effectively.  Failing that, find one that's already built and squat!  Take some old blankets and cuddly toys and snuggle down.

4. Make a 'pretend campfire'.

With this heatwave we've been having, the ground and vegetation is tinder-dry so take extra care with naked flames.  Real fire lighting is something best left to the experts, following strict safety precautions, but older children may be interested to find out how it's done by attending a bushcraft day - check the Forestry Commission's website to find workshops near you such as this one at Sherwood Pines.  For younger children, it's fun to collect sticks and twigs and pile them up into a pretend fire.  They can play and rubbing sticks together boy-scout style.  Take some red and orange tissue paper along with you to make realistic looking make-believe flames (remember to take all litter home with you).

5. Forest words and art.

Just because school's out, doesn't mean you should forget about reading and writing!  Gather up sticks to spell out woodland-themed words.  Or collect up leaves, seeds; pine cones and feathers to make a giant picture on the ground.

6. Wildlife exploration.

The forest is full of creatures great and small, see how many you can find.  From beetles to butterflies to birds to badgers.  Look for clues such as nibbled nut shells; footprints; trampled undergrowth and burrows.  Sketch or take photographs so you can research them back at home and discover what animals might have been there.  If you're organised you could take some plaster of paris with you to make a cast of any footprints you find.

7. Take some books.

There is nothing more peaceful than reading a favourite story under the shade of a big tree.  Find a comfy spot, maybe on a soft mossy bank, cuddle up and see how well loved tales come to life in the woodland environment.  Maybe you'll read the Gruffalo, or Going on a Bear Hunt, or one of the Grimm's fairy stories.  See how it inspires play and transforms your surroundings.  The Forestry Commission have a fabulous new Fairy Tale initiative running, with free downloads, ideas and inspiration and details of special 'fairy tale installations' at some sites.

8. Collect natural art materials.

Whether it's sticks, stones, leaves or feathers, nature provides a wonderful bounty for crafting when you get back home.  Maybe you could make stick men; decorate stones to make fairy houses; make a willow wreath or bark candle holder.  There's tonnes of inspiration on this We Love Forests Pinterest board.

9. Borrow some educational books from the library.

Borrow books for free, and learn to identify wild flowers, different types of trees and seeds.  Over the summer libraries are running a reading challenge, so these books will all count towards them.  We love the I-Spy books.  You could even set a challenge or treasure hunt to see who can find the most varieties of leaves for example.

10. Take a picnic.

Some larger forests have cafes on site, but if not pack up a picnic and plenty of cool drinks.  Keeping the kids fed and watered means they'll want to stay even longer! Remember to be respectful and take your litter home or use bins provided.

What's your favourite activity in the forest?  Are you dreading the expense of the holidays or will you be making the most of what nature provides for free?

Disclosure: I am an Official Forestry Commission blogger and receive and annual Discovery Pass which give free parking and other benefits.

 

Joining the Juicing Revolution

After just a couple of days playing with my new toy, I'm well on my way to becoming a juice junkie.  Quick; easy; delicious and good for you - what's not to like?

I've been sent the Philips Avance 800w to test out, and trust me, this bad boy puts my old puny juicer to shame.  He used to hide, neglected at the back of my kitchen cupboard, unloved and barely used.  It was such a hassle to take it apart, juice would seep into parts of the machinery it shouldn't.  Scrubbing it clean was a nightmare, I could never get those annoying bits of pith and pulp out of the blade and worse of all, I lost most of the juice it did make as it dribbled out the spout, by-passing the glass completely and pooling in a sorry, sticky puddle on the work-top.

Well not anymore!  So far, I have to say, my Philips Avance is living up to every claim on the box.  It's easy and intuitive to put together and take apart.  All the sections (apart from the motor obviously) go in the dishwasher and come out sparkly clean every time.  Juice doesn't go anywhere it's not supposed to, it all collects in the large 1.5 litre jug.

I love the extra wide chute, which will take apples whole meaning a huge reduction in prep time.  I was always put off juicing before, thinking I'd have to spend ages peeling and chopping fruit and veg, but with this machine you can chuck in whole fruits (citrus fruits have to be peeled first and fruits with hard stones need to be pitted such as plums and cherries, but still it's a massive improvement on my old one).

There are 2 speeds depending on the hardness of the fruit or vegetable, meaning you get maximum efficiency. I have read some reports of motor problems with this model, so I'll be keeping an eye on that and reporting back, but so far so good.  The pulp all collects neatly in the container, ready to scoop out into the compost, and what I noticed was how dry it is, which really shows that every last drop has been squeezed out.

Depending on what you're juicing, you can get a froth on your end result, quite a lot of froth sometimes!  However, the clever separator on the lid filters most of it off as you pour it into your glass for serving.

It's also quiet for such a large capacity, and stable on the worktop - no jumping about as it does the biz.  The size of the machine is ok - I did freak out a little at the size of the box which is mahoosive, but to be honest, it sits on my worktop and I intend it to stay there so I can use it daily.

Included in the package is a Jason Vale recipe book packed with over 100 juice and smoothie combos.  I can't wait to try some of these out and I love that my family has already massively increased our fruit and veg intake.

I've also spotted that Stephanie over at I'm Counting UFOs runs a Juicy Tuesday slot, so I'll be checking out her concoctions.   In the meantime, here are some snaps of what I've whizzed up so far...

Beetroot; carrot and apple juice AKA Beetlejuice - sweet, vibrant and earthy, I LOVED it, but then I love beetroot.  The Old Man was less keen, but then he hates beetroot.  He liked it a little more when I reminded him of the health benefits of the root of the beet, particularly for umm athletes and sportsmen.  Then he went all macho about his reduction in oxygen uptake and post work-out recovery time. Yawn.

Tangerine and green grapes AKA Tangerine dream -  I kept this fruity little number all to myself.  It was light and zesty, deliciously sweet and fresh. Could be improved by using slightly less manky bottom-of-the-fruit-bowl-fruit.

Watercress, celery, apple and watermelon AKA The Cresst of a Wave (I'm enjoying myself a little too much making these names up). This had the peppery hit of the watercress and the distinctive taste of the celery, but with the fresh summery flavour of summer from the cucumber and watermelon. Definitely felt like it was doing me good!

Come back and see more concoctions, and if you have any favourite juice combos I'd love you to let me know in a comment below.

Disclosure: I was sent this juicer for the purposes of this review.  All views and opinions are my own.

Clever summer post-baby tummy disguises

Five years on and I'm still carrying the post pregnancy tummy wobble, I don't think it will ever go!

With a combination of too many naughty treats, a very sedentary day as a work-at-home mum and that annoying c-section hangover, I'm beginning to get a little self conscious about my growing spare tyre.  It's not helped of course, by the growing pressure in the media for women to snap back into shape practically before they've left the maternity ward.  You just wait and see what they say about the Duchess of Cambridge...

I have no intention of taking drastic measures like starving myself, going under the knife or signing up to a personal trainer.  I am making sensible changes, building in a daily half-hour walk after the school run and swapping my addiction to crisps for healthy homemade fruit and vegetable juices.

Meanwhile, canny clothing manufacturers have come up with technological fashion wonders, which help to hide your bulge and have introduced some great new features into some summer wardrobe staples.  This Cotton Traders swim suit features a bold leaf print designed to draw the eye away from the midriff and features a secret tummy control panel.

Cotton Traders Swimwear - reduced currently only £16

For daytime, there's this equally clever jersey dress from Cotton Traders in either lavender or royal blue.  It too features a special slimming panel for a perfect silhouette, and the fabric is designed to hold you in without restricting the gentle drape of the dress.

Tummy control dress now £32

Every wardrobe needs a good pair of jeans (or two!) and these pretty patterned jeans are right on trend.  They are made from clever fabric designed to hold tummy in and bottom up, without the need for any panels.  They look just like regular jeans, so nobody will know you're getting a bit of extra help.

Control jeans - £30

So what do you think of my selection?  What are your tips for beating the baby bulge - or disguising it!  Or does it not bother you?

Disclosure: This is a featured post.

5 tips for summer ready feet

Yes, our feet have been confined and hidden away in warm socks and furry boots all winter, sad and neglected.  The summer is well and truly upon us now, but are your feet ready to bare all?

Here are my recommendations for tip-top tootsies.

1.  Hard-working feet are often prone to dry, hard skin particularly on the heels and balls of the feet.  Smooth them by first soaking in a bowl of warm water.  Using a pumice stone gently exfoliate and rub away that dead skin.

2. Dry thoroughly and slather on a rich moisturiser.  My favourite is Shea Butter Foot Cream by L'Occitane which I think is unbeatable, although I have been known to use the Shea Butter Hand cream on my feet too! I always stock up on L'Occitane products at John Lewis when I visit as I can't buy them locally. This foot cream is deeply nourishing and contains both antiseptic and cooling essential oils.  Pop this on your feet just before you go to sleep to wake up with beautifully soft soles. To prevent greasy footprints on the carpet, I sit in bed and do this, or you can pop a pair of cotton socks over after you've applied the cream.

3. For neat and pretty nails, give them a thorough clean with a nailbrush.  Trim nails squarely - cut straight across and never cut the corners, or cut them too short or you may develop painful ingrown toenails.  Before painting your nails, use a good base coat to prevent staining and go for a bold statement colour to add some zing.

4. Choose some pretty but sensible sandals to show of your lovely feet. Fitflops are ideal as not only do they relieve pressure for hard-working feet, but they will tone your legs as you walk too.  John Lewis stock a range of Fitflop sandals and my favourite are the Glad Via Suede ones which look fab with a tan. Don't forget sun cream on the delicate and vulnerable tops of your feet.

5. Finally to cool feet after a hot day, fill a bowl with tepid water and add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to leave them feeling zingingly, tinglingly refreshed. 

What are your favourite feet treats?  Do you have any tips for beautiful soles?

Disclosure: This is a featured post.

Magpie Monday - My new favourite top

These past few weeks I've been struggling to find things to post about.  Not because I've suddenly abandoned pre-loved and fallen for the lure of the High Street - fear not, that will never happen.  But it's just been too hot for mooching around town so my charity shop visits have dwindled.  Yes, the summer months means regular car boot sales, but it also means full-on super-busy calender so we simply haven't had the time to pick up any bargains.

So, I thought I'd share with you a purchase from a month or so ago which has quickly become my new favourite garment.  When others were fretting for months about what to wear to blogging conferences, I wore this top to Cybher that I'd bought a couple of days previously in a chazza for £3.99.  And do you know what, SO many people complimented me on it.

It's a Red Herring top, long in the body so prefect to wear over skinny jeans or leggings, or maybe thick tights in the Autumn.  I love the folksy floral pattern and the jade and purple colours.  But most of all, I love the sleeves.  Ruby calls them wings, and I think she has a point!

I even wore it to collect my Bafta*

Do you find the summer months more or less fruitful for second-hand shopping?  Are you out every Sunday stomping round fields rummaging in people's car boots, or are you too busy doing other stuff?

I'd love you to grab the badge and link up your finds so I can get my buzz.

*That may be a lie.


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Foraged Cherry Clafoutis

Finally a chance for a decent bit of urban foraging!  This week I spotted a cherry tree in a local car park, literally dripping with jewel red cherries.  We picked and feasted on a few the other night and today I went back with Ruby, armed with a basket.

Unusually for me, I decided to do the proper thing and I sought out the Duty Manager of the facility to ask permission - to be fair I probably wouldn't have bothered if I were on my own or was there at a quiet time, but this was the middle of the afternoon with lots of people coming and going and I couldn't face the humiliation of being told off at a place we frequent on a weekly basis!

Well, what a palaver!  Clearly he was on health and safety over-drive and tried telling me they weren't edible (they are); they weren't ripe yet (they are falling off the tree); they don't taste nice (they do!), and finally they don't recommend it.  What does that mean??!  It was obvious he didn't want to leave his company open to tree climbing injuries or poisoning litigation, so finally I asked the easy question: if I pick them will I get told off and asked to leave?  'No' came the answer.  Well, glad we got to the bottom of that!

As with any foraging, make sure of your identification first.  As far as I know, the ripe fruit of all versions of the cherry tree are edible, although some will be much sharper than others.

In a very short time, we'd harvested a good basketful, scooping up the undamaged ones from the ground and pulling pairs on stalks from the tree, sticky red juice running down our arms.

Other mums and their kids stopped as they were passing, and intrigued, took a few and popped them into their mouths.  I love that!  They'd never even noticed the tree before.

Home we went and I rinsed them off in cold water and started the task of de-stoning them.  It's a pain, but it's worth it.  I'd recommend investing in an olive stoner (this is an affiliate link, should you click to purchase I will earn a few pennies - just so we're clear!) - I use mine loads, for hedge plums and greengages as well as cherries and olives.

My suggestion, take a couple of bowls outside in the sun, pop on some tunes, pour a glass of something cold and you'll soon make light work of it.  My next suggestion - don't wear your favourite white top whilst performing this task.Oops.

Once they're de-stoned you can then juice them, make jam (recipes coming soon) or make this delicious French dessert.  It's very simple, and aside from the cherries, you'll probably have all the ingredients in your fridge and store cupboard. I adapt the recipe to use lactose-free products so Ruby can enjoy it with us.

You will need: (serves 4)

2 eggs

• 80g plain flour
• 80g butter melted and cooled (I used liquid Stork)
• 150 ml milk (I used Lacto-free whole milk)
• 60g caster sugar
• drop of good quality vanilla essence
• 20g butter (I used the Lacto-free spreadable butter)
• 200g ripe cherries, stoned 
Icing sugar to finish

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade.

Lightly beat the eggs, then add the flour and milk and beat with an electric whisk, add the caster sugar, vanilla and liquid butter and continue to whisk until you have a smooth lump-free batter.

Use about half of the solid butter to generously grease a shallow ovenproof gratin dish (or similar shallow dish).  Add your cherries to the dish and spread out evenly.

Pour the batter over and place in the oven.  Cook for 10 minutes, then turn down to 180 and cook for another 15 minutes.  Remove briefly from oven and dot the remainder of the butter here and there on the top before returning to the oven for a further 5 minutes or so until cooked through.  You can check it's done by inserting a skewer into the middle - if it comes out clean it's cooked.

Allow to cool for around 10 minutes before dusting with icing sugar.

Serve warm with cream or ice cream.  We had it for pud today and Ruby said she liked it as much as our house is tall - not bad compliment eh? It's also delicious cold, the next day as a cake slice in the lunchbox.

Have you spotted any cherry trees near you?  What's your favourite cherry recipe?  Got any you'd like me to write about?