Everything's better with cake

Let's face it, there's not much that can't be improved with a nice cuppa and a piece of cake.  I often bake my own, but when we're off on holiday there generally isn't time to fit it in with all the packing and preparations.

Mr Kipling cakes are tried and trusted and are firm family favourites - mine being the pink 'knee cap' fondant french fancies that I still love from my childhood.

We packed a bunch of boxes with us for our recent trip to Snowdonia, and here's just some of the experiences that were made better with cake - from personal achievements to family fun to peaceful reflective moments.

Celebrating conquering a mountain with cake.

Post wild-swim cake snack and energy boost.

Beach-time treat - everyone runs back for cake!

A relaxing afternoon in the garden needs tea and cake.

What do you make better with cake?

This post is an entry for #betterwithcake Linky Challenge (http://bit.ly/betterwithcake), sponsored by Mr Kipling. Learn more at Mr Kipling's Facebook page. 

Disney on Ice - Magical Ice Festival Review

Back in the Christmas holidays we went to see our first Disney on Ice show, and ever since then we'd been looking forward to the promised 'Ice Festival' complete with the cast from Frozen.

Well, last night the wait was over as we headed up to the Genting Arena at Birmingham.  The excitement was palpable at the venue with thousands of mini Elsas and Annas excitedly waving their LED wands and chattering about when they'd get to see their heroines.

It turned out, the Frozen section wouldn't be right til the end, but throughout the promise was there, just like the giant illuminated snowflake high up in the riggings, waiting for it's moment.

Personally, I much preferred this show to the 100 years of Magic show.  They spent longer on each film section, and reduced the amount of films featured and I think this worked much better.  You got a much more detailed overview of the plots, and it didn't feel so rushed through.  Somehow it just seemed to flow better.

The compares for the evening were, as ever Mickey and Minnie, joined by their friends, but they didn't need to do as much work stringing the performance together, as it just followed through more naturally.

First up was the tale of Ariel, the little mermaid. A fabulous pastiche featuring Sebastien and all the underwater creatures in a fast-paced, fluorescent skating version of 'Under the sea'.  It's a truly spectacular opening to the show and the audience were joining in, singing and clapping along.  There were over 20 characters on the ice at this point, with all manner of amazing sea creature costumes - rays, jellyfish, starfish to name a few - it was like a crazy underwater rave.  Of course, there's Eric, and his shipwreck is portrayed cleverly, the pact Ariel makes with Ursula and her ascent up to the surface to become a human is cleverly produced with fabulous rope-work and acrobatics.  

Next up was the scenes from Tangled and we're introduced to Princess Rapunzel and her mother Gothel. As per the story, Rapunzel dreams of leaving the tower, and after a chance meeting with fugitive Flyn/Eugene, they leave the tower together. It's of course only then that she discovers the beautiful lights she sees each year on her birthday are in fact lanterns sent from the royal castle in search of the long-lost princess.  There's a great performance by Maximus the horse, and the rising lanterns and ultimately the flag-waving celebrations bring the first half of the performance to an end.

Cue mad interval scrambling for Disney-themed merchandise, massive lines for the toilets (tip, get Dad to take kids to the loo because the ladies loos are always rammed) and huge intake of sugar before rushing back to seats.

All settled back in our positions, the second half commences with Belle and Beauty and The Beast.

There's a spectacular performance of 'Be our guest' with Lumiere, Mrs Potts, Chip and the knives and forks, and it's clear from the reaction that Beauty and the Beast is a firm favourite with the audience.  The spectacular demise of Gaston is met with cheers, before Belle can finally dance with her true love in the ballroom.

When Mickey returns to the stage and introduces a 'famous ice hunter' the crowd literally go wild, you can tell this is the moment they've been waiting for, and when Kristof and Sven glide on stage, it feels like the roof might come off. We have a rendition of 'reindeer and better than people', before another huge cheer as Anna enters the ice.  We're treated to 'For the first time in forever' which clearly is about the millionth time for most of the audience as they all sing along word for word.  We also have 'Do you wanna build a snowman' and the arrival of Princess Elsa.  At this point Anna falls over and I'm not sure if this is scripted or not, but she recovers gracefully.

Prince Hans arrives so we can all enjoy 'Love is an open door', with a thousand youtube-wannabe mums and daughters belting it out in the audience.

Then suddenly there's screams from the crowd as somebody spots Olaf. Actually I think Olaf gets the biggest reception of all the characters of the evening. We're treated to a very retro and 70's styled 'In Summer' with bees and flowers and lots of Hawaiian shirts.

Elsa's ice palace is a little disappointing but the rendition of 'Let it go' and the actual snow makes up for it.

The production team cleverly deal with the frozen heart scenario with an illuminated cloak, and so ends the performance.

There's just time for a final encore and roll-call as all the characters come back on stage, and wave wildly at the audience.

It was fabulous show, we all really enjoyed it.  I'm sure many many memories were made that night, and I think Disney on Ice performances will become an annual treat for us.

My only complaint was the timing.  Our show started at 7pm which really is too late for such a young audience.  It finished around 9:30 and even staying in a nearby hotel, Ruby wasn't in bed til 10:30.  We can just about get away with that on a holiday evening, but some of the scheduled shows are on school nights.  We had to squeeze past several crashed out littlies sprawled out across their parent's laps, so I'm sure we're not the only ones who felt it too late.

You can get details of all the upcoming performance venues and dates here.

Disclosure: We were sent family tickets for the purposes of this review.  All opinions and photos are my own.

Branagh's Cinderella - A Modern Fairytale?

There's no denying that Kenneth Branagh's new Disney film is a cinematic masterpiece, full of stunning scenery, breath-taking costumes and stellar acting from the lead Lily James; her stepmother Cate Blanchet and Helena Bonham-Carter playing a wonderfully ditzy Fairy Godmother.

The film remains largely true to the original fairy-tale and so the familiarity holds the attention of the young audience, despite it being probably their first Disney experience without huge-eyed computer animated characters - although they did still cast actresses with alarmingly minuscule waistlines.

The movie has been cleverly marketed to younger girls with the lure of the much anticipated sequel to Frozen, a short 7 minute animation which re-introduces us to Elsa and Anna.  So given the impressionable audience, do we still want our daughters aspiring to this rags-to-riches 'heroine'?

Well, Branagh has gone some way to appease the feminists, but probably not nearly far enough.  The main deviation from the traditional storyline is that Cinderella first meets the Prince in the forest - although of course she has no clue as to his fine breeding.  This meeting as equals, with her in her scullery maid outfit is meant to show us that true love transcends beauty (although that may be easier to believe if she weren't so stunningly attractive even with soot smeared on her face).

The fact that she hankers after this young 'apprentice' not knowing his title, is indeed better than the previous Disney plot line where she toils away in the vague hope that 'someday her prince will come' and whisk her away from her domestic drudgery.

The notion of the ugly sisters is abandoned too, shedding off the idea that kindness and physical beauty are intrinsically connected.

The key message throughout is that 'courage and kindness' will win the day.  So rather than being a feisty modern-day heroine, she gently and quietly overcomes her troubles.  There were plenty of times when I was silently screaming for her courage to outweigh her kindness and tell her step-sisters where to get off.

So, Cinderella's love for 'Kit' who she's met in the forest is pure and untainted by material desires, and that's a step in the right direction.

It is however the Step-Mother that perpetuates the myth that women must be kept by a man.  She marries Ella's widowed father to save her from financial difficulty, and then her first reaction on hearing of his demise is that they'll face ruin.  So, why not...I don't know...get a job?  No, instead she'll try and orchestrate an advantageous marriage of her daughters to keep the wolves from the door.

Still, as much as this film is about love of the romantic kind (and it is impossibly romantic), it's also about familial love.  The deep bond between her and her father is genuinely beautiful, and will ring true to any father returning home to his family after time away.  Her undying love and devotion to the memory of her mother is heart-breaking.  The tender father/son moments too, between the grown-up Prince and the King (played by Derek Jacobi) are not often seen on screen.

Branagh puts flesh on the bones of the traditional tale, making Ella's demise from her perfect life to a down-trodden servant more believable.  He deals with the rawness and tragedy of death more honestly than previous Disney offerings, and he has made 2015's Cinderella a more rounded character.

It's a shame though that most of the audience will probably only remember the beautiful gown and the glass slippers.

One Fine Stay - A Paris rental apartment

With surprise weekend Eurostar tickets to Paris presented to me, I thought we'd push the boat out with accommodation and we decided to rent an apartment rather than stay in a hotel.

The strap-line of One Fine Stay is 'live like a local' and that's exactly what we did in this designer apartment in the South-West of Paris.  There's something about staying in a hotel that makes you instantly feel like a tourist, and we wanted to discover the heart and soul of Paris.

Being able to close our bedroom window shutters at night, brew our own coffee in the kitchen and stroll out of the front door to pick up baguettes seemed to make the whole experience more Parisian.

The apartment is in the 15th arrondissement, with both Commerce and Avenue Emile Zola metro stations a two minute stroll away.  We hopped on the subway after arriving in at Gare Du Nord and arrived at the property within 40 minutes.  It may sound like a long way out, but it's a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine, and the Paris Metro is so efficient you can easily get around the city.

Armed with the key code, we slipped off the bustling Rue du Commerce with it's fashion stores, through an unassuming gate into an oasis of calm.  The pretty courtyard is surrounded on all sides by apartments and we were met at our staircase by our One Fine Stay greeter.

All the communication from One Fine Stay was excellent, right from placing our booking.  I received several texts on our day of arrival which was reassuring and helpful as I was able to check last minute details about the apartment and what I needed to bring.

Climbing the staircase, we soon found our home for the next two nights, it was warm and welcoming - she had already switched on the lights, checked the heating, laid out a welcome basket of tea, coffee and biscuits and put milk in the fridge.

All the worries you might have about leaving the security of a traditional hotel stay have been assuaged by One Fine Stay.  We were able to book a breakfast package for the first morning - expensive but worth the money when we woke to pouring rain on the first morning!  There's some one to meet you and check you in.  They ensure you have the basics to be able to make a drink etc. Best of all, you're issued with an iPhone and charger which acts as your personal concierge during your stay.  On the phone you'll fine useful apps to enable you to book cabs; find cycle hire; make restaurant reservations; find tourist information, maps and so on.  Their own app is excellent, it has recommendations for things to do, places to see and dine at and a handy app which will direct you 'home' from wherever you are.  There is 24 hour phone support should you have any problems, there's gorgeous L'Occitane toiletries in the bathroom, piles of fresh white towels and excellent wifi.

The apartment we chose was compact, but plenty of room for the two of us - much more space than you'd have in the average hotel room.  There's a separate dining area, an en suite toilet and shower room and a small kitchen area - no oven but I wasn't planning on doing any cooking! The bedroom has a fabulously comfortable kingsize bed with crisp white cotton linen and original art deco reading lights at the bedside.  Over the bed is an imposing art deco cloud-shaped mirror which frames the bed perfectly.

But the biggest draw to this property is the decor.  The pied a terre of a Parisian antique dealer, the apartment is beautifully furnished and decorated with original art deco pieces and vibrant modern art.  Brushed chrome and Anglepoise lamps aplenty. 

On the Rue du Commerce you'll find a pleasant mix of clothes shops, together with grocery shops such as a bakery selling delicious artisan bread and the all important croissants, a greengrocer with a mouth-watering display of fresh fruit and vegetables, a fromagerie offering every kind of cheese imaginable - you can even buy oysters from the shop just opposite if the mood takes you. There's a bar on the corner where you can take your morning coffee or a glass of wine in the evening, and a good restaurant - the Cafe du Commerce where dining takes place on 3 floors in galleries with a huge indoor tree growing in the centre of the building. This place is famed for it's steaks - although of all the places we dined this one offered the least help with our limited language skills!

I'd recommend an evening stroll to the Eiffel Tower.  Not only is it less busy than during the day, the tower is spectacular illuminated.  The atmosphere is carnival-like and even the street vendors selling tatty souvenirs seem to become more good-humoured and friendly.  You'll find carousels and candy-floss stores and lots of families enjoying the ambiance.

Every hour of darkness, the tower puts on a brief light show for the first 5 minutes of each hour, all 300 metres of it light up with 20,000 sparkly twinkling lights, and it's definitely worth seeing.  Stroll back along the river before cutting back to your apartment and you're home in around 15 minutes.

        

We thoroughly enjoyed our break with One Fine Stay and will certainly consider them for other city breaks - they have hand-selected properties on their books in London, Paris, New York and LA.

Points to note:

One Fine Stay require the lead guest to be at least 25 years of age.  They require a deposit to be held from a credit card (in our case £1000), and this will only be reimbursed 5 days after your departure.

Linking up with All About France

Giveaway: Win a one year adoption of an olive tree

I love products that are out of the ordinary and the olive tree adoption scheme from Pomora ticks lots of boxes for me.

We get through so much olive oil in our house I probably should own my own tree, but sadly the climate here in the UK isn't conducive to olive production! Whether it's using it in cooking, bread-making, for salad dressings or just to dip fresh bread into with a dash of balsamic, we seriously do get through gallons of the stuff.

The adoption scheme from Pomora allows you to 'adopt' a tree on an Italian olive farm, helping that farmer receive a fair and regular income.  In return you'll receive updates from the owner and every quarter 3 delicious tins of olive oil.

Whilst the oil you receive may come from a number of different trees on the farm (logistically it wouldn't be possible to ensure each adopter gets oil only from their tree) you will be sent a selection of different oils and flavoured oils - lemon, rosemary and truffle to name a few.

Clearly, the ethical benefits of this scheme are great.  You'll be supporting small, independent farmers and their communities.  As Pomora don't retail their oils through shops, more of your money goes back directly to the farmer on the ground.  Farmers like Antonio who is proud and passionate about his olive groves.

And if you ever happen to be in the vicinity, you're able to visit your adopted tree and I'm sure you'd get a warm welcome from the growers.

I was sent a selection of three olive oils, each one with it's own distinctive taste.  You can see in the photo the different depth of colour and this is reflected in the taste - from light and zingy citrus flavours through to a rich, full bodied oil.  I received Olio Nuovo, young, fresh oil which has a gorgeous vibrant colour.

It was interesting tasting these alongside each other, learning about the regions they'd come from and we all had our own personal favourites.

A full years adoption costs £135 and this includes all shipping.  The adoptions are currently available to both the UK and the USA.

I think this makes a really unique gift for a foodie friend, perhaps someone who is interested in fair trade and the sustainability of their goods.  As the deliveries are spread out throughout the year it's a gift that keeps on giving - what a treat to have these wonderful quality oils delivered direct to your door every few months.  The adoption certificate and information pack is sent out electronically when you place your order (to save trees!) so it makes a great last-minute gift.  You may also request to receive a hard copy of the paperwork at no extra cost.

I'm pleased to say that I have a one-year adoption pack to give away to one lucky reader.  Simply complete the instructions on the rafflecopter below to be in with a chance.  Open to UK entrants only, one winner will be chosen at random.  Closing date is midnight Friday April 3rd 2015.

Disclosure: The prize is supplied and fulfilled by Pomora, who also sent me some samples of oil for the purpose of this review. 

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