Go Outdoors or go shopping instead.

Sometimes my idea of having fun is a little out there. I have in the past let Top Ender clean my kitchen floor, by wearing her swimming costume and then sliding up and down the tiled floor on a wet and soapy bath sheet. Drying it is as just as fun as she then slides up and down on a dry bath sheet... like I said a little out there.

The Toys R Us Toyologist Carnival is here!

Happy Halloween!

Over the last few weeks Top Ender, Baby Boy, Daddy and I have had a blast playing with and reviewing toys as part of the Toyologist programme. We think that we have been quite creative and we have loved looking at the reviews that the other Toyologists have been writing too!

The Leap Frog Leapster Explorer - A Review

After CyberMummy, Top Ender was sent the Leap Frog Leaptster Explorer. When Top Ender first got it out of the box, she looked at it and then sort of decided that her Nintendo DS was much better, because it was pink. Daddy set up Top Ender on the Explorer anyway and I managed to prise her away from the DS for long enough that she gave the Leap Frog a good go. Turns out that not everything has to be pink to be cool.

Meccano Construction - For Girls!

Top Ender is going to be an architect when she grows up, I have decided. Okay, so maybe I have decided a little prematurely because she is still adamant that she is going to be a Fashion Model/Designer/Sweet Shop Owner, but she joined construction club at school!

Stocking Fillers - Books and Annuals

There is one book that I always buy Daddy for Christmas. It isn't the Guinness Book of Records (he only likes that every couple of years as not that many records change year on year apparently!) but The Rupert Annual. I always try to buy a couple of annuals for each of us (and make sure to use the buy two get one free offer that is always on before Christmas) and a little jokey book for Daddy and I.

Baby Boy Giggles - You didn't ask for specifics!

Baby Boy had been jumping in puddles as we walked to school to pick up Top Ender. I had given up trying to stop him as it was pouring with rain and one way or another we were going to be soaking by the time we got back to the house.

I could be a Millionaire... if I had the money

This is a Sponsored post.

Baby Boy and I were talking about shopping and money. Baby Boy is quite into looking at websites and making imaginary lists of things that he would buy. I don't know where he gets that from, as its not as if Daddy and I play a game where we pretend we have won the Lottery. He decided that he would quite like a new bike from http://www.halfords.com/ and of course all the safety gear that I would insist on him wearing. Then of course there was a two seater Jeep from http://www.woolworths.co.uk and at http://www.toysrus.co.uk/ he was looking forward to buying a large trampoline with safety net and mats and he even mentioned a Barbie or three for Top Ender.

Fur Real Snuggimals - Toyologist Reivew

Top Ender wasn't feeling very well, but she had a friend in the form or a Fur Real Snuggimal Puppy who cuddled her, because we wouldn't as we didn't want her germs...

(Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szu98TYF6JM) 

Although the puppy is a bit noisy when it wags its tail, it is very cuddly! The RRP is £7.99 and I think it is cute enough for the price!

Casserole and Potato Gratin made by Baby Boy

Baby Boy loves to pretend to cook, he has a huge selection of play food, play pots and pans and plates and cutlery. He normally makes some quite good and balanced dishes, although I am always worried by the plastic Strawberry in a glass that he gives me to drink! Baby Boy had been asking to do some real cooking with me, not baking cakes, but real cooking like making dinner. We had made Pizzas a few nights earlier, but that didn't count as real cooking according to Baby Boy so we decided that we were going to have Casserole with Dumplings for dinner.

Bobbin' Bumblebee Game - A Toyologist Review

How do you review a game that is suitable for children aged 3+ that everyone in our house adores? When you hear it is called Bobbin' Bumblebee and involves a cute little bee flying around and around what comes to mind for you? Yep "Flight of the Bumblebee" came to mind for me to.

(Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaR_PbnY2o)

You can buy the game at Toys R Us and it has an RRP of £17.99, but I think it is actually selling for less in store!

Wordless Wednesday - We all went to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo (You can go to, to, to)

Shoes, shoes and more shoes...

This is a Sponsored Post, and it has pretty pictures of shoes!


Top Ender is getting to the point now where its not enough for her to simply wear clothes that I have brought for her; Gone are the days where she would be happy making funky outfits using her Harumika or her Barbie Dolls. Now she wants to wear fashionable clothes, with funky accessories and the perfect pair of shoes. This is a bit hard at the minute as Top Ender only has five pairs of shoes; She has a black pair of Clarks school shoes, she has the two pairs she got from Vertbaudet, a pair of trainers and a pair of plimsolls for P.E. She desperately wants a pair of boots and so taking tips from The Ready For Ten blog post on Kids, Clothes and Personal Style I let Top Ender loose on the Very.co.uk website, in the Shoe selection.

Halloween Cupcakes!

As you know we love baking in our house, and as we also love Halloween so when Silver Spoon asked if we would like some cake decorations we jumped at the chance and got sent quite a selection of goodies to bake some cakes with. The plan was that I was going to make cakes every few days using one colour so that you could get some ideas of some Halloween cakes to make too. In reality only Baby Boy and I were eating the cakes and I was sick of cake.

A Sleepy Baby Boy

Baby Boy sometimes is always really cute when he is sleepy and seeing as he has learnt the ironic phrase "Shut up! Your so funny!" he likes to use it when ever he can...

The thing I really want to know is when he is sleepy why is it Naked Bubble Gum that comes to mind?!

I'm Famous (well thanks to HP Be A Star I am)

This is a Sponsored Post, but I'm funny so read it anyway.

I got an email today telling me about a Hewlett Packard video, HP- Be A Star where I am a celebrity. Well, we all know I am a celebrity, but in this video I am a major celebrity... the kind that they put on magazine covers and gets invited to swanky parties and gets drunk and causes huge issues for her PR team to handle. Oh and I also have a rather hot boyfriend... or at least a rather hot man that sleeps semi-naked next to me.

I think I could be that kind of Diva in real life given half a chance!

Anyway here is my video, its a giggle so worth a minute of your life ;)

(See Video at http://bit.ly/cltlv4)

Now there is a competition linked to this video, and if you make one (which is dead simple, you just upload a photo or link it to your Facebook account) and leave me the bit.ly link in my comments, either here on this blog post, or on my facebook page, or send to me via email or carrier pigeon then I might win a laptop. Not that I need another one, but my Sister does, and wouldn't I be the best sister ever if I gave her a laptop for Christmas?

So you can go to http://www.hp.com/uk/star to make a video and don't forget to that you can add HP as a favourite on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HPUK and then you might hear about everything HP before me!

Oh and as an extra bit of fun, tell me what you would do if you were a major celebrity who could get away with anything. I would definitely go and snog David Tennant...

The New Disney Store Milton Keynes

In September our beloved Disney Store in Milton Keynes shut it doors. Top Ender and Baby Boy (and me!) love The Disney Store and we have quite often been found wandering around, mouths hanging open at the new Stock. I liked our old store as I was able to recognise most of the staff and they knew me as the "Crazy lady who knew all the songs that they played and who once danced and sang with her children to the Phineas and Ferb video". See its not just you who knows me as the Crazy Lady.

Christmas Club - October

With the clocks going back this weekend, it really makes me realise that it isn't that long to Christmas. In fact in just eight weeks we will all be getting ready to sit down to a special meal and wondering how Christmas came round so quickly, as weren't we all just sitting down to Christmas Dinner?!

When do you turn the heating on?

I am born of hardy stock. My Mum is Scottish and as such can survive all winter on just a bowl of porridge and some wool socks. With my half Scottish blood coursing through my veins and me wanting to keep my penny pinching ways secure I try to make sure that the heating in our house stays off until November 1st.

Baby Boy looking to see how long until the heatings is turned on!

Stocking Fillers - Drawing And Colouring Sets

One thing that seems to be in all stockings are Drawing and Colouring Sets. For me its a great chance to go through prior to Christmas all of the colouring pads, and crayons that we have accumulated over the year. I use the broken crayons to make new crayons (and to then give as a gift to others) and to really make sure that the colouring pads have been fully used and which themes would go down well again!

Making up a First Aid Kit

Sometimes I have dreams that freak me out a little. I don't like eating a lot of meat because of a particularly odd dream I had about a giant chicken chasing me because I ate one of its eggs. I don't like reading a lot of Stephen King stories because of the nightmares I had after reading Cell and right now I am going through our First Aid Kit and making sure I have one for the car after having a very vivid dream about having an accident in our home... at least it wasn't a Polar bear in the Garden!

In the Night Garden PJ Iggle Piggle - A Toyologist Review

(Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fhRPLdlm0)

The Iggle Piggle Goodnight Friend, comes with a story book, slippers, Pj's, his blanket and a lantern! It costs £16.99 from Toys R Us and Baby Boy wouldn't be without his!

What's the Secret Ingredient?

I love food, and if I am invited out to dinner then nine times out of ten I won't say No. I will check with the host that they know that I don't drink alcohol and prefer to not eat food cooked with alcohol, but other than that you can pretty much take me anywhere and feed me anything. When I received an invitation to a special dinner party where all the dishes would be made to include one secret ingredient I couldn't say No and so I found my way into Central London one evening promising Top Ender, Daddy and Baby Boy that I would tell them what the secret ingredient was as soon as I got home.

Disney Princess Shaker Maker - A Toyologist Review

(Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqZVYmZcSU)

The Disney Princess Shaker Maker has an RRP of £9.99 and is good for developing Motor Skills and Visual Skills and kept Top Ender amused for an hour, making just one of the figurines!

Top Ender Giggles - Good job it wasn't Catchphrase!

After the giggles that we had from Top Ender answering Blockbusters to Daddy after he had been singing the Ghostbusters theme tune we started to sing the tune to the popular game show Blockbusters, and do the naff jokes that come with Blockbusters such as;

"I'll have a P please Bob!"

The Next Baby Boutique Model Competition 2010 (Which my son or possibly my youngest two Niece's are going to win)

This is a Sponsored Post

Tomorrow morning (22nd October 2010) at 9:30am a competition starts to find the next British Super Baby Model, but you don't need to enter.

The Sound of Autumn

A few days back, Daddy, Top Ender, Baby Boy and I were walking past a rather large pile of crisp autumn leaves. We knew that this was an opportunity too good to miss and so Top Ender and Baby Boy had a jump and kick and run in the leaves, whilst I fished about in my handbag for my camera.

Autumn Games (With an educational twist!)

One of the fantastic things about family is that sometimes they send you fantastic links to websites that you haven't visited before. This is what happened the other week when Lesley (My SMIL) sent me a link to the Nature Detectives website. It is one of those sites that you don't realise is being educational as it is just so much fun!

Wordless Wednesday - Autumn Leaves and the Crunch!

A Very Lovely Shepherds Pie with a Recipe

The other week Daddy made a Shepherds Pie for dinner. It was really lovely to have the night off from cooking, and for it not being something like Steak, Beefburgers or Pasta! It isn't that Daddy doesn't cook tradition meals, its just that normally when he does it's something that is quick and easy. If a meal needs ingredients that need peeling, chopping or a pan that needs de-glazing then its normally me that is in charge.

Top Ender Giggles - A different type of Lice

Top Ender was a little worried when she found out that she had nits. To explain to her that things weren't as bad as she thought they were (as in lots of people get them) I told her all about Head Lice and about how they are just little creatures doing what they were born to do.

Spiders in the hair...

Helping your Children with Math skills

After my blog post, Helping your Children learn to read and learn to love to read it was suggested on Twitter and in the comments that I should also write up my tips on helping develop math skills in children. I'm not a child development expert and these suggestions aren't ground breaking new methods, but the way that you were probably taught Maths without even realising it!

A trip to Russell Park

When I used to work at the weekends, it made more sense for Daddy to take Top Ender and Baby Boy out of the house and leave me in relative peace and quiet, than it did for him to try and stop them jumping on me or to cause each other bodily harm in a bid to get my attention. They went to lots of different places, towns near and far, Farmers Markets in order to get Gluten and Wheat Free Cupcakes (that tasted fantastic), swimming, and to local and some not so local parks.

Top Ender Giggles - Blockbuster

Daddy and I were going to watch Ghostbusters on Sunday night as Daddy had never seen it before (yeah I know) and during dinner we were being a little silly and Daddy had started to sing the theme tune...

Superdrug Optimum Overnight Skin Renewal Serum - A Review

My younger sister is often mistaken as being my older sister. I am not sure why, but it has always pleased me to be thought of as younger. It obviously means that I have youthful looking skin (compared to my sister at least!) and it was sort of confirmed to me many years ago when I was on the Jubilee Line (I was going to the Millennium Dome before it was the 02 Arena) and a woman I didn't know turned to me and said;

"You have really lovely Skin, I just wanted you to know that."

I had never had a problem with spots, and a bit of soap and water morning and night were my only skin care routine but that comment really made me proud and even Daddy (who was just fiancé at the time!) remembers the event happening. He of course made some comment to me about how it wasn't just my skin that was lovely, but that has unfortunately been forgotten!

Stocking Fillers - Firefly Toothbrushes

As I mentioned the other day, we have a lot in our Christmas Stockings but it isn't all toys and treats, a lot of what we have is also something which could be thought of as something rather sensible. One of my favourite things to include are toothbrushes!

The blog post I never wanted to write

I hoped never to write this blog post. Seriously, when a PR asked me ages ago if they could send me some products, I said at the time "By all means send it, but I don't think I will ever be able to write a blog post on it" and then on Friday night when I was sitting on the Sofa with Top Ender, I realised that not only was I going to use the products that the PR had sent me, but that I was going to write this here blog post. Daddy has said that if anyone from Bang & Olufsen wants to send me products that I might never write a blog post about that is fine too. He is perfectly happy for people to do that, and he won't complain that I am cluttering up the house!

Christmas Shopping with Tesco Direct

This is a sponsored post, but its something I would of written even if it wasn't!

Back in February I talked about Christmas saving schemes in various Supermarkets and shared with you that I save up any loyalty points that I earn through the year to buy my Christmas gifts with. The main place that I do this with is Tesco, as there is nothing easier than when I do a weekly shop handing over my clubcard and getting points. As anyone who knows me in real life will confirm as much as I love Christmas and looking round the Christmas displays, I hate shopping in December. So it is pleasing to me that so many stores have an online presence and Tesco Direct is actually one of the bookmarked ones.

Christmas Stockings and Stocking Fillers!

As I have mentioned several times before, Christmas is a big deal in our house. We have lots of traditions which Daddy and I have brought from our own childhoods and one of the biggest and most similar to each other are what we found in our Christmas Stockings on Christmas Morning. When I was young our stockings, were always from Father Christmas and held many treasures ranging from Chocolate coins and Oranges to Fortune Fish and Small Electronic Toys. Daddy remembers there always being a Colouring Book and new Colours, some form or fruit and at least one toy car.

Where does the time go?

I was talking with a playground Mum who was complaining that there weren't enough hours in the day, for her to do everything that she wanted to do and to still be a good Mum. It made me think just what I do with the 24 hours I am given every day, as sometimes when I go to bed at night I am convinced that I haven't done anything during the day and yet I am strangely tired. So I took a look at everything that I do...

Wordless Wednesday - Even they think they look funny!

The Gallery - A Photo that I love

The last time I was asked to choose a photo that I love for Tara was before she had the gallery and I chose a photo that was my work desk photo, a photo that shows a happy and carefree me. I love that photo still, but I thought that it was about time that I updated my photo. It was quite funny timing though as just a couple of weeks ago for my Wordless Wednesday post, I posted a photo that I love.

Top Ender Giggles - Time for bed

Top Ender had gone to bed, we had gone through the bedtime routine and she had been tucked in, kissed and told to go to sleep. Five minutes had past and Daddy (sitting on the sofa working on his laptop) and I (working on the PC) heard her on the stairs, coming downstairs to go to the toilet.

Daddy Guest Post: Halloween is almost upon us

Hello, Daddy here! Another not-particularly-wordy post, just wanted to show some pictures from a great trip we had at the start of the month to the extremely posh One Aldwych Hotel in London's Covent Garden at the invitation of Tesco.

The event was for Halloween - yes, we know that's not for another month but the real reason was to show us the wide range of Tesco Halloween Costumes and attend a special screening of Monsters vs Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space, which has just been released on DVD.

My Life (If It Were A Film) - A Meme by me.

I was talking on Twitter asking for suggestions of films from the Eighties to add to a list of films that Daddy should watch with me on Date Night, when I came up with an idea for a meme from something that Home Front Anna said. One that I don't think has been done, but even if it has deserves to be made popular again! So I am proud to announce the My Life (If It Were A Film) Meme!



Risotto, a missed night out and a recipe!

The other week I was supposed to be going to go to the Miele event in London, but Baby Boy was unfortunately ill so I stayed at home cuddling my poorly boy, drinking Dr Pepper and watching Friday night TV. At least I think that's what I did, I can't really remember all the nights seem to blur into one when TV is included. So the lovely ladies that got to attend, were able to see the new Miele steam oven in action. I would of liked to have seen that, and then I would have attempted to smuggle it home. Then again my range master probably would of got upset with me so its a good job that I didn't go as I can't covet it and my range master will still love me...

 

Having Fun doing Nothing!

Over the last few of weekends we have had some of the best family weekends ever. We have had fun as a family, some of the most fun we have ever had as a family and it was all because of our schedule. Our normally busy schedule, full of trips out and things to do was derisively empty. Other than going food shopping we had nothing to do and so that is exactly what we did.

Littlest Pet Shop Vehicle - A Toys R Us Toyologist Review

Well I teased you the other day with mention of a new Toys R Us Toyologist parcel in The Top Ender Giggles - A Grand Total of One! post and as Top Ender and I had the video camera out and we were still being left in the peace and quiet of an afternoon nap being taken by Baby Boy, we decided that what we should do was record another review! This time it is for the Littlest Petshop Pet Vehicle which was the first Littlest Petshop toy that Top Ender had ever had...

Ocean In My Pocket Coral Reef - A Toys R Us Toyologist Review

Top Ender and I finally got a few moments peace and quiet and were able to record a couple of reviews for the Toys R Us Toyologists programme. This one is for the Ocean In My Pocket Coral Reef Playset and Ocean In My Pocket Newborn Pack.

The Spider Vrs The Bloggers

On Saturday I was lucky enough to go and see Emma for her birthday. I had read a tweet from Jon (her other half) about a gigantic spider, but didn't really think anything of it. I'm not really that scared of spiders, I mean that urban myth about you eating spiders whilst your asleep wasn't ever something that thrilled me to know, but little money spiders aren't going to do me any harm.

I'm not a fan of Scary Spiders though, you know the sort they are often found on street corners drinking cider that they have convinced someone to buy for them... oh wait that's yobs... Oh yes Scary Spiders, like Tarantulas or ones the size of dinner plates, but we don't get them in the UK unless they are someones pet, and if you know me and you have a dinner plate sized spider DO NOT TELL ME. I will bring bug spray and kill it, I don't care if it is gentle.

So what did we think of yesterdays dinner?

Yesterday I was rather busy cooking and worrying about the stain on my T-shirt to really talk much about the Aunt Bessie's Products that I used in my Host a Roast post and its only now over a day later that I think I have allowed enough time for my dinner to settle that I can tell you about what Aunt Bessie's Products we used and what we thought of them. The Aunt Bessie's range is available at most supermarkets, but you might have to shop around as they are popular and some stores may run out quicker than others!

Top Ender Giggles - A Grand Total of One!

When we opened the latest TRU Toyologist box, Top Ender found a Littlest Pet Shop Pet Vehicle. This toy in particular took her eye, and she asked if she could open this first.

Being the kind mother that I am I agreed that she could.

Host a Roast - A Live Blog post

This is a live blog post today, giving you a detailed look into a normal Sunday in my house! Aunt Bessie's (you know the yummy food that Delia uses to cheat her way to amazing meals) have kindly given me some vouchers to buy some bits to have with our Sunday Roast and as added pressure we have invited my Mum over... she is the best cook that I know and she will know if something isn't right!

Live Blog Tomorrow!

Tomorrow I have my Mum coming round for a Sunday Roast, as we here at A Mothers Ramblings are taking part in a Host a Roast!

Daddy and I decided that what we would do is not just to bring you live Tweets (hashtag #hostaroast), but we would also give a blow by blow account of what is going on with a live blog post! We are going to bring you video clips, photos and of course tweets!

So join us during the day tomorrow as we prepare our Sunday Roast and then finally eat together...



Zubber Bands - A Toyologist Review

Top Ender like most girls loves jewelery, and like most girls loves to make her own. When we saw that there was Zubber bands product in the Toyologist parcel to make bracelet's similar to those rubber bands that are popular we were really excited. Even Daddy was excited as he wanted us to make one for him with "WWDD?" on. For those of you not in the know it would of stood for "What Would Daddy Do?" but things didn't go to plan.

Daddy Guest Post: I say, someone's pinched all the mustard and cress out of the sandwiches and oooh! ...

Hello, Daddy here for another guest post - I promise to keep the words to a minimum, other than to say the Fun To Grow "Head Start" Cress kit that Top Ender and I have grown was only 62p from Tesco. Not bad for a self-grow salad vegetable, that teaches about seed germination and the conditions needed for plant growth.

The kit is made by Suttons Seeds

Just Dance 2 is coming soon!

Sometimes amazing things happen. Sometimes you will see a game that you think you will like for your Wii, (which really was the best combined Family Christmas and Daddy Birthday gift ever) and you buy it. In my case it was Dance On Broadway, which led to friends telling me that I should try Just Dance. So I brought Just Dance too. And then you tell everyone about the games via your blog posts and you find out again that not only did other bloggers, and random google searches find your blog post but so did important people.

Important people like the people behind Just Dance and Dance On Broadway. Important people that are working on the sequel to Just Dance...