£75 Argos Gift Voucher Giveaway

To celebrate the ending of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 we are offering one lucky Playdays and Runways reader and follower the chance to win a £75 Argos voucher. We were so proud to be asked to be part of the Chad Valley Play Panel and have loved reviewing so many fabulous toys this year.

Chad Valley Airport Playset Review

Just before Christmas we got a special delivery from Chad Valley. As we are part of the Chad Valley Play Panel, little J was sent the Chad Valley Airport Playset to try out. It was perfect timing as little J was getting fed up waiting for Santa to bring him new toys. Little J absolutely loves everything that involves cars, planes or trains so the Chad Valley Airport Playset was the perfect choice. 

Ravensburger Stick Man and The Gruffalo Puzzles Review

This week we had an early Christmas treat when Stickman and The Gruffalo jigsaw puzzles arrived. We love The Gruffalo and Stickman so we were thrilled. The two jigsaw puzzles are by Ravensburger and are based on the popular books written by Julia Donaldson.

Win Mr Blooms Talking Veggies

On The 9th day of December I have teamed up with Little Babas Toys and Costumes to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a full set of Mr Blooms Talking Veggies

Win a Baylis and Harding Gift Set

On The 9th day of December I have teamed up with Baylis and Harding to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Baylis and Harding Gift Set

Win Shuffle Games

On The 8th day of December I have teamed up with Cartamundi Shuffle Games to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Connect 4 and Game of Life.

Festive Menu at Beefeater

A few weeks ago we were treated to a delicious meal from the new Festive Menu at Beefeater. We have never dined at a Beefeater restaurant before so we were all excited. When it comes to eating out we do usually like to try different places but the Beefeater has never popped up and I'm not sure why as we have many close by.

Win Say Hello Glove Puppet

On The 7th day of December I have teamed up with East Coast Nursery to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a 'Say Hello ' glove puppet.

Win Little Tiger Press Christmas Book Bundle

On The 6th day of December I have teamed up with Little Tiger Press to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Christmas book bundle.

Monthly Review Round Up - November

Can't believe we are in December already. November went very quickly and I am guessing this month will too and the big day will soon be here. Last month we were sent some goodies to try out, so here is our Monthly Review Round Up.

Hollands Micro 2 Go Pastie Slice Review

When I was younger Hollands was the only brand of pie I knew. It was the brand my Nana and Grandad bought, My Mum and Dad and whenever you had a pie from the chippy it would always be a Hollands. Growing up I was never a lover of meat based pies but I loved Cheese and Onion. A cheese and onion pie with lots of tomato sauce, yummy.

Win Nick Jr Ready Steady Dough

On The 5th day of December I have teamed up with The Entertainer to offer one lucky reader the chance to win Nick Jr Ready Steady Dough - Swirly Whirly Sweets.

Win A Disney Cars Puzzle Play Mat

On The 4th day of December I have teamed up with Tatamiz to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a large foam Disney Cars jigsaw style play mat.

Win Bed Socks from Suttons

On The 3rd day of December I have teamed up with Suttons to offer one lucky reader the chance to win two pairs of bed socks, perfect for chilly Winter evenings.

Win Og on the Bog by Drumond Park

On The 2nd day of December I have teamed up with Drumond Park to offer one lucky reader the chance to win Og on the Bog

Signed Tigeropolis Books Giveaway

On The 1st day of December I have teamed up with Tigeropolis to offer one lucky reader the first two Tigeropolis books signed by the author.

Switch It Up and Drink Smart

As soon as the Christmas season begins we usually have lots of invites for nights out, get togethers, and meals and to me this means lots of fun but others its an excuse to have lots of alcohol. I am not a big drinker in fact whenever I go out I am usually the driver and would much rather drink water or a glass of diet coke than wine or vodka. To me drinking is a social thing and people use it to have great time but I don't need it. Don't get me wrong when I was younger I would party all weekend but I was younger then and had no responsibilities but I now one night of partying would make me feel ill for a week after and with two kids and a husband to look after I much prefer to to stay alcohol free. Recent research commissioned by AB InBev was done to demonstrate the benefits of smart drinking encouraging Brits to 'Switch It Up' 

Our 2016 Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas will soon be here and whilst I love buying presents I often get stuck for ideas on what to buy. So this year I decided to make notes every time something caught my eye on TV or whilst browsing the internet.

Go Ahead Snacks Review #SnackSmart

We love reviewing new products as it gives us the chance to try out new stuff we may have missed in the shops. However when we were asked to review some Go Ahead goodies it reminded me of a brand I used to love but just forgot about somehow. We used to eat Go Ahead bars a few years ago but stopped and I'm not sure why as they are so tasty and low in kcals.

Our Top Five Takeaway Apps

*collaboration

Its nearly time to decorate our home ready for the Christmas celebrations. We have a tradition that every year on decoration day, we will tidy up, then get the decorations from the loft. After that the usual ornaments and pictures take their turn up in the loft for a month or so, and then the decorating begins. At about the time we are sorting the teddies and ornaments, we will usually order a takeaway meal to be delivered. Now I remember when we first started the tradition of decoration day we would go out for something to eat, but we would find ourselves short of time and rushed. Over the years that we have been ordering in I think that Pizza has been the most popular choice, but then is that because until recently Pizza was one of the only things you could get delivered?

Annabel Karmel Frozen Meals Review

When it comes to mealtimes I have mentioned before that I do like to cook from scratch but realistically there are days when this does not happen. Being a parent it's busy, busy, busy and there are days when I just have to throw something together quickly if we are running late and I haven't had time to prepare something. Having said that I still make sure what we eat isn't junk and that it is something that is nutritious and healthy. When we were asked to try out Annabel Karmel Frozen Meals I took a look at the website and the products and I was impressed. Annabel Karmel has turned her best-loved children’s recipes into nutritionally balanced freezer fillers for parents like me that have days when we are just too busy to cook.

TechSavvyDad Tuesday - S+ by ResMed Review

Sleep. Does anyone ever get enough these days? I know that being a dad to two boys, one a toddler and one a teen, there is a huge differential in the times that they sleep. Little J is often asleep by 6pm and up again ready for the next day at 5am whereas Big J will be in bed by 10pm on a school night and much later at weekends. I get to sleep in-between these times but generally I have some ‘Dad’ time that means actually I think I average around 6 hours each night. I know that's not enough, but how can we monitor and improve our sleep? I have tried a few apps from the google play store over the years, with mixed results. I have never stuck to one app to try to improve my sleep as I haven’t yet been convinced that any of them actually work. I have been trying the S+ by ResMed to try and improve my sleep.

The Lion Guard Defend The Pride Lands Play Set Review

Being huge Disney fans we are quite shocked that we haven't sat down yet and watched The Lion Guard TV series which is based on The Lion King movies. We've heard of it and it has been on our 'to watch' list for a while. When we were asked to review The Lion Guard - Defend The Pride Lands Play Set it gave us the excuse to sit down and watch an episode before it arrived. Little J loved it as did I. It's a lovely series following Kion, Simba's youngest cub.

Epic Moments From The Middle Earth Collection

This week I have noticed that Christmas is already everywhere. Shops, adverts on TV, Online ads, you can’t get away from it and its not even 5th November yet. This got me thinking about some of the traditions we have at home for Christmas, one of which is to watch the extended editions of all three Lord Of The Rings movies, we attempt this usually in one epic sitting when Little J and Big J are having their Christmas day out with their grandparents.

Monthly Review Round Up - October

In October we tried out lots of different products, here is our monthly review round up.

Chad Valley Wooden Fire and Police Station Review

You may have seen our very exciting post recently about Playdays and Runways being chosen to be part of the Chad Valley Play Panel. We are so excited to be involved with a brand that means so much to us. Chad Valley was a huge part of I and Daddy's childhood and I have fond memories of toys I used to play with. I really must dig out some photographs of me as a child on christmas morning opening lots of Chad Valley toys.

Saturday Morning Visit To Mini Moose Land At Chill Factore

Having two boys with a large age gap it can be difficult to plan days out that they both will enjoy. It has been a chore in the past as you want them to both have a great time but luckily for us we have one attraction close by that they both love. You may have seen my previous posts on Chill Factore and how much the boys enjoy visiting. The Chill Factore is an indoor ski and snowboarding centre and is home to the UK's longest indoor ski slope. They also have a fabulous Arctic Playground just for under 4's called Mini Moose Land which is perfect for little J. We were invited to pop along recently and have 1 hour of Mini Moose Land fun.

Disney Princess Colours of the Sea Ariel Toddler Doll Review

Both little J and I were excited when Colours of the Sea Ariel from JAKKS Pacific arrived this week. I knew she was on her way but I didn't tell little J so when he opened the box his little face lit up. He loves Disney and Disney Princesses and is always trying to play with my collector Disney dolls so at first he wasn't sure whether he could touch her or not. When I told him Ariel was for him and she could go in the bath he instantly pulled her out of the cardboard box and wanted me to open her.

Schleich Large Farm, Animals and Accessories Review

Recently when we were shopping in Hamley's we noticed the Schleich range of figures and play sets. I spent a couple of minutes looking at the animals especially the horses and I was so impressed with the quality of them. Little J was actually looking for a dinosaur so we decided to buy him a Schleich one. It's really lovely and the detail is amazing. Shortly after we actually received the Large Schleich Farm to review and I was so excited. I knew instantly that it would be a hit with the whole family.

We're On The Chad Valley Play Panel plus Giveaway

You may have noticed a shiny new badge appear on my side bar recently. If not then I am so excited to announce that Mummy 2 Monkeys has been chosen to be on the Chad Valley Play Panel. When I think back to my childhood I have one memory that I'm sure is very similar to others around the same age as me and that was circling toys in the Argos catalogue that you wanted for Christmas. I always remember taking a handful of the slips from Argos one year so I could write down the numbers of the toys I wanted. Chad Valley was a huge part of my childhood and probably many others. They have been making toys exclusively for Argos for 150 years and I am so happy that both boys have been able to enjoy their toys as much as I did.

Teletubbies Magazine Review

When big J was growing up Teletubbies dominated our TV and also big J's toy box. He absolutely loved Teletubbies and had lots of Teletubbies toys including talking ones, a phone, books, even a Noo Noo that moved along the floor. Teletubbies were so popular, they were everywhere and you just had to love them. When the Teletubbies made a comeback I was so excited because little J is the perfect age and I knew he would love Teletubbies just like his big brother did. I wasn't wrong. Our house has been filled with various Teletubbies toys over the past 9 months and now little J has just received the Teletubbies magazine.

Our Top Five Netflix Halloween Movies #StreamTeam

 We love Halloween and for us Halloween is the beginning of the countdown to Christmas. We have started getting in to the Halloween spirit by browsing through Netflix for some movies to watch. I don't like being scared so adult horrors are not for me so we have chosen our top five Family Halloween Picks on Netflix.

Monthly Review Round Up - September

This month we have been trying out Good 4 U, Go Outdoors and Degustabox.

TechSavvyDad Tuesday - August Multiroom Wireless Airplay Speakers Review

Recently we got the chance to review some wireless airplay speakers from August. We have purchased August products before including headphones and a TV box and they were both really good so we were very excited to test out the speakers. As I am useless with technology I asked Daddy and he has kindly reviewed them so I will hand you over to Daddy now.

Win An Organix Goodies Bundle Giveaway

To celebrate the launch of its tasty new snacks Organix Goodies is giving away a hamper for your little one to munch, crunch and nibble away at the new foods.  There’s also a lunch bag, a hat and water bottle for your little explorer’s adventures.

Baby Loss Awareness Week - Remembering Our Babies

As many of you may know baby loss is extremely close to my heart. Losing a baby is heartbreaking and no parent should ever have to go through this. Preparing for a baby starts way before you get that positive pregnancy test its starts at the moment you decide you want to have a baby.

Chillfactor Frozen Milkshake Maker Review

We recently received the ChillFactor Milkshake Maker to review. The boys really enjoy milkshakes so they were excited to try it out. The ChillFactor Milkshake Maker makes delicious, frozen, foamy milkshakes in minutes. You just freeze the special milkshake maker, then pour in your flavoured milk and watch the magic begin. So easy to do and in minutes you'll have thick, foamy, frozen milks. 

Signed Copy Of The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher Giveaway

Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on social media will know that I am a huge fan of McFly and have been since the beginning. Big J grew up listening to their music and now little J does too. Over the years I have followed them outside of McFly too. Whether it is watching Tom's You Tube videos, reading The Dinosaur That Pooped books to little J, McBusted and now Tom's latest venture The Christmasaurus.

Pampers-UNICEF #1Photo1Vaccine Campaign

All babies are amazing and they bring their own special form of magical happiness to everyone around them, and they always know how to somehow put a smile on your face or make you laugh. But did you know – babies can even help save lives by doing nothing more than wearing Pampers. Pampers donates 1 vaccine against maternal and newborn tetanus for every pack of Pampers nappies and wipes sold through the “1 Pack = 1 Vaccine” Pampers-UNICEF campaign.

Blogtober16 #5 What Career Did I Want As A Child?

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to work with children. It was all I could imagine myself doing. When I was really young I used to line all my dolls up and pretend I was the teacher and they were children in my classroom. As I got older I would play school with my friends and I would always be the teacher, no-one else got a look in.

TechSavvyDad Tuesday - Stranger Things on Netflix

You may have seen that we have been tweeting about the latest Netflix original series ‘Stranger Things’.  We have now finished watching series 1, and absolutely cannot wait for the second series. For those who haven’t read anything about the series, I will attempt to explain how good it is, without any spoilers, so feel free to read on if you haven’t yet seen it.  Throughout the series I was convinced it must have something to with Stephen King. The way the story is written, the characters, the feel of the series.  It appears I am wrong as the series has been written by the Duffer brothers, although there is a cursory nod to King in one of the episodes where one of the leads likens the events to a Stephen King novel, so maybe a little thanks for the inspiration. Or is there a pseudonym at work here?

Blogtober16 #4 Share A Secret

Today's challenge for Blogtober16 is to share a secret. I couldn't really think of anything that I haven't shared about myself here already but there is one thing. It isn't necessary a secret but it is something about myself that I don't really tell others. When it comes to music I am so stuck in the past. I am not a big fan of current music at all so I don't listen to the radio often, I listen to my CD's.

Planning Our Next Holiday To Cyprus

You may already know that we visited Cyprus in August for the 2nd time and it was amazing. Cyprus was never on my destination list until I won a holiday back in 2014. There was a huge list of places we could choose from and after months of deliberating we chose Cyprus - best decision ever. We stayed at the Malama Beach Holiday Village and it is perfect.

Little J's Pre-School Days - September

This month has been all about Little J starting pre school. He has been so excited about it and when the day finally arrived I have to admit that I did think there would be tears, but he was fine. He absolutely loves it and although it's actually called a Nursery he likes to call it big school.

Blogtober16 #3 If I Won The Lottery

We do the lottery every week and although I know we will never win that doesn't stop me daydreaming about what I would do if we did win. If I won the lottery now I would stop everything I was doing and go online to book a holiday to Florida. That is my dream and I couldn't think about doing anything else until I've been on that holiday.

Crazy Claw by Drumond Park Review

I'm guessing we are not the only ones to spend endless amounts of money and time trying to win teddies in the arcade grab machines. Most of the time we don't even want the teddy it's just the thrill of seeing the 'claw' pick it up, move it towards the opening and drop it down to make us a winner. The Crazy Claw from Drumond Park brings the excitement and thrill of trying to win to your home without spending lots of money. 

Blogtober16 #2 Share An Old Photo

I actually found these photographs about a month ago when I was sorting through an old box of letters and junk that I had kept from school. Over the years I have seen these photos lots of times because they always seem to pop up when I'm having a clear out however I stopped to have a good look at them and I am so shocked how much I look like little J. I always thought he looked like Daddy but there is definitely some of me in there too.

Our Family Fortnight 01/10/16

The past two weeks haven't been very exciting really. We haven't done as much as we would usually do but I think it's mainly been because of the weather, it's been rubbish here up North. We've had lots of wind and rain so it's been quite miserable. Anyway here is a look at the last fortnight.

Blogtober16 #1 Who Am I?

This year I have decided to take part in Blogtober. Each day there is a different topic to write about and today's topic is an easy one as it's all about me. Who Am I? If you don't already know my name is Michelle and I am chief blogger here at Mummy 2 Monkeys. I am a 30 something Mummy to 2 boys who are my world. I am married and have been for 6 years although we have been together for 16 years . . . eek. That's such a long time ha ha.