TechDen The Home To Healthier Screen Habits | Review

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

Boy looking at a TechDen
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!

TechDen
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.

TechDen
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.

TechDen
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

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Max Photo - Photo Book | Review

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

Max Photo - Photo Book
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.

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

Max Photo - Photo Book
Max Photo - Photo Book
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.

Max Photo - Photo Book
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
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Photowall Canvas Print | Review

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

Personalised Canvas
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.

Personalised Canvas
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.

Personalised Canvas
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.

Personalised Canvas
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
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Helping To Raise Awareness For Continence Week

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Disclosure - This giveaway is in collaboration with Pelviva and I have been compensated for my time.

Family overlooking the water
When I found out I was pregnant with big J almost 18 years ago now, I remember reading every baby and parenting book I could find. I wanted to know everything about pregnancy, labour and giving birth. Those books helped me so much with what to expect and how to deal with almost every scenario. There were some things that I skipped past and one of them was pelvic floor exercises. If I knew then what I know now I would have done all my pelvic floor exercises because now I know how important they are and how much I suffer because I didn't do them.

During pregnancy, childbirth or the menopause your pelvic floor muscle becomes weak. The weaker it becomes it may not be strong enough to prevent your bladder from leaking and that's why some people suffer from bladder leakage. 1 in 3 women actually experience bladder leaks and this can happen when they cough, sneeze, exercise or urgently need the toilet.

If you suffer from bladder leakage you will know what a massive impact it can have on your daily life. It isn't nice when you need to cough or sneeze and you have to cross your legs tightly or hold yourself which I know I have done myself plenty of times and seen women do it to.
Pelviva

Not being able to go running or play on the trampoline with the boys has been something I have missed out on due to not doing my pelvic floor exercises however Pelviva - an award winning muscle re-trainer has been designed with this in mind. Pelviva exercises your pelvic floor muscle for you. It uses a unique technology which works naturally with your body, making your pelvic floor muscles contract and reconnecting your brain to your pelvic floor.

The Pelviva treatment has been clinically proven to improve bladder leaks in 84% of women in just 12 weeks.

Pelviva is a discreet, disposable, single use intra-vaginal medical device. Made with a soft body responsive foam, adjusting to differences in female anatomy and movement during use. Treatment is over a 12-week period, with 30 minutes usage every other day.

This week is continence week (17-23rd June) to help raise awareness of continence issue across the globe that can have a huge effect on peoples lives. I know that this can be embarrassing to talk about even amongst friends but like I said earlier 1 in 3 people suffer so you are not alone.

To help raise awareness I have teamed up with Pelviva to offer one reader the chance to win 1 months supply of Pelviva worth £199.95. All you need to do is complete the entry form below and come back daily for bonus entries.

Our giveaway may be closed but you can still experience Pelviva by finding out more information on the Pelviva website


Michelle

Giveaway closes 30/6/2019 at 11:59pm
Upon entering this giveaway you agree that should you be the winner your details can be passed to the promoter to arrange fulfilment of your prize.
All other entrants details will not be used in any way. They will not be added to a database, mailing list or passed to the promoter. 
Entrants must have a valid UK address. 
Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 
All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 
1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 
Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winner within 3 days of the competition closing. 
The winner must respond within 28 days. If no response a new winner will be chosen. 
This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. 
The Prize : 1 Months Supply Of Pelviva
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EasyRead Time Teacher Watch | Review

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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.

Boy looking at his watch
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.

Boy looking at his watch
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.

EasyRead Time Teacher Watch
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.

EasyRead Time Teacher Watch
EasyRead Time Teacher Watch
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

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Celebrating 35 Years Of Tetris | Review

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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.

Tetris game and Tetris Card game
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 game and Tetris Card game
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.

Tetris Dual Game
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.

Tetris Dual Game
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 Card Game
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.


Michelle
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Animal Kingdom Ride Guide and Spoilers | Walt Disney World

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Animal Kingdom entrance
Animal Kingdom only has a few rides as it is mainly animals and attractions. If you are planning to visit Animal Kingdom and experience the rides then take a look at our ride guide and spoilers.

Pandora - The World of Avatar

Pandora The World Of Avatar
Na'vi River Journey

Type of Ride - Slow moving boat ride along the river. Each boat seats approx 20 people fitting 4 comfortably per row.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Still fairly new so the queue times are extremely long. The effects used on the ride are stunning and the detail both in and around the ride are beautiful. You feel like you are actually in Pandora
Min Height - No
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - No

On the Flight of Passage RideAvatar Flight of Passage

Type of Ride - Fly on the back of a Banshee through  Pandora. Each ride seats 1.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - This is a 3D/4D experience. 3D glasses are required. You mount the ride like a bike and then are securely fastened around your back and your legs. If you suffer from motion sickness then I would not advise riding. Flight of Passage has long queue times so a fast pass is recommended. I have seen the queue go beyond 200 minutes however I will say it's worth the wait. The effects used on the ride are some of the best we have ever experienced. At times you can actually feel the Banshee breathing and even smell the environment you are in too.
Min Height - 44"/112cm
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - No

Africa
A Hippo drinking fro a streamKilimanjaro Safaris

Type of Ride - Safari Ride through the African Savanna. Each Jeep sits approx 20 with 4 sitting comfortably per row.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Your safari jeep is driven by a tour guide who will tell you all about the animals along the way and also stops for photo opportunities. The safari is approx 22 minutes long. It is amazing to see so many different animals in a short space of time. If you are wanting to take pictures or video then try to be either at the beginning or the end of the queue in your row. This way you will be able to see clearly out of one one of the sides of the jeep. Its not quite as easy to see past people in the middle of the jeep.
Min Height - No
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - No

Asia

Kali River Rapids

Type of Ride - A wet ride through the jungle rivers on a raft. Each raft can seat 10 people.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - There are lockers free of charge for 2 hours, adjacent to the entrance. Everyone on the ride gets a little wet however depending on where you sit you may get soaked. The raft spins so it is impossible to tell. Gets busy on hot days
Min Height - No
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - No

EverestExpedition Everest - Legend Of The Forbidden Mountain

Type of Ride - A rollercoaster ride through the Himalayan mountains in search of the Yeti. Each row seats 2 comfortably.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - When the train reaches the end of the track midway through the ride take a look to your right and you will see hundreds of bobbles. I'm not sure why but people seem to throw their bobbles there. Parts of the rides involves the train going backwards.  As you go up the lift section take a look to your left for an amazing view of Orlando, you can see for miles and I am always surprised at how flat the land is.
Min Height - 44"/112cm
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - Yes

Tricera Top SpinDinoland U.S

Primeval Whirl

Type of Ride - Spinning rollercoaster with lots of dramatic drops and curves. Each capsule seats 4 comfortably.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Reminds me of the old cat and mouse ride were you reach the end of the track and it will dramatically turn the corner making you think you will fall off the edge of the track. Doesn't move too quickly though so still suitable for young riders.
Min Height - 48"/122cm
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - No

Two boys on Tricera Top spinTriceraTop Spin

Type of Ride - Soar above Dinoland U.S.A in this slow moving dinosaur ride. Each dinosaur seats 4 comfortably.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - You can control your dinosaur making him go up or down by using the lever in the front.  From this ride you can see the fairground down below, here you can play games to try and win prizes. We didn't win much this time, winning one small dino teddy.
Min Height - No
Fast Pass + - No
Ride Photo - No

Dinosaur

Type of Ride - Take a prehistoric tour to save a dinosaur from extinction.
Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Dinosaur is a very dark and bumpy ride which can be extremely loud in places as you meet lots of dinosaurs along the way. Although the minimum height for this ride is low it may be too scary for some younger riders.
Min Height - 40"/102cm
Fast Pass + - Yes
Ride Photo - Yes


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Have you visited Animal Kingdom? Leave us a comment and let us know about your visit.

Take a look at our Walt Disney World Posts for more information on visiting the most magical place on Earth

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Michelle
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Why I Still Love 90's Music

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We will soon be going on a little road trip and I've asked the boys to send me over a Spotify playlist of 50 songs each so including my own we will have 200 songs to shuffle through whilst we are on the road. I sat making mine last night and every single song I've added is from the 90's. I absolutely love 90's pop music especially the Spice Girls, Steps and 911. The 90's was a great time for me, I was in my teens, got my first job and loved going out dancing on a Saturday night. 

man and woman smiling at the camera
Luckily the bands I loved back then all started to make come backs over the past 4-5 years as part of reunion tours. I have been lucky though to relive my youth by seeing a few of my favourite artists in concert again over recent years and here are a few of my highlights.

Steps
Steps were huge in the 90's and although nowadays they are classed as a cheesy pop band, their reunion tour last year was huge. It was amazing to see them up on stage doing what they do best and seeing thousands of people in the crowd joining in with their dance routines, myself included.

Favourite Steps Band Member
Claire - Her voice is amazing.

Favourite Steps Song
The Way You Make Me Feel

Favourite Steps Dance Routine
Stomp

911 on stage
911
I was never really a big 911 fan but when they changed their image and sound and released More Than A Woman I fell in love. I actually wanted to marry Lee and was devastated when I found out he was dating Lindsay from B*Witched, haha. 911 and other bands took part in The Big Reunion series on TV a few years back which then led to a tour. I managed to get tickets and it was a brilliant night watching all the boy bands from the 90's performing together. I actually have no idea how Jimmy and Spike can still pull off those dance moves 20 years later.

Favourite 911 Band Member 
Lee. He was gorgeous and I wanted to marry him when I was 16

Favourite 911 Song 
A Little Bit More

Favourite 911 Dance Routine
More Than A Woman



Spice Girls
Last but not least The Spice Girls. Their music was the soundtrack to my late teen years. You may have read on my blog recently that although I had tickets to see them last week I missed the Spice Girls concert and was absolutely gutted but I'm hoping they will be back on tour again. I actually wanted to enter the recent Walkers Campaign to find The Spice Girls Biggest Fan as I think I would definitely be in with a shot of winning.  Although I didn't see them this time around I did see them back in 2007 when they headed to Manchester for their first reunion tour. There is always a part of a concert that sticks out and for me it was when the five girls were on stage singing Viva Forever and Geri slowly lowered down on a platform so she wasn't on stage anymore. The idea behind it was that she had left The Spice Girls at the point of Viva Forever being released which I took really badly so when they did this on stage, I cried.

Favourite Spice Girl
Geri ' Ginger' Halliwell. I loved her and wanted to be her when I was younger.

Favourite Spice Girls Song
Spice Up Your Life. This was the first song of their much anticipated second album. It was more edgy than what they had done before and I love it.

Favourite Spice Girls Dance Routine 
Stop

There are loads more bands I haven't mentioned however I still love them all and I'm definitely a 90's girl at heart.

Michelle
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Italian Gathering Menu At Prezzo

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Disclosure - We were gifted a voucher to cover the cost of the Italian Gathering Menu. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Italian Gathering Menu At Prezzo
Last week we wear invited to Prezzo restaurant to sample their Italian Gathering menu. We have visited Prezzo many times in the past but it's always nice to try out new menus. We headed to Prezzo  in Media City, Manchester before a trip to the theatre. It was a glorious night but we decided to sit inside even though there were tables outside overlooking the green.

On arrival we were given a main menu and also the Italian Gathering menu which has a choice of starters, mains and desserts.

John decided to start with the cheesy garlic bread and I went for tomato brushetta. For mains John chose the Spaghetti Bolognese and I chose the light chicken pizza. Included in the set menu is a choice of drinks, house wine, Peroni beer or a soft drink. John went for a Peroni and I got a Pepsi Max

We didn't wait long for our drinks to arrive. When they did our order was wrong, however it was rectified very quickly.

Cheese Garlic bread
Our starters arrive a few minutes later and I was pleased to see a full portion, even though it was on a special menu. Sometimes in other restaurants when we have ordered from set menus the portion size seems smaller however this wasn't the case at Prezzo.

Brushetta
I didn’t taste the garlic bread although it smelt delicious. My tomato bruschetta was very tasty and like I said earlier, a decent portion size.

Spaghetti Bolognese
Lighter choice pizza
Whenever we go for an Italian John always orders Spaghetti Bolognese it's his favourite dish and he wasn't disappointed. The bowl was huge but he still managed to finish it is all. My pizza was chicken and broccoli, it was smaller than a normal size pizza, however I knew this at the time of ordering, it is a lighter choice.

The Italian Gathering menu is two courses plus a choice of drink for £16 95. You can add a desert for an extra £3.

If you choose to add mozzarella to your starter you will be charged an extra £1.

I will definitely be dining at Prezzo again in the near future and hopefully the Italian Gathering menu will still be available. It's really good value for money.

Michelle
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Win A Get Out And Grow School Gardening Kit

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Disclosure - I have been compensated for my time and involvement in this campaign. 
Sudocrem Get Out and Grow Poster
Encouraging the boys to play outdoors is something I feel really passionate about. Luckily they do both enjoy being outside whether it's playing football, heading to the local park or exploring in the woods. You may have seen recently that I am supporting Get Out and Grow offering a lucky winner  a gardening kit to help get kids outside more. Today I am so happy to be able to offer one of my readers the chance to win a Get Out and Grow School Gardening Kit for their chosen UK School or Nursery.

Just in time for summer, Get Out and Grow, is launching an incentive encouraging students to head outside and get planting, growing and learning about just where fruit and vegetables come from.

Little J is interested in gardening and whenever he brings home plants or seeds that he has planted we always take them to the garden to plant them in the soil. 

In a recent survey, 90% of children said that they would like a garden at school and at one primary school in Lincolnshire, a school garden made all the difference when it came to pupil’s behaviour.

The Benjamin Adlard Primary School, run by headmaster Sam Coy, was previously rated by Ofsted as one of Britain’s worst schools. Four years and one school garden later, and the Gainsborough school has won the national Pearson award for School of the Year: Making a Difference.

Headmaster Coy insists: “The children absolutely love den-building, just generally getting dirty and nature hunts. One child recently told me that he loves going to the forest school on a Tuesday afternoon so much as it helps him to behave all week as he never wants to not be able to go.”

Little J went to forest school last year and he still talks about it now. It was probably one of his favourite experiences ever.

Sponsored by British skincare brand, Sudocrem, the Get Out and Grow project was created following research that suggested gardening is being forgotten and that many children lack basic knowledge about the natural world and where their food comes from.

Starting in June and running throughout the month, Get Out and Grow will award school gardening starter kits to 20 schools nationwide. The kits will include children’s wheelbarrows, gardening gloves, mini-trowels, seeds and lessons on how to make the most of a school garden. And the good news is, anyone can enter! Nominating your local school or nursery is easy. Just fill in the widget below and enter the details of your chosen school or nursery to be in with the chance to win. 

Good Luck

 Michelle

Giveaway closes 16/06/2019 at 11:59pm

Upon entering this giveaway you agree that should you be the winner your details can be passed to the promoter to arrange fulfilment of your prize.
All other entrants details will not be used in any way. They will not be added to a database, mailing list or passed to the promoter. 
Entrants must have a valid UK address. 
Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 
All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 
1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 
Their nominated UK school or nursery will receive the gardening kit
Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winner within 3 days of the competition closing. 
The winner must respond within 28 days. If no response a new winner will be chosen. 
This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. 
The Prize : Get Out and Grow School Gardening Kit
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The Night I Missed The Spice Girls Concert

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The Spice Girls
This is not the post I was expecting to write today but the reality is, it is the only one I can. Tonight we had tickets to see The Spice Girls 2019 Concert but unfortunately due to John being very ill we were unable to go. Last November I spent almost 2 hours on the phone and online trying to secure tickets for their tour and luckily I managed to finally get through and order a pair of VIP tickets.

At the time the VIP tickets were the only ones available and were almost £250 each. I couldn't really justify spending that much money on a pair concert tickets to see The Spice Girls but John told me to go ahead and book them anyway because he knows just how much I love them.

My love for the Spice Girls all began when I saw a clip of Wannabe on the TV, after watching it for about 30 seconds I was hooked. I was 16 at the time and everything after that moment became all about Girl Power. I would dress like them, sing like them and pretend to be them. It sounds a bit sad now but for those couple of years I was in a Spice bubble as was all of my friends.

Everyone had a favourite Spice Girl, mine was Geri. The day she left the Spice Girls I was heartbroken. I had just turned 18 and was working part time and I felt like my world was crashing down. I had to stay off work for two weeks which sounds ridiculous but it's true.

I continued to follow the Spice Girls and then their solo careers and when they left the music scene I was heartbroken. I continued to play their songs and prayed that one day they would make a return.

All my wishes came true in 2007 when they announced they were doing a tour. The concert sold out in minutes but luckily I managed to get tickets and it was the best night. I loved every second.

The Spice Girls Tickets
Obviously I have missed this tour and I am devastated but the power of social media has meant that I have followed along watching those who have been to the concerts. I did insure our tickets so I am hoping that we will get a refund and not all is lost, obviously I would have preferred to see the girls. I have never claimed on ticket insurance before so not sure what to expect, fingers crossed it all works out.

I really wanted this post to be full of photos I had took and photos of my VIP Merchandise but unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be.

Michelle
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Our Guide To Visiting Liverpool

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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.

The Liver Building
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
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.

Fab Four Cafe
dad and two sons looking over the water
Mersey Ferries
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.

British Music Museum
Boy playing Drums at the British Music Museum
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 at Liverpool One
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
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.

The Iron Men at Crosby Beach
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.

A view of the river Mersey
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
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