Share the Passion with Panasonic & win a camera

Well the Olympics are now officially over (bring on the Paralympics!) and I'm SO SO pleased I got to take Ruby to an event.  We saw the women's semi-final volleyball at Earls Court.

The atmosphere was amazing, and after watching the closing ceremony last night I felt so proud of what London, the nation and our athletes have achieved.

Why don't you share in the passion too and join Panasonic's facebook promotion.  Simply upload a photo of yourself, and then customise it to add the flag of your nation in a cool face-paint app.  The pictures will then be displayed on a big screen at the Olympic Park until Sunday.

Once you've created your picture, share it on your Facebook wall and pop back here to leave a link to your picture in the comments section.  I'll pick one of you who've participated to win an exclusive Olympic designed, limited edition digital camera.

Remember, for your entry to be valid, you need to use the Facebook app, and then leave a comment here including the link to your picture.

The closing date is 25th August 2012 at 12:00. The camera prize can only be sent to those resident in the UK, but overseas entrants are welcome, and if chosen as the lucky winner will be sent an Amazon e-voucher of the equivalent amount.  The winner will be chosen at random from all valid comments (remember to leave a contact method) and the prize will be fulfilled directly from Panasonic.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Magpie Monday - Tash Treasure

Quite often on Magpie Monday other bargain hunters link up and it turns out we've bought very similar items in the same week.  I love it when that happens, it make me feel like we're kindred spirits of the charity shop world.

This week though, I'm willing to bet a fair old wedge that nobody but nobody will have picked up one of these.  And definitely not for only one of the Queen's English pounds.

Oh no my friends, it's not just any cup.

It's a moustache mug.

Hooray *throws Veet in the air ecstatically* I can now enjoy my Darjeeling without fear.

So, the next time I have a hirsute gentleman caller,  I shall have the very receptacle in which to serve his afternoon tea.

Come and show me what treasure you've found - bet it's not one of these!  Grab the badge and link up.

<a href="http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy135/missielizzie/MagpieMondayBadge.png" border="0" alt="Me and My Shadow" /></a>

Pick You Own Fun

Inspired by last week's post by Coombe Mill, and a few others in the fabulous Country Kids Linky, I decided to seek out a local PYO farm.  I haven't been to a Pick You Own since I was a kid myself, and have fond (mostly) memories of gorging myself on strawberries until I was fit to bust.

Good old Google brought up one not too far away ( Grove Farm near Leighton Buzzard) and I raised a smile at the statement on the website:

"To sample one or to fruits is acceptable but anyone excessively eating will be asked to leave."

With mutterings from the Voice of Doom about how we'd need a chest freezer to make the trip worthwhile and to cover the petrol, and we'd better damn well eat all this and not just leave it to go off in the fridge we grabbed a wheelbarrow, bags and punnets and set off across the fields.

The plot was massive and Ruby enjoyed following the chalkboard signs directing us to each field of goodness.

What a fabulous way to get kids interested in food, encourage them to eat healthily and to learn about how things grow and where our food comes from.

It wasn't just 'pick your own'.  It was also 'pull your own' and 'dig your own'.  Forks are on hand to dig spuds and scrabble about in the mud unearthing the potato treasure.

We came home with garlic; onions; potatoes; beetroot; cucumber; rhubarb, peas; french beans and raspberries, as well as 6 beautiful fresh eggs.

That evening we feasted on a dinner of prawn, pea, cucumber and mint salad followed by roast cod with french beans, chorizo, olives and tomatoes, then fresh raspberries and greek yoghurt. Food doesn't get much fresher.

Wheeling a barrow across a field was so much more fun than pushing a trolley round the supermarket!

See Dora live!!

Ruby loves going to the theatre, and seeing age appropriate shows is a great way to introduce littlies to the experience of live performance.

What better than a show featuring one of her all time favourite characters?  

Expect singing; dancing, puzzle solving; exploring and lots of fun in this performance featuring Dora, Diego, Map and Backpack.  Get ready to shout "Swiper no swiping" too! 

We're off to see it in London at the Apollo later this month, but you can catch it now at Blackpool.

Before going on a national tour next year, 'Search for the City of Lost Toys' is appearing at:

Globe Theatre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Dates:                                                              10 August – 20 August 2012

Performances:                                                  Monday – Sunday 10.30am/1.00pm

Ticket prices:                                                   £12, £14, £17 (£2 off for children)

                                                                       £50 family ticket

Address:                                                         Globe Theatre, Pleasure Beach Blackpool

                                                                       525 Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1EZ

Box Office:                                                      0871 222 9090

Website:                                                          www.pleasurebeachresort.com

and

Apollo Theatre – West End

Dates:                                                              28 August – 16 September 2012

Performances:                                                  Monday – Sunday 10.30am/1.00pm/3.30pm*

*Please see full performance schedule on the website for dates with no 3.30pm performances

Ticket prices:                                                   £12.50, £18.00, £25.00

Address:                                                          Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue

London, W1D 7ES

Box Office:                                                       0844 412 4658

Website:                                                           www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.nimax.com

Disclosure: I will be receiving a family ticket to attend the show.

Camps and Dens

Yesterday we had Ruby's cousin round for a sleepover.  Ruby desperately wanted to take him to the woods and make a den and a campfire, so we packed some essentials of off we went.

We're so lucky to have a beautiful wood just ten minutes walk from our house, and they spent the short walk collecting 'fire wood' and dried leaves.

Through the kissing gate - you do know there's a LAW which says you have to kiss when passing through one of these gates don't you?  Well, maybe not a law, but I'm pretty sure it's in the Country Code.

We wandered through the woodland paths, the dappled sun guiding our way.  Before you start congratulating me on my den-building prowess, I must confess, this was already here.  We merely squatted for a while.

They lay out some cosy blankets inside and they set about building their fire.  I'm not TOTALLY irresponsible, it wasn't a real fire, but we made it look realistic with some light sticks and tissue paper for flames.

They had great fun hunting for sticks and twigs to feed the fire, and pretended to light it scout-style by rubbing sticks.

I found a comfy log a safe distance away, and let them play.  Is there anything better than listening to kids in their imaginary world, just chattering away?  They spoke to each other on imaginary walkie-talkies, with lots of 'over and outs', before finally snuggling down for sandwiches and hot chocolate.

Such a gorgeous afternoon.

Linking up with Country Kids over at Coombe Mill.

Specs Appeal

So I finally got myself some glasses.  No more bumbling around like Mr Magoo.  No more squinting at people waving to me across the street, trying to figure out who the hell they are.

I managed the persuade the Old Man that getting cheapo specs was a false economy as I wouldn't wear them unless I loved them.  What do you know, he agreed!

He has now turned into the spectacle police now though, constantly checking I'm wearing them.  So if he asks, I have them on, right?

The one downside to designer glasses, is the bling-tastic case they come in.  I'm not a labels person, and fail to see why I should advertise someone for free (ha, that's the blogger coming out in me!).

So I asked the lovely people at Boots if I could have one of their plain cases (as well as - hell, I'd paid for the designer gear, so may as well get the freebies right?).  They gave me one of theirs gratis.  Nice, but a bit... well meugh hey?

Last night, in front of the tellybox (yes, I was wearing my glasses), I got my Decopatch out, and turned it into something much more me.

Nifty huh?

Linking up with Ta-Dah Tuesday.

Magpie Monday - Knitting Novice

This week my charity shopping again seemed to follow a theme.  I don't know why this happens, but it often does.  It's like some strange magnetic force that draws me to similar items, or things that match.  Is it just me?

Anyhow, I was happy with these lovely mohair balls of wool, in tonal blue shades.  My knitting skills are remedial to say the least, but I'll be happy making pompoms in these colours, maybe for another poncho or a wreath.

I did a happy dance at finding these wooden knitting needles too.  I know, I know, I said I can't knit, but I have a bit of a thing for old wooden needles and always seek them out.  I find them things of beauty and have a huge vase of them on display. I love to think of the hands that have worked them and all the precious garments that have been made with them.

You generally have to ask for knitting needles in second-hand shops.  They're oft hidden under the counter like some kind of charity shop p orn.

Finally, I picked up this great DK kid's needlecraft book.  I say 'kid's', but I think it's about my level in the knitting department so maybe I can graduate beyond pom-poms after all.

Is there anything so smug as the face of a tween knitter?  I think not.

Did you get any second-hand bargains this week?  Grab the badge and link up. x

<a href="http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy135/missielizzie/MagpieMondayBadge.png" border="0" alt="Me and My Shadow" /></a>