My-Picture.co.uk Framed Photo Print | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were gifted a framed photo for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

Every time we take a Disney holiday we come home and try to decide which of our photos we will turn in to a large print to hang in the living room. My-Picture.co.uk had offered us the chance to review their service and choose from their framed photo prints so we wanted to make sure we chose the perfect photo.

Once we had decided which photograph to use we then chose a framed print from the many options available and uploaded our photo.

Once the photo was uploaded we could see a little preview of what the frame would look like. We then needed to choose our preferred size.

Sizes available are

24x24 cm

34x24 cm

44x34 cm

44x44 cm

64x44 cm

Once you have chosen your size you can then customise your frame. You can choose from

Black Matte

White

Vintage Silver

Walnut Flair

Oak Vintage Flair

You can then to choose whether to have the photo as it is or change it to black and white.

We then proceeded to checkout and waited for our framed photo print to arrive.

The whole process to order from My-Picture.co.uk was very easy and we are really happy with the quality of the photo and the frame. The finish is lovely and looks perfect in our living room.

Michelle

Read More

Smashers Epic Dino Egg | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were sent the Smashers Epic Dino Egg for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Today is hatching day for our Smashers Epic Dino Egg. We received the huge egg a few days ago and Little J has been so excited waiting for the day when he could 'smash' the egg open. We are huge fans of Smashers and have built up quite a collection of Smashers including Smashers Dino so we can't wait to see the surprises inside.

The Smashers Epic Dino Egg has over 25 surprises inside. If your little one is a fan of blind bag type toys then this egg will be perfect for them.

Cracking open the egg was lots of fun. Little J tossed it in the air and let it fall to the ground. Each time a little crack appeared so he did it over and over until it smashed in to 4 pieces and a package popped out of the Dino Egg.

Inside was a Fossil Rock, Fizzy Lava, Dino Dirt, Glowing Slime and an Ice Age Putty. Each one of these will reveal a Dinosaur body part that once you uncover them all will create a large Dino figure. 

Also included was 6 Smashers Dino eggs which include a Dino collectible inside. 

Little J can't wait to create his Dino. We have played with Fossil Rock and Fizzy Lava before. All you need to do is add some water and watch as the Dino appears. Little J loves slime so this will be very popular and also the Dino Dirt sounds fun too.  

Little J is also excited to crack open his Smashers Dino Eggs to see what Dino collectibles he has found which he will add to his Smashers Dino collection. 

The Smashers Epic Dino Egg is currently available to buy in most major toy stores and supermarkets.

Michelle

Read More

Smiggle Lunchbag and Bottle | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were sent the Smiggle goodies for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

It was only about 6 months ago we found Smiggle. A store opened up in our city centre, we walked past it one day and the explosion of colours caught little J's eye. From the outside all I could see was pinks and purples and I have to admit I was keen to take a look myself. Smiggle has a huge range of stationery, bags, lunchbags and water bottles on display. Little J was so excited and we agreed he could choose something as a treat. He chose a water bottle and has loved that bottle ever since. Smiggle recently sent us some lunch bags and bottles and little J is over the moon.

This style of lunch bag is called a double decker. So if you want a bag with lots of space than I would definitely recommend a double decker. The top can be opened using the zip to reveal a shallow compartment. This is ideal for snacks or even an ice pack if needed. The bottom is spacious and could fit a large lunch in and/or a water bottle.

The glitz double decker is also spacious and could fit a large lunch inside and/or a water bottle too. There is also a front zip which opens up and is ideal for popping in a water bottle, ice pack or snacks. The glitz double decker comes with the choice of a carry handle or a strap.

There are also a large range of water bottles available at Smiggle. The range includes hard plastic, roll water bottle, stainless steel and also a spritz water bottle that has a water mist trigger that will spray cool, refreshing mist. This is on little J's Smiggle wishlist.

If you don't have a Smiggle close to home you can view and buy the range online by visiting Smiggle. There is currently 25% off all lunch bags and bottles however it is for a limited time so might be a good idea to buy now before the back to school rush.

Michelle

Read More

Celebrating National Picnic Week With John Adams

No comments

Disclosure - We received the three travel games below for the purpose of this giveaway. Any thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links.

As you can probably tell from our blog we love being outdoors and travel around a lot. One thing we love to do together is have a picnic. There isn't anything better than heading out with a picnic to enjoy. Between the 21st and the 30th June it is National Picnic Week and we have teamed up with John Adams to giveaway a travel game that you can enjoy while you are out and about.

We love playing games and usually take a selection with us if we go out for the day. We recently received a selection of new games from John Adams to enjoy and as they are travel size they are perfect to play on the go.

I am giving one lucky reader the chance to winner a Travel game from the following three we have been playing this week.

Triominos Sunshine

Triominos Sunshine is a bright and colourful version of the classic game Triominos. Triominos is the classic triangular domino game which is lots of fun. Each Triomino tile has numbers on players score points by matching numbers on the three-sided playing pieces to pieces that are already in play.

Little J really likes this game and he found it quite easy to understand the rules although does need help with the scoring part of the game.

Othello On The Move

Othello is a classic fast-paced strategy game. The idea behind the game is you must try to trap your rival's playing pieces and turn them over. The lead can change at any moment with a flip of a disk and the player with the most pieces of the same colour wins.

We've never played Othello before but we're enjoying the travel version. It's easy to set up and use and John and I have been playing in the garden in the evening.

Rummikub Travel

Rummikub is a numbers strategy game which is played with 106 tiles. The object of the game to be the first player to Rummikub. Rummikub means you have placed all the tiles from your tile rack onto the table before anyone else. You can lay your tiles down in number runs and colour groups.

The travel version of this game is so compact you could fit all the tiles in a small makeup bag or pencil case.

Although our giveaway may be closed you can still enjoy the games by buying online at Amazon

Celebrate National Picnic Week and Win A John Adams Travel Game

Michelle

Read More

June Bedtime Stories | Our Favourites

No comments

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links

This month we headed to the library so that little J could choose some new books to read at bedtime. There were so many to choose from however he did manage to narrow it down to just 12 and these are a few of his favourite bedtime stories.

Animal ABC
Learn the alphabet and meet amazing animals along the way using the lift and flap.

Little J really enjoyed this and it introduced him to animals he had not heard of before such as Quokka, Uakari, Ibis and a Yak.

Lunchtime
It's lunchtime for one little girl, but she's just not hungry. A visiting crocodile, bear and wolf however are starving. It's just as well that children taste revolting.

We love this story all about food, friendships and fun.

Mixed
In the beginning there were three colours, Reds, Yellows and Blues. All living together in harmony until one day Red says he is the best. No longer happy with living together, the colours decide to divide but just as it seems there's no turning back, cool blue and bright yellow save the day.

This is a really lovely story about understanding, love, acceptance and also shows what happens when colours mix. 

Something Fishy
There is something fishy going on, but not in a good way. When a cat wants fish, nothing else will do and bringing home a new baby really doesn't help. Who saw that coming?... not the jealous cat.

Little J loves this story and insists that John reads it to him with funny voices. I love listening to him chuckle. 

You Choose in Space

Zoom into Space for an adventure where you choose what happens next. Which alien would you most like to be friends with? What fantastically freaky food will you munch for lunch?

After reading You Choose in Space little J also wants to try and find You Choose and You Choose your Dreams too.

What stories have you been reading this month?

Michelle

Read More

TechDen The Home To Healthier Screen Habits | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were gifted TechDen for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Screen time for your children. Is it a problem?  There are clearly some different thoughts out there when you have a look at some of the recent press around screen time. One thing is for certain though, only you the parent can really decide how much screen time you want your child to have.

We limit Little J's screen time to an amount we feel is appropriate depending on what his day has been like. We look at what time he got up, what he has done before and after breakfast and what activities he has done during the day. Some days he is more tired than others and he may have more screen time that day.  For us, that makes sense, but for him, its difficult to understand how it works!

This is where TechDen comes in. TechDen is the first ever combined physical storage and charging device with its own app to give the user the ability to control screen time on each device. Once the device is in the Den, it's locked away with an "out of sight, out of mind" approach to support parents decisions around screen time restrictions.

The TechDen App is what makes the device so unique. TechDen works with the main app being installed on the parents device and the childs versions of the apps being installed on their devices. The parent is able to predetermine the amount of time available to the child and also how many sessions are available throughout the day.  The system works by requiring the devices be returned to the Den before the end of the allocated time.  Before time is up, the child will get countdown reminders so they are ready to return the device rather than have a "2 minute warning", and they can also request extra time through the app. The parent device will receive all notifications of requests, with the ability to approve or deny requests straight away.

At the end of the session, if the device isn't returned to the Den the parental device will receive notification so that intervention can take place if needs be.

The TechDen app also can operate on a rewards system which can support the child with habits and a sense of achievement.

The Den itself is simple enough to use, and a really great feature is that once the device is away and charging, the doors wont open to the childs request for the device unless it's in one of the predetermined sessions of availability. To make it simple for the child, if the light is green they can use the device and if the light is red they can't. The Den was bigger than we expected, however if you think about a unit that would house and charge two tablets then its easy to see why the size is as it is.

I could see that TechDen could be really useful in cutting down on arguments around device time, as often these can be a result of lack of time planning or parameters set to begin with.  TechDen can support by ensuring that everyone knows the rules to start with and offering simple but effective techniques towards device access.

If you want to know more about TechDen then visit their website here for parental views and guides on how it may work for your family.

John

Read More

Max Photo - Photo Book | Review

No comments

Disclosure - I received a discount code towards the purchase of our photo book. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

We have been so lucky over the years to enjoy many adventures together as a family of four. I often look through my hard drive full of photos with a smile on my face remembering all the memories we have shared together so far. I had an idea a few months ago to create a photo book of our adventures from the last six years but never got round to it so when Max Photo offered me the chance to review a photo book I knew exactly what I wanted to create.

Having the idea to create a photo book is the easy part it's actually choosing the photos that you want to put in which is tricky as I love them all. After browsing the website for photo book ideas I chose a hard cover medium landscape book.

The book is approx A4 size and comes with a standard 20 pages. Once you are ready to create your photo book you click personalise and you can then add your photos ready to start your book.

The website lets you save your progress so there is no need to rush and try and get your book created all in one day. Adding the photos took me days as I wanted to make sure I had the right photographs and it was tough to narrow them down.

Once I had all the photos in the album I was then ready to design the book. The front and back cover is a full A4 size landscape photo then each page can have a different layout and there are lots to choose from. One page could be one large photo and the next could be 5 smaller photos, its entirely up to your personal preference. I had a mixture of different layouts as it depended on the photographs.

You can also give your book a title. I chose Our Adventures 2013-2018

After about a week of creating I was ready to checkout. The standard cost for a medium landscape photo book with 20 pages is £25 however you can add more pages at £1.50 per page (2 sides). My total cost for the book was £52 with free delivery to a Max Photo store.

My book was ready to collect within 5 working days. I am so pleased with the finished result, it's beautiful.

I love that I can now browse through my favourite photos without having to trawl through the computer hard drive.

I actually saved the book on the Max Photo website and I was able to duplicate the order within 30 days, which I have done to give as a gift so it saved me having to create it all again.

I'm actually considering creating more photo books as I love how easy it was to create, that I could take my time, personalise each page and the book itself is lovely.

For more information you can view the personalised photo books available by visiting Max Photo

Michelle

Read More

Photowall Canvas Print | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were gifted this canvas for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We love our family pictures around the house and have a number of canvas and framed large pictures that we like to  keep up to date as much as possible. Choosing a provider to bring your digital photographs to life on a large scale can be daunting as there are so many different services offered these days. For our latest canvas we wanted something a little bigger than we have had previously, and Photowall had exactly what we wanted.

The online process was simple enough. As you would expect we needed to upload our photo, in the highest quality possible. The higher the quality of the picture, the better the final version of your canvas is likely to be. After uploading its time to choose the size of your canvas. Finally you can choose whether you want the canvas to stretch over the sides of the frame, or to leave the frame on view. We always choose the stretch option, as we like the photo to go all the way around.

Our canvas was printed within 24 hours and dispatched really quickly. It arrived less than 48 hours after ordering which was a really impressive turnaround.  When the canvas arrived it was not the shape we expected!  Instead of a large rectangular parcel, we had a long, but small parcel that would be more at home when posting an umbrella or something of that nature.

We quickly realised that the canvas needed to be self built from the included rolled up canvas, frame pieces and screws.  Every other canvas we have delivered has been ready made, however this was a bigger size than we have had before.  Instructions are provided and overall it isn't difficult to put the canvas together, although I was a little nervous as the canvas itself is delicate.

Once you attach the four frame sides to the canvas and push them together, there are pre drilled holes for you to put brackets over and fasten with the screws that are provided.  Honestly, it took me two goes to actually get the canvas on to the frame properly as I always seem to miss an instruction somewhere along the way with anything involving construction.  However once completed, the canvas looks fantastic, with the quality of the finished product evident when it is up on the wall.

So, if you don't mind a small amount of DIY, and are looking for a quality canvas then you should give Photowall a try, you won't be disappointed with the final outcome.

John

Read More

EasyRead Time Teacher Watch | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were sent the EasyRead Time Teacher Watch for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post also contains affiliate links.

Most kids will be excited to just have 6 weeks left in school before the Summer, however little J is really looking forward to learning all about their new topic at school this term, learning to tell the time. Time is something we have tried to teach little J in the past but he wasn't ready. We were recently sent the EasyRead Time Teacher watch and we are hoping combining the watch and learning about time in school he will soon be a whizz at telling the time.

The EasyRead Time Teacher Watch comes in two different versions, minutes past and minutes to the hour or 12 and 24 hour. We tell the time using minutes past and minutes to so we chose this watch for little J.

We ordered the EasyRead Time Teacher minutes past and to watch with a red and blue face and a blue strap however there are lots of colour choices available.

How the watch works is very simple to understand. To read the time in minutes-past and minutes-to the hour we have taught little J the three simple steps that make up the 3-step teaching system.

Step 1. Read the number at the end of the long hand

Step 2. Say which side the long hand is pointing to (past or to)

Step 3. Read the number at the end of the short hand

Put it together and say it like it is. 10 minutes past 10.

The watch has a 33mm diameter and the large clear dial shows every detail little J needs. The hands tell him which numbers to read.

I was so pleased to read that the watch strap is washable as little J being a typical boy gets very muddy I know the watch strap won't stay a nice shade of blue for very long.

Little J is really enjoying telling the time and has picked it up quite quickly thanks to the watch. I am hoping it has given him a little head start when he begins his 'time' topic in school this month.

Michelle

Read More

Celebrating 35 Years Of Tetris | Review

No comments

Disclosure - We were gifted the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links.

I only found out about two weeks ago that the 6th June is World Tetris Day. It's a day to celebrate one of the most recognised video games of all time. This year World Tetris Day is also a time to celebrate the 35th birthday of Tetris. To join in with the Tetris fun we have been sent Tetris Dual and Tetris Speed games to play and also a set to giveaway.

Little J loves games so when he saw the duo he was quick to open them and hand me the instructions. I am always the one to read the rules and then teach everyone how to play.

Tetris Dual is a quick thinking head-to-head, tabletop strategy game based on the original Tetris. Set up was easy and play is very similar to Tetris in that your aim is to drop the Tetrimino shapes displayed on the LCD screen into the play grid. You score points by placing a shape next to one of your own colour, completing a full row and cleverly blocking your opponent.

Little J got the hang of this really quickly and after a few games he beat me, which shocked me as I had always thought of myself as the Tetris Queen.

It's a really quick game in that you have to think and act fast as the more shapes you can fit in to the grid in the time limit the more points you will score.

Tetris Speed is a fast card game where a card is placed down in the middle and the remaining cards are divided amongst the players. The card in the middle shows the next Tetrimino shape to be played, so players must race to play a matching card from their hand but if you take your eyes off the cards for a second someone else may have played that card and already moved on to the next shape.

I thought little J would really like Tetris Speed as he loves card games such as snap and top trumps but I think it may just be slightly too old for him as he got quite frustrated when he could hold all his cards in one hand and again its very fast paced so while he was still looking for the correct shape we had already moved on to the next. I do think though this will be one for him to enjoy in the future.

Our giveaway may be closed but you can still enjoy Tetris games by purchasing them on Amazon.

Win Tetris Dual an Tetris Speed Games

Michelle

Read More

Our Guide To Visiting Liverpool

No comments

Disclosure - This post is a collaboration. We recently enjoyed exploring Liverpool over two weeks and the spending money we used to enter attractions was gifted by Hotels.com. Any thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

I still find it strange when I hear people say they are going on holiday to Liverpool. With it being my home town I just see it as a place I grew up in, but visitors can enjoy a huge range of attractions, restaurants, shopping centres and hotels in Liverpool that I probably take for granted.

Obviously when you head to Liverpool you will want to see all the tourist attractions however there are quite a few hidden gems that you may not know about unless you live here.

When I visit the city I head straight for the Waterfront. It's so pretty and although it can get busy at times it's just my favourite place to be. The Albert Dock was once home to This Morning but is now filled with lots of things to see and do.

5 Things To Enjoy On The Waterfront. 

The Wheel Of Liverpool

We usually take a trip on the The Wheel of Liverpool once a year on New Years Eve and has become quite a family tradition. The wheel stands 60m tall and is open every day giving you the chance to enjoy views of the city and the river.

River Explorer Cruise with Mersey Ferries

We have just recently been on a river cruise on the River Mersey and it was so much fun. The cruise lasts approximately 50 minutes as a round trip. This excludes any time you spend at the attractions as you can leave the ferry at Seacombe and Woodside to enjoy Spaceport and the U Boat Story.

The Beatles Story

Such a huge part of Liverpool's Musical History. The Beatles are everywhere in and around the city. The Beatles Story is a great place to visit even if you're not a fan. It's so interesting and tells you everything you need to know. You can also jump on the Magical Mystery Tour to see childhood homes and famous places such as Penny Lane.

The British Music Experience

The British Music Experience is situated in Cunard Building in Liverpool on the Waterfront. The idea behind the experience is to tell the history of British music through costumes, props , instruments and  lots of other interactive features. Suitable for all ages and those who enjoy music.

Liverpool also has an amazing shopping centre, Liverpool One, which is packed with shops but also restaurants, bars and a cinema.

5 Things To Do At Liverpool ONE

Chavasse Park

There is usually something going on in Chavasse Park which sits above the shopping centre. In Summer there are pop up bars so you can sit back and enjoy a drink in the sun. At the moment the dinosaurs have been unleashed and are popping up all around Liverpool One. Our favourite is Christmas time at Liverpool One, it turns in to a mini fairground with rides and stalls.

Shopping

Liverpool One is the perfect shopping destination. Filled with lots of shops, all under one roof. You will find John Lewis, Pandora, Zara, Debenhams, Victoria Secrets, Build a Bear and many more. My favourite is obviously the Disney Store and that's usually were I head to first.

The Terrace

The Terrace sits on top of the shopping centre and next to Chavasse park. It's filled with lots of different restaurants and you will be sure to find something that takes your fancy. Yo Sushi, Ed's Easy Diner, Pizza Hut, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, TGI Fridays and the very popular and very busy Nando's to name a few. Most of the restaurants have the option to dine outside too which is lovely on a sunny day.

A Good Nights Sleep

After many great nights out in Liverpool we have headed to bed at one of the hotels close to Liverpool One. The Hilton is situated opposite Chavasse Park and also the Premier Inn and Novotel are close by too.

A Trip To The Cinema

The Odeon at Liverpool One is our favourite place to go to if we are looking to watch a movie. Even though we have cinemas closer to home, The Odeon at Liverpool has the gallery which really does make it a little bit special. There are also other cinemas in the city offering luxury seating such as Cineworld and Showcase.

Liverpool also has some great places to visit out of the town centre.

 5 Things To Do Around The City

Knowsley Safari Park

Knowsley Safari Park is only a short drive from the busy city centre which makes the park so special. It's hard to understand when you see all the amazing animals up close that you are not in the African Savannah.

Crosby Beach and The Iron Men

A great day out with the family no matter what the weather. Crosby Beach has become very popular of the past few years especially after the Iron Men arrived. There are 100 Iron Men in total situated on the beach. There is also a water sports centre, cafe and children's play area.

Acorn Farm

The award winning family friendly farm is just 15 minutes from the city centre and has a wide range of animals to see. You can purchase food to feed the sheep, goats, chickens and hens. Attend a small animal petting session and you can even go horse riding. There are two children play areas, a woodland walk and also a cafe offering homemade meals.

Otterspool Prom

We have been visiting Otterspool prom for years. It's a great day out with lots to do and see. The arrival of Otterspool Adventure Park last year has made the prom very popular.

Croxteth Park

The park is beautiful with Croxteth Hall and Gardens, a cafe and children's play area. It was announced that Croxteth Park would be used for events across the year and we were very lucky to visit one of the very first 'big' events it hosted last year,  CBBC Summer Social

If you are planning a trip to Liverpool soon I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Michelle

Read More