Shoutykid 2 by Simon Mayle

Last year Harry Riddles made his debut in Shoutykid 1 - How Harry Riddles Made a MEGA-amazing Zombie Movie.  If you didn't read it yet my review is here.  Ben loved it from beginning to end. So when I was asked if we would like to review the 2nd title in the series (out March 26th) the decision wasn't a tricky one.

Shoutykid 2 - How Harry Riddles mega-massively broke the school, Harry has far bigger concerns than fighting Zombies (even tho he is "the BEST gamer World of Zombies has ever seen") and the cyber-bullies his dad wants him to take up.... Sport!!!   Harry's dad manages to persuade him to join the school football team, but unfortunately they aren't very good.  This leads Harry to write to some stars of the football world like Sir Alex Ferguson

Mavala nail varnish

Finally got round to painting my nails with the pastel colours from my Mavala 'delicious' set I won  along with some Clipper Tea last month.

Lush: Fluffy Egg

I am a sucker for pink products and Fluffy Egg is pretty pink egg shape topped with a flower that has been part of the Lush Easter range for many years now.  When you couple it with it's lovely sweet smell it had to go in my basket.  Of course one the boys saw it and found out it smelt of  bubblegum (Lush say candy floss but we all think it smells more like bubblegum) they had to have one too.

50 books that every child should read by 16

At the beginning of the month, to celebrate World Book Day, a survey of 2,000 readers by Sainsbury's found that the classic books parents grew up with are popular choices to read to their own kids.  It's certainly true in this house with Magic Faraway Tree, Famous Five, Flat Stanley and Roald Dahl tales already hitting our read pile before Ben is even 7 years old.

Something that really shocks me - where are the Mr Men, Thomas the Tank Engine or Topsy and Tim books?  I lived on Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Kids/ Twins/ High/ University books and Naughtiest Girl in the school series shame none of them have hit the top 50.  What favourites did you have that are missing from the list?

How many have you read or are planning on reading with your children?  

I have taken the list and rearranged it but if you want to see the original order it's here.

Make it Monday: Pasta recipies

I was never a fan of pasta, wouldn't touch it.  That was until a couple of years ago when the meal hubby was having smelt soo good that I tried a bit and soon polished off the rest that was left in the kitchen.

The boys go through fads, currently Noah loves pasta (depending on what phase the moon is in and whether he has woken up on the correct side of bed) and Ben hates it.... that was until we were asked to try Tesco Finest pasta.  I'm not sure it was the flavour that converted the boys or the really cool shapes it comes in.

To me pasta is pasta, and when on a budget you eat as cheaply as possibly so we always go for the 30p value packs, Tesco finest comes in at £1.70 a pack, after this trial tho the taste is completely different and I am very tempted to make the switch permanently.

The Gruffalo Experience, Meadowhall

We really love the Gruffalo in this house, whether it be the book  or going through the woods (Sherwood Pines or Thorndon) on a Gruffalo Hunt.  So imagine how excited I was when I found out that Unit 10 Eventive and Magic Light Pictures were bringing him to Meadowhall in a world premier of the Gruffalo Experience.

Lush: Bubblegrub

Today's #ThankLushItsFriday is another from the Mothers Day Range - however in my eyes, being based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar books, it's aimed at children (well they deserve a treat, they don't get to choose their mummies!).  My 2 boys are self-confessed Lush addicts.  We cannot walk past a shop without the request of "can we go in Lush?"   They openly flirt with the staff and lay on the innocent smiles enjoying the fun of trying new bombs in the waters or smelling as many products as possible,  And the Lush staff are always on hand on fill their days with colourful bubbly excitement, needless to say we never leave empty handed and never have an argument when I say those immortal words "bath time".

So today's post is over to them as they tell and show you about Bubblegrub in their own little way.........

Dreamworks: Home

I neeed a pet Boov .... well I need one in particular ... let me introduce you to 'Oh' a simply ohh too cute little Boov

Sorry, I may be jumping ahead of myself - a Boov is a species of alien race who can not only control gravity but also change colour depending on their mood (wouldn't life be so much easier if your child turned green when they were lying or yellow when they were scared).  They feature in the new Dreamwork's animation 'Home' which is released this month.

Swizzels Matlow .... helping to make #sweetmemories since 1928

Ok so I'm not THAT old (no offence to anyone who is), but I have grown up with Swizzels Matlow
sweets and now my children are growing up with them too. So they may not be growing up with all the range I used to have but the old favourites still remain like drumsticks and love hearts alongside exciting new ranges like squashies.

It's great being a mum as you get to experience so many adventures and experiences with your kids, each one a memory that will remain, but memories are almost always attached to something else - a smell, a colour or even a sweet can take you back to a time and place that you might have forgotten about.

World Book Day 2015

After last years bad mum experience of World Book Day (see here) I was determined to be a better mum this year.

But what to send them as?  I draw the line at Superhero costumes - there may be books about them but that is not the reason the kids would be wearing them.  Same goes for princesses (equal opportunities and all!)... I don't do 'making' costumes as working full time combined with parenting and blogging doesn't leave any time to get the sewing machine off the shelf let alone consider making something.

So I did what every mummy in this situation would do (I went to Asda).   We get a lot of our outfits from there, do you remember Ben's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle one he wore on his birthday?  (yup George at Asda).

  

lush: Ultraviolet

With it being Mothers Day tomorrow I felt it only appropriate to put a review of one of their limited edition bubble bars, Ultraviolet, as today's #ThankLushItsFriday post.

I was introduced to this rainbow shaped bubble bar at the recent Gorilla Perfume launch (which you can read about here) as a perfect accompaniment to Kerbside Violets.   I didn't really like the perfume and I'll be honest, was not convinced I was going to like the bubble bar.  However I was pleasantly surprised.  The Ultraviolet bubble bar smells far more like Parma Violets (you remember those fab childhood sweets) then flowers.

Our Albelli Photobook - July to December 2014

Mad Hatter’s Party – Children’s Activity Day - 14th March 2015

We're really looking forward to attending the Mad Hatter's Party on Saturday ....... if you live in Sheffield would love to meet you there to celebrate 150 years in Wonderland and the Children's Hospital Charity.

With it being the 150th years anniversary of the Alice in Wonderland book, what better reason is there to have a wonderland themed event?!

Try #OneLittleChange from Tesco

With Christmas now a distant memory I've almost managed to finish off the chocolate and goodies that have been scattering the house for the past few months. We've had countless take aways and meals out due to holidays but now it's time now to get back to exercise and eating healthier before December rolls around again. 

If you are like me the temptation is to try and completely overhaul my bad habits, cutting out all fatty foods and chocolate but before too long the need for these treats becomes overwhelming and I end up having a couple of massive 'pig out' days.  Tesco agree that it's not good to cut out everything and that it's the little changes that add up to a big impact, for example don't walk up all 11 flights of stairs on your first day, start a floor lower every time,  have an apple instead of chocolate or have one less glass of wine a week.  Once the changes have started it's easy to take more steps to feel healthier. 

I was therefore really please when I was asked to be part of the Tesco Orchard #OneLittleChange programme so I could see how the changes made to their foods can assist me to change my lifestyle. 

Lush: dragons egg

I'm in love,  this has to be my favourite bath bomb ever.  With its rich citrusssy smell, 'rose petals', goldy orange colour and glitter it's perfectly relaxing.

On the exterior dragons egg is a white sphere with pretty speckled bits in it, don't pass it over as boring it's far from it...when you drop it into the water it's secret centre is revealed along with it the fragrance of Jasmine, Bergamount and Lemon Oils.

All bath bombs are hand made so it would stand to reason that no 2 are alike. I treated myself to one a week ago (before knowing I'd won the 29 high street gift set) and it released loads of 'rose petals' (red rice paper) that floated on the surface as I soaked, this one only seems to have 2 in.  The other point to note is the popping candy listed in the ingredients. Unlike Fizzbanger that made that distinct crackle while it exploded neither of these did, not even a little bit, obviously it's not essential to the product but it does make bath time more fun 😊

Would I Buy It Again?   Too right I would, in fact I may just stock up next time in case Lush decide to discontinue it.

Dragons egg is priced at £3.35.

Best Book for ...... Reading as an adult when it is designed for children

The award for this one has to go to Harry Potter by JK Rowling.

If you haven't heard of it (who am I kidding) Harry Potter is an orphan who starts his journey as an ordinary 10 year old boy with magical powers living in a 'Muggle' or non-magical world.  He finds out on his 11th birthday that he is in fact a wizard.  As a wizard he was invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where much of the 7 books take place.   As the books progress, each one documenting a year of his life, we see Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger grow up and develop magically as well as socially and emotionally. They face all the challenges teenagers face such as changing friendships and exams, and some not to ordinary - the greatest challenge of all, Voldermort.

Best Book for ...... Keeping kids entertained

With world book day fast approaching I thought I'd do a little mini series on books for all occasions,  First up let me tell you about the Factivity Series by DK books. 
The first thing to strike me about these books is their similarity (in look only) to the old FunFax's (anyone who was a kid in the 80s/90s is bound to remember the endless fun these brought).  Factivity books bring the same fun to children now with their range of activities.

They aren't new to the market but new titles are being released frequently.  The boys were sent x titles by DK to keep them busy on holiday, and busy they were, the books were used everywhere - on the train, on the bus, in the caravan.