Manchester Giants Basketball Party

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Disclosure - We were invited to the a Manchester Giants Basketball Party for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

Little J's birthday isn't till March but already he has been talking about his birthday party. Birthday parties are such a big deal when you are a kid and over the years we have hosted and been to so many different parties. We've been to soft play parties, swimming parties, Nerf parties, football parties, there are lots of different party venues to choose from.  We were invited last week to a basketball party and for us this was the first time we have ever been to a basketball party and game so we were very excited.

The Basketball party was at the home of the Manchester Giants in Urmston, Manchester.  I had already read about the party and what was included but I didn't tell little J as I wanted it to be a surprise.

When we arrived we were shown to a cafe / seating area to wait until our allocated time which was 3pm. There was another party waiting too and after reading the information leaflet there is a maximum of two parties per time slot.

We then followed the staff member to the basketball court area. Little J was really excited at this point and had no idea that for the next hour he would have a one hour basketball coaching session with the Giants coaches.

We were able to sit and watch the children on one half of the court as the coach did mini coaching sessions with them and little games. The other party I mentioned earlier was on the other half of the court.

The coach told all the children to get a ball and they practiced dribbling, tackling and shooting from different angles. It was lots of fun and all the children seemed to be having a great time. They finished with a game that involved two teams racing to their ball and trying to score a basket before the other team. They were joined by two Manchester Giants players which was amazing.

Once the coaching session was finished it was time for some food. The children headed to the cafe / seating area and were rewarded for their hard work on the court with Pizza, Chips and Juice. There was so much pizza and chips available so the kids could just help themselves once they had finished what they had been given. Afterwards they enjoyed birthday cake.

The children were given about 45 minutes to eat which was just the right amount of time as I could see some of them becoming a little restless.

Once they were finished their party meal we headed back to the court to watch the Manchester Giants take on the Newcastle Eagles. We have never seen a basketball match before but I have to say we all really enjoyed it. It's quick paced with music playing and a DJ/Compare talking on the microphone encouraging the crowd to get involved, it really was a fun and exciting experience.

All party children get to go on to the court which was an amazing experience. They all looked so happy.

After the game the Manchester Giants all stay behind and are quite happy signing autographs and having photographs taken which is a lovely way to end the party.

Included in the party is...

One hours coaching session on the court with Giants coaches.

Party Children run out with the players for a team huddle.

Match tickets on the day of the party.

Birthday child or group receives a Molten Basketball signed by the Giants.

A Giants T-Shirt for each child.

Pizza meal following the coaching session.

Parties take place on match days before games. The price for a party is £350 for 10 children and 2 adults, additional children are £35 per head. You can purchase extra adult tickets for the match at £10 each.

A Manchester Giants Party is a perfect choice for a basketball fan however we didn't know anything about basketball before we visited and absolutely loved it so I would say it's a great party choice for all.

Michelle

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Rubik's Puzzles - The Perfect Stocking Filler

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Disclosure - We were gifted a Rubik's Puzzle Bundle for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post also contains affiliate links.

Growing up I loved my Rubik's Cube. It was one of those toys that I could pick up and play at anytime. I say I loved it but it used to annoy me so much because I never completed more than one side. I remember my friends and I bringing our Rubik's cubes to a friends house and we sat for hours trying to complete at least two sides. One of our friends did it and we all couldn't believe it until we realised she had peeled the coloured squares off her cube and arranged them so it looked like she had done it, she hadn't.

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New Thorntons Liverpool One Store Unveiled | AD

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Disclaimer - This is a paid collaboration. We were invited to Thorntons for the purpose of this post and we were gifted with chocolates to take home.

We visit Liverpool One at least once every few weeks and almost every time we go, we will pop in to Thorntons for an ice cream or a chocolate treat. So, when we were invited to the opening of the newly refurbished store at Liverpool One, we were very excited to have a sneak peek before it opened to the public. It was such a lovely experience and definitely felt like a chocolate lovers dream as we had a tour of the new-look store and everything it offers.

As we walked through the doors, we were greeted by a brilliant display of chocolates in the Thorntons Craftery. The Craftery is the perfect place to create your own personalised box of chocolates. You can decide how many chocolates you’d like and select your favourite flavours to have in your own box. The bespoke chocolate boxes come in three sizes and can contain either four, nine or twelve chocolates.  The chocolate maker at the Craftery will help you to select each individual chocolate and place them in a box which is then hand tied with gift ribbon. The larger boxes make the perfect presents and it's so nice to create a box that is personal to you, or to the person you are buying for, with all their favourite chocolates inside. 

Next we arrived at the ice cream counter which has a wide selection of flavours where you can create your own milkshakes or enjoy a hot chocolate to take away. 

If you are looking to purchase some Christmas treats this year then you will want to check out the Cheeky Elf range. The Cheeky Elf is a cute design which is perfect for not just little ones but all the family. You can now also purchase a personalised Cheeky Elf advent calendar, which is a great way to make the countdown to Christmas truly special!

New for this year is the Thorntons Chocolate Block Library. You can select up to five of your favourite flavoured bars from a range of 12 flavours, which are then placed in a box and gift wrapped with ribbon. It's such a lovely idea and the presentation in the library style box makes it an ideal gift for your loved ones. 

Everyone has a favourite Thorntons chocolate and mine are the Viennese and Alpini. However, there are times when I like to try different flavours and the Classics range is perfect for these occasions. 

All of the Thorntons Classics flavours are found in this one box and you can choose from a Classic selection, Classic Milk or Classic Dark box, giving you a perfect way to explore the wider range and maybe even discover a new favourite!

Once you have browsed the store and purchased your chocolate treats you can take them to be gift wrapped and this was my favourite part of the Thorntons experience. Watching the staff member wrap our chocolate box with such passion and skill was so inspiring. So much care was put into wrapping up our gifts and they looked beautiful afterwards. I can't wait to pass the love on and gift our box to a friend. 

If browsing the store and you need a break, then you can pop into the Thorntons Café towards the back of the store. Here you can enjoy a hot or cold drink, a choice of sandwiches or a delicious cake.

A new addition to the Thorntons Cafe is the Afternoon Tea for two. You will be served a tiered platter of sandwiches, cakes and of course Thorntons Chocolates with your choice of hot drink. I am sure the Afternoon Tea will be a popular choice at the Thorntons café, there’s no need to book in advance so if you are out in town and get the urge to enjoy an Afternoon Tea you can just pop in store.

The newly refurbished Thorntons store is bright, inviting and an amazing experience for chocolate lovers. We’ll definitely be returning soon!

Michelle

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What To Expect At The New Look Inflata Nation, Manchester

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Disclosure - We were invited to Inflata Nation for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Last year we visited Inflata Nation in Manchester and little J loved it, he loved it so much that he has continued to ask when we could go back. Last week we finally managed to return and it was perfect as it has had a refurbishment and is bigger than before with dual level inflatables.

For those that have never been before Inflata Nation is an indoor inflatable arena so is perfect for lots of bouncing fun.

Little J couldn't wait to get bouncing as soon as we walked through the door. Upon arrival you need to complete a waiver form (if you haven't already done it when you booked online). You are given a coloured wristband to show staff that you have bought and paid for a one hour time slot. If you book two hours you will be given a second different coloured wristband. Once checked in you can remove your shoes and place them in a locker and then head for a safety brief.

As soon as that is complete you head to the inflatable arena ready for your session. There are so many features to choose from little J didn't know where to start.

The new arena has lots of super slides to choose from

Two lane slides with a jaw dropping 7m near vertical drop. This was little J's favourite thing. He went on it 25 times. He just wanted to go round and round and round again. He is such a daredevil and the look of excitement as he slid down with his arms crossed on his chest, made me giggle.

Next to the vertical drop slides are dual bumpy slides. Little J didn't quite fancy these but John had a turn and almost flipped upside down.

The incredible tipping slide looked fun so I encouraged John and little J to go on it. It will definitely test your balance and skills as the slide inflates and starts tipping you down.

Inflata Bubbles always makes me giggle as little J bounces from one to another.

Inflata Free fall is a new free fall activity for all thrill seekers. Take a jump off the 6m platform. You’ll be wearing a harness and clipped to a free fall device to help you land safely.

The new ball pit was another favourite of little J's.

There is also and Improved interactive obstacle course for trying out those challenging ninja style moves. Both John and little J tried this out and had lots of fun doing so.

Inflata Duel, the popular and hilarious gladiator podium is back however we were told it was reserved for a party only which was a shame. Little J was desperate to have a turn.

As well as the arena there is a downstairs cafe, party and viewing area plus an upstairs seating/viewing area too.

For more information you can visit Inflata Nation.

We really enjoyed our session and I would definitely recommend choosing a two hour bounce. It will give you time to take a break in between and have a drink as it does get hot in there.

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Michelle

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Portable North Pole Magic Pass | Review

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Disclosure - We were gifted a magic pass for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own. 

Halloween and Bonfire Night have been and gone so I can now start to get excited for Christmas. It's just 8 weeks till the big day and I cannot wait to start all our Christmas shopping and enjoy family days out. We have lots of Christmas traditions and one of them is the boys receiving a video call from Santa through the Portable North Pole App. We have done this since they were little and each year it just gets better and better. This year we are trying out the Portable North Pole Magic Pass.

If you may not have heard of Portable North Pole before, if you haven't its an app thats very easy to download and simple to use.

Once downloaded all you need to do is enter as a parent. You input all your child's details in for example their name, age, school year, country they live in and within moments a personalised video message will be sent to your child. It's truly magical and I can still remember the look on little J's face when he receives a special message each year.

There are lots of different videos to choose from for both kids and adults.

To access the parents corner you will need to pop in your phones passcode. This prevents little ones finding things they shouldn't! They do have access to the children's sections which has lots of different activities.

Santas Advent Calendar is locked at the moment until the 1st of December and we can't wait to click on the doors to see what's behind.

Bedtime stories is a lovely feature which has Santa telling a variety of stories. Choose from 10 stories including The Elf in the Storm, The Sock Drawer or Christmas in England. All stories are less than 4 minutes long.

Talking Elf is a new game that when you say something in your phone the elves will repeat. Lots of fun hearing what you would sound like if you were an elf.

Tree Shaker is a fun game were you have to shake the tree to bring down as many decorations as possible in 30 seconds. Can you beat your high score?

Memory Game is another game which has you flipping and matching the pictures on the cards.

There is also a Santas Voicemail section which is coming soon.

The magic pass is the perfect way to create personalised messages for your little ones. We have been using it for years and its lovely to hear that PNP has delivered over 220 Million messages since it was created in 2008.

The magic pass is currently priced at £12.99 however there will be free videos available closer the the big day so make sure you visit Portable North Pole for more information and updates

Michelle

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Ricky Zoom TV Series | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid post and we were gifted a backpack full of goodies. 

When it comes to having some chill time little J is quite open to watching new things, so over the past week we have been watching a few episodes of Ricky Zoom. Ricky Zoom premiered on Nick JR on October 5th and every Saturday and Sunday you can catch up with the adventures of Ricky and his Bike Buddies.

I can imagine Ricky Zoom will be quite popular, we particularly like the very catchy theme tune and the message that the show conveys to little ones about friendships and teamwork. The adventures Ricky and his buddies get up to are entertaining and the characters are colourful and loveable.

Ricky Zoom lives in a town called Wheelford which is a town designed just for bikes. His parents are both rescue bikes which Ricky aspires to be one day however he still has a lot to learn. for now he enjoys heading to local adventure park, racing and learning new stunts and enjoying time with his bike buddies friends.

Meet Ricky's Friends

Loop is one of our favourite characters. Loop is a dirt bike that enjoys showing off his stunt skills at the local park however he often underestimates his abilities which leaves him getting in to all kinds of trouble. Little J thinks he is hilarious.

Scootio loves her gadgets and is head girl of the gang. She's yellow, cool and has lots of gadgets that can help the Bike Buddies when they get in to trouble. She always has a solution to the problems they may face.

DJ is the heart of the gang, always putting the needs of others before himself. There is nothing that DJ can't build and he loves to put his super toolbox to the test when needed.

So Ricky, Loop, Scootio and DJ are the four bikes that make up the Bike Buddies.

There are lots more characters including

Ricky's Family. Helen and Hank are Ricky's Mum and Dad and Toot Zoom is Ricky's younger sister.

Don and Blip Hoopla are Loop's Dad and older brother.

Mr. Rumbler is a construction and also DJ's Dad.

Not only have we been watching Ricky Zoom but we were sent a backpack filled with goodies to enjoy and we have also been enjoying the free activities on the website too.

Make sure you check out Ricky Zoom every Saturday and Sunday on Nick JR and head to Ricky Zoom for lots of fun.

Michelle

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Thorntons Chocolate Bundle | Giveaway

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You may have read recently that we visited the newly refurbished Thorntons Store at Liverpool One. Thorntons is one of our favourite places to shop for chocolates and at Christmas time they are the perfect treat for someone special. We are giving away one of our chocolate bundles to a lucky Playdays and Runways reader.

The bundle will include

Your own personalised Cheeky Elf Advent Calendar. 

A Chocolate Block Library filled with 5 Chocolate blocks. 

A Classic Box 

A Beautifully Wrapped Continental Box

and 

a Craftery Box filled with 9 chocolates. 

All you need to do is enter via our giveaway widget below, tell us who you would share your chocolates with and pop back daily for special bonus chances to win. 

Good luck

Win A Thorntons Chocolate Bundle

Michelle

Competition closes on Sunday 17th November 2019

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 winners within 7 days of the competition closing. 

The winners will be emailed to the email address given at the time of entering. 

The winners 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 : Thorntons Chocolate Bundle

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Moving On From Fortnite

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*This post contains affiliate links, they work at no cost to you however can help towards the running of my blog.* 

It's been well over a year now since Fortnite started to dominate the boys Xbox time. Big J started first and at the time John and I knew very little about the game. Big J would play it in his room and we had no need to know about the game or anything else until little J started to talk about it. He hadn't learnt about it from his big brother, it was his friends in school. He would come home and talk about characters and dances and was desperate to play it. John and I limited his Fortnite time but it has been his 'go to' game ever since when he has Xbox time until recently, he's starting to drift towards other games and is desperately searching for another game as popular as Fortnite.

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Ice Age - Scrat's Nutty Adventure Video Game

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

From Outright Games, makers of Dragons Dawn Of New Riders and Paw Patrol On A Roll games comes the latest Ice Age game for Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.  Scrat's Nutty Adventure is available now and we have had the opportunity to try it out on Nintendo Switch.

The game is aimed at Ice Age fans, however from my first hours play through, I am really enjoying the game and I haven't watched many of the later Ice Age films, and wouldn't say I was a fan! Little J, however is a huge fan of Ice Age, and was really looking forward to getting his teeth into this game!

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How To Enjoy Breakfast As A Family | AD

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Disclosure - This post is a paid collaboration with nutella. The idea for this post, thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

As a family there is one thing all four of us thrive on and that is routine. When little J was born we decided that having a routine was something we needed if we were going to be able to manage as a new family of four. Some days our routine doesn't always go to plan but one thing we always try to stick to is enjoying breakfast together as a family. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so I like to make sure that we all come together to enjoy a balanced meal to get us through the day.

Preparation

If you are going to enjoy breakfast together as a family then you have to prepare. I always make sure that I have all the ingredients that I need and I try to vary what we eat each day. I always set my alarm 15 minutes before the boys wake up time so I know that I have plenty of time to not only prepare the breakfast but to have time to enjoy it too.

 A Balanced Breakfast

My Mum has always said to me that you should eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunchtime and a pauper for dinner. It's an old saying, which is just a saying, but it has always stuck with me. Breakfast is the first meal of the day so it's important to make sure you eat as your body won't have had any food for hours while you slept.

I like to offer the boys a variety of breakfast options each day. Big and little J like different foods at breakfast time. They both have different favourite cereals, little J likes toast and pancakes whilst big J prefers waffles and croissants.

Whether we spread it on top of our toast or waffles, we enjoy one heaped teaspoon of nutella (15g, 80kcal) which is the perfect portion size per person, to be enjoyed as part of a balanced breakfast.

Big J loves toast and spreading the nutella himself is one of his favourite breakfast. He doesn't like to use a knife he prefers to use the spoon, which takes a little bit longer but as long as he is happy then I am happy.

Eat Together

Every mealtime we eat together at the table. It's something we have always done and will continue to do. I'm not a big fan of take away breakfasts and eating on the go, I like to sit and enjoy my breakfast and watching the boys eat knowing that they have had a balanced breakfast before school.

There are so many distractions nowadays with iPads and phones, social media and video games, mealtimes are now a perfect chance to get away from those distractions and actually talk to each other.

Talk

When I was younger my Nan would say it was rude to talk at the table. It's funny how times change as now I feel talking at the table brings us closer. During breakfast it's our time to chat about our day ahead whether it's what we will be getting up to, what the boys have to look forward to at school, activities they have planned after school or even what we are having for dinner. It's so nice just to take 15 minutes out of the day to sit round as a family and enjoy spending time together.

Spending time together as a family at breakfast time really does make us feel a lot happier as we start our day. It's relaxed and enjoyable and I know that the boys are starting their day with a balanced breakfast. Nutella has teamed up with leading family psychologist Linda Blair, to develop the Happy Portion formula - looking at tips for a great breakfast time. The campaign helps to show that spending time together as a family at breakfast time can have a positive effect on the rest of your day, whilst enjoying one heaped teaspoon of nutella as part of a balanced and varied diet.  If you would like to read more about nutella's Happy Portion Campaign, head over to https://www.nutella.com/uk/en/happy-portion 

I would love to hear how you spend time together as family at breakfast time and if you have any tips  on breakfast time as a family please do share with #nutellaHappyPortion

Michelle

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Learn With Thomas Range

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Disclosure - We were gifted the below items for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

Around this time of year I am always on the lookout for toy ideas for Christmas. Not just for little J but for my family and friends little ones. Since becoming an Early Years Practitioner I always seem to steer towards toys that have educational features but obviously keeping it fun for the little ones too. I really love the Learn with Thomas range from Trends, not only is it educational with lots of interactive fun, it's Thomas and Friends too which is a character we have loved for many years.

 The learn with Thomas toys are designed for those 18 months up to 4 years old however little J enjoyed playing with these especially the smart tablet and he is 6. I think it depends on the age and stage of your child but if they are a Thomas fan they will love the range no matter what age.

Thomas and Friends Flip and Learn Phone

The Flip and Learn Phone is a great addition to role play with the kids. Flip the phone to open and reveal a very colourful keypad. The number buttons are red, yellow, green, blue and orange which is not only eye catching but great for colour and number recognition. Press a number and it will make a beeping dialling noise. Once you have dialled your number press the green phone button to ring Thomas. He will answer ' Hello 'I'm Thomas, the number 1 blue engine'. Press the red phone button to end the call.

Press the ? button on the phone and Thomas will ask you to ring someone by pressing a certain button. For example Thomas will say 'Shall we ring Emily? Press number 8. This gives the child the chance to find number 8 on the keypad. Again great for number recognition. Thomas will also ask you to find a certain colour button too.

Press * to begin lots of fun sounds and press # to activate the Thomas tune. There is even a camera button which makes it very realistic for the little ones.

Thomas and Friends Smart Tablet

Most children now know how to work an iPad or tablet so they will love the Thomas and Friends Smart Tablet as it has lots of interactive fun.

The Thomas tablet is really colourful and has lots to do and see. Switch the Thomas tablet on my pressing the large yellow button at the bottom of the tablet. Then you can choose what feature you would like to play with.

Press one of the circle 'places' buttons at the top of the pad to learn about places to visit. A great way for children to learn about different destinations.

The number and shape buttons are perfect to help with number and share recognition. Press the button once and it will tell you the number press again to hear the shape.

Move down to the letters that spell out T R A I N. Press a letter once to hear the phonetic pronunciation and press again to hear the name of the letter.

Press the characters to learn their names and if you press again you can hear more about the character.

Next you can learn colours by pressing the trains.

There is a Thomas button at the bottom of the tablet, you press this to activate the quiz. Thomas will ask you a question and you have to find the correct answer and press the button. Lots of fun for little ones and encourages listening and attention too.

I have teamed up with Trends UK to offer one lucky Playdays and Runways reader the chance to win their very own Thomas and Friends Smart Tablet.

Our giveaway may be closed but the Learn With Thomas range is still available to buy on Amazon.

Win Thomas & Friends Smart Tablet

Michelle

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