Showing posts with label Top Ender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Ender. Show all posts
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Monday, 6 September 2010
Bob The Builder - A Toys R Us Toyologist Review
Do you remember I told you that Top Ender and Baby Boy had been asked to be Toyologists by Toys R Us? Well we have tested all the toys to the best of our extent from our first parcel and the first review we are posting is a Bob The Builder Dancing Bob toy which retails at £19.99.
The Dancing Bob sings and dances to a song which is turned on and off by pushing Bob's hand and for the first week, we only ever got the intro to the song as Baby Boy loved that he was able to control it by squishing Bob's hand! As soon as we got Baby Boy to realise that there is a dance associated with Bob's song then we managed to get Baby Boy to dance along.
So I present to you Bob The Builder, with backing dancers (who are actually in the foreground) Top Ender and Baby Boy and a guest appearance from Geoffrey the Toys R Us Giraffe!
So I present to you Bob The Builder, with backing dancers (who are actually in the foreground) Top Ender and Baby Boy and a guest appearance from Geoffrey the Toys R Us Giraffe!
If we get enough requests, we might even post the video of Daddy and I dancing along...
Labels:
baby boy,
Bob The Builder,
review,
Top Ender,
Toyologists,
toys,
Toys R Us,
Toys R Us Toyologists,
video
Comments
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Top Ender Giggles - Growing up
The other evening we decided to have some unhealthy but very tasty Burger King for tea. Whilst waiting for the full meals to be passed to us Daddy stole a chip from the bag.
"Wow! That's hot" he stated still happily chewing away "In fact it was so hot I have one word to say that starts with 'F' and ends with 'uck'"
He paused for a second and I remember thinking that the children were in the back of the car when he carried on;
"Fire Truck!" and then giggled (it was a very manly giggle)
"I thought you were going to say Furck!" said Top Ender from the back seat
I am so glad that Top Ender needs to do some work on her pronunciation!
"Wow! That's hot" he stated still happily chewing away "In fact it was so hot I have one word to say that starts with 'F' and ends with 'uck'"
He paused for a second and I remember thinking that the children were in the back of the car when he carried on;
"Fire Truck!" and then giggled (it was a very manly giggle)
"I thought you were going to say Furck!" said Top Ender from the back seat
I am so glad that Top Ender needs to do some work on her pronunciation!
Monday, 30 August 2010
Toyologists? What on earth is a Toyologist?
In the run up to Top Enders being born, Daddy and I would often go out of an evening and wander round a shop or two. Top Ender loved to be up late, and watching TV and staring at the same four walls whilst being kicked from the inside just wasn't cutting it for us. We used to drive to Toys R Us in Bedford as it had late night Christmas Opening times and walk round looking at all the toys and seeing what we would like.
Eventually in 2005 Toys R Us found a site for a store in Milton Keynes and Daddy and I were thrilled that we could start going to a local store instead with our baby. Several years later and we still love the Milton Keynes store, not only because it is HUGE but because all of us (Baby Boy included) love to walk round and look at the toys and what we would have if our house was bigger!
Top Ender and Baby Boy had a great time and Top Ender even discovered that TB (GlowStars and Urbanvox eldest) isn't evil despite being a boy! They played in the playground, in the sandpit, on the slides, sat next to each other and even talked in Horse to each other. As I was the only one who could translate Horse it might of just been me making things up, but they didn't care. Well, not until I announced that TB had just asked Top Ender to marry him...
Eventually in 2005 Toys R Us found a site for a store in Milton Keynes and Daddy and I were thrilled that we could start going to a local store instead with our baby. Several years later and we still love the Milton Keynes store, not only because it is HUGE but because all of us (Baby Boy included) love to walk round and look at the toys and what we would have if our house was bigger!
It was with great interest that I replied back to the email from Geoffrey (you know the Toys R Us Giraffe, of "there's millions of Geoffrey's all under one roof" fame) about becoming a Toyologist. And after some careful consideration I agreed that Top Ender and Baby Boy would become Toyologists and Daddy and I would be their assistants!
We were invited down to Bucklebury Farm Park in Berkshire to meet the other Toyologists and to have a bit of a tea party and as Daddy was at work I took my Mum (AKA Granny). I had explained to her what it was we were going to and why and it was then that she exclaimed;
"Toyologists? What on earth is a Toyologist?"
"Not a what, a who. Your Grandchildren are going to be Toyologists for Toys R Us" I explained
"Is it to do with that blog thing you do?" she said (I could hear her eyes rolling)
"Yes Mum" I sighed
"Your going to put this conversation on there aren't you?" she said resignedly
"Yes Mum" I said Smugly (Love you Mummy!)
Top Ender and Baby Boy had a great time and Top Ender even discovered that TB (GlowStars and Urbanvox eldest) isn't evil despite being a boy! They played in the playground, in the sandpit, on the slides, sat next to each other and even talked in Horse to each other. As I was the only one who could translate Horse it might of just been me making things up, but they didn't care. Well, not until I announced that TB had just asked Top Ender to marry him...Whilst we grown ups had a little question and answer session about how the Toyologist programme is going to work, Granny took Top Ender and Baby Boy to play on some of the fab things at the Farm (such as a huge jumping pillow, a lot of slides, a zip slide sort of thing and a playground) and also they went and talked to a few animals and snacked on the cookies and muffins that had been laid out for us all to share.
After this we were all brought back together as it was time to open our first box of toys. Top Ender and Baby Boy got Granny and I to remove the tape and then they dived in pulling toys from the box and working out what was the best thing to look at first. There was a lot of toys and both Top Ender and Baby Boy exclaimed "COOL!" more than once as they examined the contents.
After this we went on a Tractor ride to see the Japanese Sika, Axis and Fallow deer that are at the Farm. We were allowed to feed them and as you can see from the photos they weren't shy!
We went home, happy but tired and with a huge dollop of excitement over playing with some new toys. I hope that you will enjoy the reviews that we do over the next few months and remember that anything we say is the truth, we aren't being paid to be nice (we aren't being paid at all, but you know what I mean) and hopefully it might give you some ideas about Christmas gifts!
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Top Ender Giggles - French Breakfast
Whilst we were eating dinner on Sunday Top Ender asked if she could get dressed before she had dinner the next day. We all giggled because she had meant breakfast, I told her that it was up to her when she got dressed (within reason) and the conversation moved on.
It got me thinking though as the French say Petit Déjeuner and that means small lunch right? So I said;
"Tomorrow we will have a French Breakfast!"
I was thinking bowls of Hot Chocolate to dip croissants in, maybe a pain au chocolat for Top Ender and Baby Boy or a Tartine and if I am feeling really generous some yogurt and fruit or ham and cheese.
"Oh but I wanted a pain au chocolat!" whinged Top Ender
"Top Ender, where do pain au chocolat's come from?" asked Daddy
"I don't know!" she answered
"Think what language it is" I said
"Erm London?" she asked
It got me thinking though as the French say Petit Déjeuner and that means small lunch right? So I said;
"Tomorrow we will have a French Breakfast!"
I was thinking bowls of Hot Chocolate to dip croissants in, maybe a pain au chocolat for Top Ender and Baby Boy or a Tartine and if I am feeling really generous some yogurt and fruit or ham and cheese.
"Oh but I wanted a pain au chocolat!" whinged Top Ender
"Top Ender, where do pain au chocolat's come from?" asked Daddy
"I don't know!" she answered
"Think what language it is" I said
"Erm London?" she asked
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Little Dish Favourites Cookbook and Top Enders meal plan
Did you know that Little Dish has a cook book? Its called the Little Dish Favourites Cookbook and I knew because they sent me one. Top Ender has spent her time pouring through it looking at the various dishes, pondering on what ones she would request that I cook for the family. Baby Boy didn't quite understand that a cook book was full of recipes and wasn't something you were meant to eat and took a bite out of some of the pages!
Top Ender found a section called Meal Matchers towards the back of the book that recommends what dishes you can make that go nicely with another dish and she was busy copying out the names so that she could play restaurants with Baby Boy and I. It gave me an idea though, if she was smart enough to work this out, what would happen if I asked her to work out a meal plan for the week?
I gave Top Ender some simple instructions. Don't choose anything that nobody will eat, make sure that we get at least one portion of fish in the week, see if we can use the same ingredients in more than one dish, and we like to have a Roast on Sundays. Top Ender spent half an hour looking through making notes in her little notebook and finally was ready to sit down with me to update our spreadsheet.
Her list was as follows;
Meatloaf with Ratatouille
Sausage and Lentil Casserole with boiled potatoes
Spanish Tortilla
Shepperd's Pie
Easy fish in foil with Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese
Burgers with Wedges
Simple Roast Chicken with trimmings
I was impressed. She had chosen meals that she knew everyone would eat and more importantly that I could confidently cook! All of the dishes apart from Meatloaf were dishes that I cook and know how to cook, but I followed the recipes as stated and found that although the dishes didn't taste too different to how I cook them normally that Top Ender ate everything we gave her... traitor.
All of us (apart from Baby Boy) loved the Meatloaf recipe, so much so that everyone had seconds. I don't ever remember us all having seconds. Baby Boy was keen on the leftovers in a sandwich the next day, so it was a good job there was a lot leftover, as I had to make another sandwich for me! The Meatloaf recipe was such a success that I wrote to Little Dish and asked if I could share it with you and they agreed. So for your delight (and consumption) here it is;
Ingredients
1/2 Small Onion, peeled and diced
1 Large Carrot, peeled and diced
2 eggs, beaten
60ml (2 fl oz) whole milk
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
100g (3 1/2 oz) fresh breadcrumbs (2 1/2 slices of brown bread)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (optional)
500g (1lb) lean minced beef
500g (1lb) lean minced pork
Method
Preheat the oven to 190oC/375oF/Gas 5
Line a baking tray with foil. Lightly oil the foil.
Combine all the ingredients, apart from the meat, in a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Using your hands, add the minced beef and pork and make sure it is well mixed in and evenly distributed.
Shape your ingredients into a loaf and place on the baking tray. The loaf should not touch the sides of the tray but sit nicely in the middle. Bake for 45-50 minutes, then let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.
This should serve 8 children or a family of 6 with leftovers according to the book. It served us as a family of 4 with seconds and leftovers and I was generous with the portion sizes. I found that I had to cook mine for 70 minutes as after 50 minutes the centre was still pink, and I also think that next time I would cook the carrots a little before adding them as we found them a little hard and if they were softer I think that it would have just made it a little better. Mind you I probably should of diced it smaller!
The only problem that we have now is that Baby Boy wants to make a meal plan...
The Little Dish Favourites Cookbook is available from WH Smith, Waterstones, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, or online at Amazon.co.uk (and other places if you Google it) and its RRP is £14.99.
I gave Top Ender some simple instructions. Don't choose anything that nobody will eat, make sure that we get at least one portion of fish in the week, see if we can use the same ingredients in more than one dish, and we like to have a Roast on Sundays. Top Ender spent half an hour looking through making notes in her little notebook and finally was ready to sit down with me to update our spreadsheet.
Her list was as follows;
Meatloaf with Ratatouille
Sausage and Lentil Casserole with boiled potatoes
Spanish Tortilla
Shepperd's Pie
Easy fish in foil with Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese
Burgers with Wedges
Simple Roast Chicken with trimmings
I was impressed. She had chosen meals that she knew everyone would eat and more importantly that I could confidently cook! All of the dishes apart from Meatloaf were dishes that I cook and know how to cook, but I followed the recipes as stated and found that although the dishes didn't taste too different to how I cook them normally that Top Ender ate everything we gave her... traitor.
All of us (apart from Baby Boy) loved the Meatloaf recipe, so much so that everyone had seconds. I don't ever remember us all having seconds. Baby Boy was keen on the leftovers in a sandwich the next day, so it was a good job there was a lot leftover, as I had to make another sandwich for me! The Meatloaf recipe was such a success that I wrote to Little Dish and asked if I could share it with you and they agreed. So for your delight (and consumption) here it is;
Ingredients
1/2 Small Onion, peeled and diced
1 Large Carrot, peeled and diced
2 eggs, beaten
60ml (2 fl oz) whole milk
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
100g (3 1/2 oz) fresh breadcrumbs (2 1/2 slices of brown bread)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (optional)
500g (1lb) lean minced beef
500g (1lb) lean minced pork
Method
Preheat the oven to 190oC/375oF/Gas 5
Line a baking tray with foil. Lightly oil the foil.
Combine all the ingredients, apart from the meat, in a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Using your hands, add the minced beef and pork and make sure it is well mixed in and evenly distributed.
Shape your ingredients into a loaf and place on the baking tray. The loaf should not touch the sides of the tray but sit nicely in the middle. Bake for 45-50 minutes, then let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.
This should serve 8 children or a family of 6 with leftovers according to the book. It served us as a family of 4 with seconds and leftovers and I was generous with the portion sizes. I found that I had to cook mine for 70 minutes as after 50 minutes the centre was still pink, and I also think that next time I would cook the carrots a little before adding them as we found them a little hard and if they were softer I think that it would have just made it a little better. Mind you I probably should of diced it smaller!
The only problem that we have now is that Baby Boy wants to make a meal plan...
The Little Dish Favourites Cookbook is available from WH Smith, Waterstones, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, or online at Amazon.co.uk (and other places if you Google it) and its RRP is £14.99.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
The Film Premier of Disney’s TinkerBell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Last weekend we were lucky enough to be invited to the Film Premier of Disney’s TinkerBell and the Great Fairy Rescue being held at the Mayfair in London. The whole family is a BIG fan of anything Disney and Top Ender loves the Disney Fairies and everything to do with Pixie Hollow! Having already seen the first two films and owning them on DVD, we knew that we were going to be in for a good time and couldn't wait to watch the film.
As soon as the film started Baby Boy sat in his chair with a big grin on his face and kept calling out "Cool!" as he would quite like to be a fairy or Peter Pan, (he isn't sure which is better yet). Top Ender was able to keep her squeals of excitement a lot quieter especially as she had heard that the voice of Lizzy was in the audience and didn't want to appear to be uncool!
I really don't want to give too much away about the film, as it was so fun but I can confirm that this is the first time that the Fairy world and the world of humans mix and it is just as magical as you would expect! There is a bit of mild peril but Baby Boy wasn't that bothered by it (I was more worried than he was!) as I think that he knew everything would work out in the end! This is the official trailer of the film, if you want to take a sneaky peek!
After the film I was talking with Baby Boy and Nell McAndrew's son Devon about the film and both of them said they had enjoyed the film. Top Ender had of course loved the film and hoped that she could meet a fairy and has resolved to leave drawings everywhere so that Fairies know that she is a believer!
To share with you the fantastic world of Disney's TinkerBell, we have the first TinkerBell DVD along with a TinkerBell Fairy figure in a competition for those of you in the United Kingdom! To enter you need to answer the following question, the answer to which can be found somewhere in this blog post.
As soon as the film started Baby Boy sat in his chair with a big grin on his face and kept calling out "Cool!" as he would quite like to be a fairy or Peter Pan, (he isn't sure which is better yet). Top Ender was able to keep her squeals of excitement a lot quieter especially as she had heard that the voice of Lizzy was in the audience and didn't want to appear to be uncool!
I really don't want to give too much away about the film, as it was so fun but I can confirm that this is the first time that the Fairy world and the world of humans mix and it is just as magical as you would expect! There is a bit of mild peril but Baby Boy wasn't that bothered by it (I was more worried than he was!) as I think that he knew everything would work out in the end! This is the official trailer of the film, if you want to take a sneaky peek!
After the film I was talking with Baby Boy and Nell McAndrew's son Devon about the film and both of them said they had enjoyed the film. Top Ender had of course loved the film and hoped that she could meet a fairy and has resolved to leave drawings everywhere so that Fairies know that she is a believer!
We were lucky enough to get a few minutes to speak with Lauren Mote, who is the 13 year old actress who lends her voice to Lizzy in TinkerBell and The Great Fairy Rescue. Lauren goes to Sylvia Young Theatre School in London and was really sweet; I hope that she is a big star in the future as she certainly deserves to be!
What fashion item did both Lauren Mote and Top Ender wear to the Disney premier of TinkerBell and The Great Fairy Rescue? (Hint look in the photos!)
Please leave your answer in the comments on this post; it is limited to one entry per household and to those in the UK. If more than one answer is correct then the correct answers will be assigned numbers and a random number generator will choose who wins. The competition is open until 1pm on the 15th August and I will email the winner to get contact details, so please make sure your email address is correct when entering!
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Prize Winning Wheat Free Cupcake Recipe
During July, Top Ender and Baby Boy entered English Mums Bake Off in the Children's section with their Wheat Free Fairy Cakes. A few days back Heather from Eggs Cream and Honey (don't you just love that as a name?) who was judging the competition announced the winners and to our surprise Top Ender and Baby Boy won!
We thought that it would only be fair that we share the recipe with you, so that you could recreate the winning Children's entry if you wanted!
Ingredients
6oz Butter
6oz Caster Sugar
3 Eggs
1/2tsp Vanilla Extract
6oz Self Raising Flour (we use Doves Farm)
5 tbsp Milk
Method
Preheat the over to Gas Mark 6. Mix the Butter and Sugar until Fluffy, then beat in the eggs and Vanilla, followed by gradually by the milk and flour.
Put the cake mix into paper cases, roughly half fill the cases and then bake for ten to fifteen minutes. Allow to cool and then decorate or eat straight away as they taste scrummy!
This was originally a recipe that we took from a Doves Farm Flour Packet, but I am sure they won't mind me sharing it with you.
We thought that it would only be fair that we share the recipe with you, so that you could recreate the winning Children's entry if you wanted!
Ingredients
6oz Butter
6oz Caster Sugar
3 Eggs
1/2tsp Vanilla Extract
6oz Self Raising Flour (we use Doves Farm)
5 tbsp Milk
Method
Preheat the over to Gas Mark 6. Mix the Butter and Sugar until Fluffy, then beat in the eggs and Vanilla, followed by gradually by the milk and flour.
Put the cake mix into paper cases, roughly half fill the cases and then bake for ten to fifteen minutes. Allow to cool and then decorate or eat straight away as they taste scrummy!
This was originally a recipe that we took from a Doves Farm Flour Packet, but I am sure they won't mind me sharing it with you.
Friday, 6 August 2010
MINI Countryman World Record Attempt
When we went to Westfields Shopping Centre to see Mickey Mouse (and didn't actually see him) we noticed a MINI Countryman in the corner of the main plaza and discovered that there is a record attempt at getting as many people into a MINI as possible. Top Ender and Daddy are never one to back down from a challenge and so they decided to jump on in!
And I don't want any comments that Daddy is a natural at being squished because of all the practice he gets living with me!
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Robinsons Search for a Star - Coming to a Theatre near you!
Top Ender loved the Panto last year that we saw (Cinderella at Milton Keynes Theatre) and loved putting on her own Pantos (with the Robinsons Put on a Panto website) and so when she realised that this year she was old enough to audition for the local Panto she was very excited. I was even more excited because not only is Joanna Page in the Panto this year, but so is Stavros Flatley and Luke Perry! Of course we signed her up as soon as we were able to.
I don't think it was a coincidence but more of a stroke of luck that we were invited down to meet Joanna Page at the launch of the Robinsons Search for a Star in Milton Keynes, and Top Ender although not quite realising who Joanna was at the time did recognise Dick Whittington (A beautiful Jenna Brook) and Sarah (A handsome David Chambers and if your reading this David let me know your website and I will link to you too!) as characters from Panto.
Now Top Ender has already made me log on to the Robinsons Search For a Star website and register her for one of the 400 audition spots in Milton Keynes (there are now 399 left people!) and if you think that your children might like a chance and they are aged between 6 and 16 then hurry along and see if a Panto near you is taking part (As far as I can tell the 12 areas which are taking part are; Aylesbury, Glasgow, Brighton, Bristol, Bromley, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Richmond, Stoke on Trent, Wimbledon and Woking) and register quickly!
Of course we will keep you fully updated with the Audition process, but if you could all let Top Ender know that you are supporting her and keeping your fingers crossed and saying things like "Break a leg" then I would be really really grateful!
I don't think it was a coincidence but more of a stroke of luck that we were invited down to meet Joanna Page at the launch of the Robinsons Search for a Star in Milton Keynes, and Top Ender although not quite realising who Joanna was at the time did recognise Dick Whittington (A beautiful Jenna Brook) and Sarah (A handsome David Chambers and if your reading this David let me know your website and I will link to you too!) as characters from Panto.
If you don't know me in real life feel free to skip this next paragraph and for those of you who do know me in real life his name really was DC and I did kind of shout out disbelievingly "Your joking!" before explaining why I shouted that at him. It wasn't really *our* DC though was it? Someone saw him yesterday afternoon at the end of day right?
Joanna was so sweet and took the time to speak to Top Ender and I (Baby Boy had fallen asleep) on several occasions even though there were the local newspapers and local TV Stations there (and they were probably much more important for coverage than me) and even started having a discussion about Glee with Top Ender and after a quick rendition of Journey's Don’t Stop Believin’ by Top Ender told her that she hoped that she would audition for the Panto. Top Ender was of course ecstatic and is now really looking forward to the auditions in early September!
This compliment meant that Top Ender thought it was only fair to warn Joanna that "Sarah isn't really a girl, but a boy wearing girls clothes and that boy is really a girl dressed up!" which Joanna displayed great mock surprise at and said something about keeping an eye on them for Top Ender!
Of course we will keep you fully updated with the Audition process, but if you could all let Top Ender know that you are supporting her and keeping your fingers crossed and saying things like "Break a leg" then I would be really really grateful!
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
The Gallery - Playtime
The Gallery theme this week was on playtime. I really didn't know what to use, I knew that there were lots of photos that I have of Top Ender and Baby Boy playing and even of Daddy, but I couldn't think of the words to go with them. It was all rather one lined "Top Ender and Baby Boy play so well together" or something.
So I looked through my photos and nothing inspired me.
I would of taken a new one, but you know as I have mentioned at least 1000 times on Twitter I'm not very well and its too much effort to get the camera out.
So I looked through my photos again. And then I saw it. Please pretend that I am looking more attractive
So I looked through my photos and nothing inspired me.
I would of taken a new one, but you know as I have mentioned at least 1000 times on Twitter I'm not very well and its too much effort to get the camera out.
So I looked through my photos again. And then I saw it. Please pretend that I am looking more attractive
I remember this day really well, it was a couple of months before Baby Boy was born. Top Ender had been on her best behaviour so we had gone to the park as a treat in the afternoon. Only thing was once we were there she wanted us to join in. I went on the swing, the See-Saw and we laughed and laughed.
That's what playtime is to me.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
The Bic Picture! (See what they did there!)
We draw a lot in our house, I once drew JoJo from JoJo's Circus and it was so great that everyone knew who it was, without me having to tell them. I tried to repeat it and sadly it looked more like the scary clown from Stephen King's IT. I drew this picture of Top Ender which isn't that bad, but I am not going to try again. I don't want to mentally scar my children anymore than I already have!
Luckily my complete lack of artistic talent hasn't stopped Top Ender and Baby Boy from expressing themselves and both of them are often found creating masterpieces. Baby Boy at the moment has gone for my abstract approach, and no matter what he draws it is always a Car and a Rocket taking me and him on an adventure. Mind you seeing as how he is always pointing at various objects and saying "That's you Mummy" I don't know if I should believe him... especially as I was a lampost yesterday.
So when Bic suggested that I might like to let you all know about a competition they are running for Primary School aged children (between 5 and 11) I knew that Top Ender would want to enter and it would give me a perfect chance to tell everyone about it too.
This is where Top Enders picture should be, but she asked me not to show it to you all. I can tell you about the floating houses, with ladders up to them because of the overcrowding on the ground, but I can't show you it as she has gone a little shy (yeah I know) and as I have always maintained if Top Ender asks me not to tell you all something then I won't tell you.
So this is perfect for a rainy day (which there seem to be a lot of this Summer Holiday so far), just get your little ones drawing a picture with the theme "Life in the Future" and post it along with a signed consent form (from http://www.bickids.com/) to the below address by the 20th August 2010.
THE BIC PICTURE
c/o 3 Monkey Communications
Medius House
2 Sheraton Street
London
W1F 8BH
And if you do enter Good Luck!
Luckily my complete lack of artistic talent hasn't stopped Top Ender and Baby Boy from expressing themselves and both of them are often found creating masterpieces. Baby Boy at the moment has gone for my abstract approach, and no matter what he draws it is always a Car and a Rocket taking me and him on an adventure. Mind you seeing as how he is always pointing at various objects and saying "That's you Mummy" I don't know if I should believe him... especially as I was a lampost yesterday.
So when Bic suggested that I might like to let you all know about a competition they are running for Primary School aged children (between 5 and 11) I knew that Top Ender would want to enter and it would give me a perfect chance to tell everyone about it too.
This is where Top Enders picture should be, but she asked me not to show it to you all. I can tell you about the floating houses, with ladders up to them because of the overcrowding on the ground, but I can't show you it as she has gone a little shy (yeah I know) and as I have always maintained if Top Ender asks me not to tell you all something then I won't tell you.
So this is perfect for a rainy day (which there seem to be a lot of this Summer Holiday so far), just get your little ones drawing a picture with the theme "Life in the Future" and post it along with a signed consent form (from http://www.bickids.com/) to the below address by the 20th August 2010.
THE BIC PICTURE
c/o 3 Monkey Communications
Medius House
2 Sheraton Street
London
W1F 8BH
And if you do enter Good Luck!
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Happy Birthday Auntie!
Yes I know that I have already posted today, but today is my little Sisters Birthday. I'm not asking you all to go and hassle her at her blog about not posting (its Butterfly Babies in case you are wondering) even though I pimped out her blog for her with a new design that she liked so much, I'm not going to point out that she couldn't even remember how old she was when we spoke to her this morning. Instead I am going to re-post my favourite story about my Sisters birthday, that was originally posted on the 24th July 2009, but with a newly discovered video!
It was Aunties birthday this week and as big sisters do I was teasing her about the gift that we had brought for her, by giving tantalising clues that were as ambiguous as... I don't know something that is really ambiguous! It was at this point that Auntie asked if I remembered the year that Top Ender couldn't keep a secret.
Our story begins many moons ago when Top Ender was still a Toggler, Baby Boy wasn't even a twinkle in my eye and Cousins were the last thing on Aunties agenda. Auntie still lived with our parents and we had been invited for a birthday dinner of Chicken and Salad...
Top Ender/Toggler walked into the living room having been primed with what to say and given the important job of handing over the gift almost as big as she was;
"Happy Birthday Auntie!" she recited
"Happy Birthday!" Both Daddy and I chorused
"Thank you!" said Auntie
"Here is your present Auntie!" said Top Ender/Toggler
"Oh thank you! I'll open it to see whats inside!"said Auntie excitedly eyeing the large gift
"It's a handbag!" answered Top Ender/Toggler
"No need to open it now then..." sighed Auntie
It was Aunties birthday this week and as big sisters do I was teasing her about the gift that we had brought for her, by giving tantalising clues that were as ambiguous as... I don't know something that is really ambiguous! It was at this point that Auntie asked if I remembered the year that Top Ender couldn't keep a secret.
Our story begins many moons ago when Top Ender was still a Toggler, Baby Boy wasn't even a twinkle in my eye and Cousins were the last thing on Aunties agenda. Auntie still lived with our parents and we had been invited for a birthday dinner of Chicken and Salad...
Top Ender/Toggler walked into the living room having been primed with what to say and given the important job of handing over the gift almost as big as she was;
"Happy Birthday Auntie!" she recited
"Happy Birthday!" Both Daddy and I chorused
"Thank you!" said Auntie
"Here is your present Auntie!" said Top Ender/Toggler
"Oh thank you! I'll open it to see whats inside!"said Auntie excitedly eyeing the large gift
"It's a handbag!" answered Top Ender/Toggler
"No need to open it now then..." sighed Auntie
Monday, 19 July 2010
Holiday Hell Meme
Emily at Baby Rambles has tagged me in a Holiday Hell Meme and I am pleased to say that I have only once had an event on holiday that would class as being hellish and I talked about that in my blog post "Its a Small World after all, especially if you go by Train..." and other than that one trip home I can't think of a single holiday in which I have had something happen that I could pass off as something hellish!
I know I haven't lived.
So here is a retelling of that journey that was from Hell!
For Top Enders Second Birthday we went to Disney Land Paris. All three of us were so excited and we traveled by car to Ashford (Kent!) in daylight (helps stop people being car sick don't ya know) and stayed in a hotel before driving the short distance to the Euro tunnel the next morning. Top Ender was delighted to be on a train and spent most of the two hour journey awake.
So on the last day we knew to be careful with what we ate because we didn't want to be sick on the train on the way home. All day we were great, we made sure not to eat sweets and not to drink too much and we were ready as the train pulled in to get on and to be on our way home.
And Everything was fine.
Until...
Top Ender was having a bottle of milk. She still liked to have a bottle when she went to bed and we were trying to keep the routine as much the same as possible. Top Ender cuddled up to me and had some milk whilst Daddy and I carried on talking about things that have since been forgotten (by me at least).
There were other children in the carriage, but Top Ender was the youngest. This fact isn't important until later, so remember it.
A few minutes passed between Top Ender drinking her milk and what was the most disgusting shower I have ever had. Top Ender turned to me and threw up all over me. I was covered in what ever food her stomach had partly digested and regurgitated milk.
The sound in the carriage was so quiet it was deafening. We cleaned up Top Ender, and me and the seat, and the table and a bit of the window (as a couple of parents looked on fondly remembering when they too had to deal with chunder covered everything and commented after I apologised that it was okay, they remembered the times they had dealt with similar situations) and as our bags were with us we were able to partly change clothes so we didn't smell of sick and look like a pot of cottage cheese.
Remember I mentioned that Top Ender was the youngest in the carriage? This is where is gets important.
For the rest of the journey we sat in some spare seats in the carriage where the older children couldn't see us. It was as the smell permeated the small space that they all started to complain to their parents about it and about Top Ender having caused them this issue.
"Next time we will go by Plane" said Daddy.
Which we did.
And now I tag
Glowstars
Younger and Younger
Single Parent Dad
Being a Mummy and
Pants with Names
I know I haven't lived.
So here is a retelling of that journey that was from Hell!
For Top Enders Second Birthday we went to Disney Land Paris. All three of us were so excited and we traveled by car to Ashford (Kent!) in daylight (helps stop people being car sick don't ya know) and stayed in a hotel before driving the short distance to the Euro tunnel the next morning. Top Ender was delighted to be on a train and spent most of the two hour journey awake.
So on the last day we knew to be careful with what we ate because we didn't want to be sick on the train on the way home. All day we were great, we made sure not to eat sweets and not to drink too much and we were ready as the train pulled in to get on and to be on our way home.
And Everything was fine.
Until...
Top Ender was having a bottle of milk. She still liked to have a bottle when she went to bed and we were trying to keep the routine as much the same as possible. Top Ender cuddled up to me and had some milk whilst Daddy and I carried on talking about things that have since been forgotten (by me at least).
There were other children in the carriage, but Top Ender was the youngest. This fact isn't important until later, so remember it.
A few minutes passed between Top Ender drinking her milk and what was the most disgusting shower I have ever had. Top Ender turned to me and threw up all over me. I was covered in what ever food her stomach had partly digested and regurgitated milk.
The sound in the carriage was so quiet it was deafening. We cleaned up Top Ender, and me and the seat, and the table and a bit of the window (as a couple of parents looked on fondly remembering when they too had to deal with chunder covered everything and commented after I apologised that it was okay, they remembered the times they had dealt with similar situations) and as our bags were with us we were able to partly change clothes so we didn't smell of sick and look like a pot of cottage cheese.
Remember I mentioned that Top Ender was the youngest in the carriage? This is where is gets important.
For the rest of the journey we sat in some spare seats in the carriage where the older children couldn't see us. It was as the smell permeated the small space that they all started to complain to their parents about it and about Top Ender having caused them this issue.
"Next time we will go by Plane" said Daddy.
Which we did.
And now I tag
Glowstars
Younger and Younger
Single Parent Dad
Being a Mummy and
Pants with Names
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Who would you put on the Naughty Step?
I was tagged by Rosie Scribble in a meme of "Who would you put on the Naughty Step?". After checking that it wasn't me that she had put on her naughty step and having a good giggle over who she had chosen and why (go and see it's funny!) I started thinking about who it is that I would put on the Naughty Step for a Time out. I did think about putting my sister on the Naughty step, as you know why have a blog if you never write anything? I thought about various celebrities but then I realised the person who should go on the naughty step is a little closer to home.
Its Me.
Yup. I am putting myself on the naughty step for telling Top Ender that school finished Friday gone when it doesn't actually let out for another week.
So now I am tagging the following people to tell us who they think should be on the naughty step for some time to think about what they have done...
1) Melaina at Transatlantic Blonde
2) Mummy Nicholls at Mummy Chat
3) Emma at Me The Man and The Baby
4) Leanne at Second Time Mummy
5) Kitty at Butterfly Babies
I just hope that they don't chose me too!
Its Me.
Yup. I am putting myself on the naughty step for telling Top Ender that school finished Friday gone when it doesn't actually let out for another week.
So now I am tagging the following people to tell us who they think should be on the naughty step for some time to think about what they have done...
1) Melaina at Transatlantic Blonde
2) Mummy Nicholls at Mummy Chat
3) Emma at Me The Man and The Baby
4) Leanne at Second Time Mummy
5) Kitty at Butterfly Babies
I just hope that they don't chose me too!
Friday, 16 July 2010
Things I have learnt from Sleeping in a Tent
Last Saturday Top Ender was being very sweet and said that as part of Mummy Daughter Date night, she would love to camp in the back garden with me. I don't think that she knew that I would be able to resist the way she asked (with innocence and love) and so secretly arranged with Daddy that we would camp in the back garden.
I know that you are probably all bored to death of me and my Flip, but I did take a few minutes of footage on it because I like things that make nice noises and that I get given without knowing about. So this was how we let Top Ender know what was going on.
I know that you are probably all bored to death of me and my Flip, but I did take a few minutes of footage on it because I like things that make nice noises and that I get given without knowing about. So this was how we let Top Ender know what was going on.
But I know that you are wanting to know more about these useful things I have learnt from Sleeping in a Tent and so here they are. I hope that one day you find them useful.
- Buy a Pop Up Tent. They make things easy.
- Don't pitch a tent on a hill. Children roll in their sleep
- Neighbours will have parties that are really loud when you want to go to sleep
- When Chickens lay eggs they cluck really loudly
- Neighbours who are in their garden chatting at 3am don't realise that other people might be listening in
- Children don't understand about personal space boundaries
- Children will wake you up if they think they have to tell you something
- It gets bright really early in the Summer
- Tents are not designed for tall people
- Dogs bark really loudly at Cats
- Cats meow really loudly at Dogs
- The Dawn Chorus is loud. And at Dawn.
But the best thing I learnt was you should always have something handy with which to film something.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Water Bombs and some Family Fun
In Leighton Buzzard there is a 99p Store. Every so often I go there and spend a fortune on things that I wouldn't of brought normally, but as it is only 99p find it to be really good value and can't resist a bargin. A couple of weeks back I brought Water Bombs because everyone loves a good water bomb fight.
I told Daddy that I was going to fill up two of each colour from the very large pack (300 in the pack) and that we could have fun chasing Top Ender and Baby Boy with them, and took to the bathroom to fill them up as the Bathroom sink has the only tap that the tap adaptor would fit. Twenty minutes later I was very wet and had really mastered filling up Water Bombs.
I told Daddy that I was going to fill up two of each colour from the very large pack (300 in the pack) and that we could have fun chasing Top Ender and Baby Boy with them, and took to the bathroom to fill them up as the Bathroom sink has the only tap that the tap adaptor would fit. Twenty minutes later I was very wet and had really mastered filling up Water Bombs.
I think that what happened can only best be explained, by this short video...
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Cupcakes and a bake off!
Daddy, Top Ender and Baby Boy stole my idea last weekend and made a batch of cupcakes. I was planning on making some myself as I wanted to enter English Mum's Bake Off, but I was busy hiding in the living room playing Farmville or something and so they did this all without me.
Top Ender was even allowed to make sure that all the lumpy bits were out of the mixture
Top Ender preferred to keep hers wide open.
Top Ender opted for a sneaky sprinkle fix.
Finally it was time to decorate and this was Top Enders idea of heaven!
And the verdict from Top Ender on the wheat free cupcakes?
Baby Boy found it odd that Daddy's whisk was bigger than his. I found it odd that they didn't use Ken (my Kenwood food mixer) but opted for the hand method.
Top Ender helped measure out all the ingredients whilst sporting a country casual look.
Both Top Ender and Baby Boy had a good mix.
Top Ender was even allowed to make sure that all the lumpy bits were out of the mixture
Baby Boy was too worried that his juice was going to be stolen and added into the mix and so kept a firm grip on it.
Baby Boy also decided that baking was easy and could be done with his eyes closed.
The cakes were allowed to cool, but Daddy had to distract Baby Boy as he just wanted to eat them fresh from the oven.
Top Ender opted for a sneaky sprinkle fix.
Finally it was time to decorate and this was Top Enders idea of heaven!
Whilst Baby Boy had a little bit of help from Daddy this design was all his and eaten before Daddy even had the camera pointing at him.
And the verdict from Top Ender on the wheat free cupcakes?
I believe that's a thumbs up!
Monday, 12 July 2010
Chocolate Weetabix and I am not proving a point!
This is a sponsored post, but it is funny and true so don't wander away!
As of today you can go to Sainsburys and buy Chocolate Weetabix, (£2.59 for a pack of 24) but because Weetabix know that I love Chocolate and Weetabix they sent me a box last week (along with some toys for Top Ender and Baby Boy and some vouchers and a really cool canvas bag that I can add to the ones I take shopping) to try. They did also send me a chocolate spoon and a Chocolate Weetabix bowl, but if Top Ender or Baby Boy asks, the chocolate spoon was quite poisonous and not safe for children okay?!
Weetabix are one of my most favourite cereals and now that Daddy can't eat them (with being Coeliac and all) it means all the more for me. I have in the past eaten the normal ones with chocolate milk instead of normal milk (we ran out of the normal stuff!) and even hot water (you should try that one) but these were something different.
So what did we think of them? Top Ender won't touch the normal ones (despite as a smaller child eating them everyday for breakfast and refusing all else) yet she ate most of my bowl the first morning that I had them. Baby Boy took one look at my bowl, sniffed it a bit and refused to eat even one spoonful. It was only after I had taken a few moments to pay attention to what I had been eating that I realised its plain chocolate in the Weetabix.
I don't do plain chocolate. I actually hate plain chocolate. Plain chocolate is evil.
So Top Ender has been happily munching on the Chocolate Weetabix in the Chocolate Weetabix bowl and she thinks they taste delicious, but she is on her own with that one.
And with regards to proving a point.
Daddy said that I never write any negative reviews. I pointed out that I had said something negative in the review of the Brio Wooden Pull Along Helicopter, but that in general all the things that I have reviewed had been great and if something came to me to be reviewed and I didn't like it I would say so.
So just before Daddy starts saying I did not like these Chocolate Weetabix just to prove a point, I really, really, really don't like plain chocolate; but I will continue to eat normal Weetabix with chocolate milk on.
As of today you can go to Sainsburys and buy Chocolate Weetabix, (£2.59 for a pack of 24) but because Weetabix know that I love Chocolate and Weetabix they sent me a box last week (along with some toys for Top Ender and Baby Boy and some vouchers and a really cool canvas bag that I can add to the ones I take shopping) to try. They did also send me a chocolate spoon and a Chocolate Weetabix bowl, but if Top Ender or Baby Boy asks, the chocolate spoon was quite poisonous and not safe for children okay?!
Weetabix are one of my most favourite cereals and now that Daddy can't eat them (with being Coeliac and all) it means all the more for me. I have in the past eaten the normal ones with chocolate milk instead of normal milk (we ran out of the normal stuff!) and even hot water (you should try that one) but these were something different.
So what did we think of them? Top Ender won't touch the normal ones (despite as a smaller child eating them everyday for breakfast and refusing all else) yet she ate most of my bowl the first morning that I had them. Baby Boy took one look at my bowl, sniffed it a bit and refused to eat even one spoonful. It was only after I had taken a few moments to pay attention to what I had been eating that I realised its plain chocolate in the Weetabix.
I don't do plain chocolate. I actually hate plain chocolate. Plain chocolate is evil.
So Top Ender has been happily munching on the Chocolate Weetabix in the Chocolate Weetabix bowl and she thinks they taste delicious, but she is on her own with that one.
And with regards to proving a point.
Daddy said that I never write any negative reviews. I pointed out that I had said something negative in the review of the Brio Wooden Pull Along Helicopter, but that in general all the things that I have reviewed had been great and if something came to me to be reviewed and I didn't like it I would say so.
So just before Daddy starts saying I did not like these Chocolate Weetabix just to prove a point, I really, really, really don't like plain chocolate; but I will continue to eat normal Weetabix with chocolate milk on.
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