Who else has a huge Build-A-Bear fan in their house? Eva is obsessed with it and she had at least 8 things from there on her Christmas list. She's been carrying around a bunny that we created for her when she was a baby. It's her favourite teddy and she won't go anywhere without it. We can't walk past the shop without her squealing with delight. For the last couple of months all i've heard is 'Mummy can I have this? Mummy I need this, Mummy I can make my own Build-A-Bear,' every time she saw the advert for Spinmaster's Build-A-Bear stuffing station on the TV. You can imagine her delight when we were kindly sent the Rainbow edition to review.
The Build-A-Bear Stuffing station is a kit that brings the magical experience of making your own teddy bear into your home. It is literally a miniature version of the huge stuffing station you see in the shop. Eva declared how cute it was as soon as we removed it from the packaging.
The kit comes with everything you need to make 2 small teddy bears. It includes a stuffing station, 2 Build-A-Bear cuddly friends in different designs, stuffing, t-shirts, plastic hearts, birth certificates and cardboard accessories.
The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to take out of the packaging and put together. There's nothing worse than wrestling with a toy box when you have a very excited child, eagerly awaiting their new toy. I was also jumping for joy at the fact that it doesn't require batteries. This is literally music to a parent's ears.
To make a bear you place the 'skin' of the bear on side of the stuffing station. Eva found this quite difficult and i'll admit I did too, until I realised that you have to almost 'screw it on' by twisting it around the nozzle. Next you pop a whole bag of stuffing into the station. You then have to turn the lever clockwise to start stuffing your bear. Eva loved this part and she was able to do this process by herself. The bear will pop off occasionally but this is a sign for you to use your fingers to push the stuffing into smaller areas of the bear such as the hands and legs. You then place the bear back on the stuffing station and continue to make it as cuddly as you wish.
When you have used all of the wool, it's time to choose a picture or message to place inside your heart. Then make a wish and pop it into the back of your bear and zip it up to close. Eva loved picking a t-shirt and popping it on the bear. Even though there are only 2 t-shirts included in the kit, she must've got her bear changed at least 10 times in the space of about 10 minutes. Once your bear is stylishly dressed you can then write its birth certificate.
Overall, Eva loved the stuffing station. She has told anyone and everyone about it and she always sneaks her 2 miniature bears into her school bag. She has asked for more skins to create more bears for her upcoming birthday.
As a parent I love the fact that you can bring the Build-A-Bear experience to your home. I think it's a fab product but my only reservation is the fact that you can only make 2 bears with the kit. You can buy more skins and wool to keep using the stuffing station but this may be off putting for parents due to the extra cost to continue to use the toy.
Eva is nearly 5 which I think is an ideal age for the kit as I know she will be able to use it for a few more years as her love for Build-A-Bear will be sure to continue for years to come.
The Build-A-Bear stuffing station is available from popular toy retailers such as Smyths for around £24.99 although prices may vary depending on the store.
*We were sent the Build-A-Bear stuffing Station for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own*
The Build-A-Bear Stuffing station is a kit that brings the magical experience of making your own teddy bear into your home. It is literally a miniature version of the huge stuffing station you see in the shop. Eva declared how cute it was as soon as we removed it from the packaging.
The kit comes with everything you need to make 2 small teddy bears. It includes a stuffing station, 2 Build-A-Bear cuddly friends in different designs, stuffing, t-shirts, plastic hearts, birth certificates and cardboard accessories.
The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to take out of the packaging and put together. There's nothing worse than wrestling with a toy box when you have a very excited child, eagerly awaiting their new toy. I was also jumping for joy at the fact that it doesn't require batteries. This is literally music to a parent's ears.
To make a bear you place the 'skin' of the bear on side of the stuffing station. Eva found this quite difficult and i'll admit I did too, until I realised that you have to almost 'screw it on' by twisting it around the nozzle. Next you pop a whole bag of stuffing into the station. You then have to turn the lever clockwise to start stuffing your bear. Eva loved this part and she was able to do this process by herself. The bear will pop off occasionally but this is a sign for you to use your fingers to push the stuffing into smaller areas of the bear such as the hands and legs. You then place the bear back on the stuffing station and continue to make it as cuddly as you wish.
When you have used all of the wool, it's time to choose a picture or message to place inside your heart. Then make a wish and pop it into the back of your bear and zip it up to close. Eva loved picking a t-shirt and popping it on the bear. Even though there are only 2 t-shirts included in the kit, she must've got her bear changed at least 10 times in the space of about 10 minutes. Once your bear is stylishly dressed you can then write its birth certificate.
Overall, Eva loved the stuffing station. She has told anyone and everyone about it and she always sneaks her 2 miniature bears into her school bag. She has asked for more skins to create more bears for her upcoming birthday.
As a parent I love the fact that you can bring the Build-A-Bear experience to your home. I think it's a fab product but my only reservation is the fact that you can only make 2 bears with the kit. You can buy more skins and wool to keep using the stuffing station but this may be off putting for parents due to the extra cost to continue to use the toy.
Eva is nearly 5 which I think is an ideal age for the kit as I know she will be able to use it for a few more years as her love for Build-A-Bear will be sure to continue for years to come.
The Build-A-Bear stuffing station is available from popular toy retailers such as Smyths for around £24.99 although prices may vary depending on the store.
*We were sent the Build-A-Bear stuffing Station for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own*
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I thought it would be a nice idea to put together all of my most read blog posts in 2017 to see what you've been enjoying reading. Some of the top 10 surprised me and others I knew would do very well. Disney, Mindfulness, Post Natal Depression and Travel feature heavily in the top 10 which is great as they are what I enjoy writing about the most.
Here they are counting down from 10 with number 1 being the most read:
I was very surprised to see a review post in the top 10 but this one was unique. It was for a lovely personalised charm from Hand on Heart Jewellery. The charm featured both Eva and Ophelia's hand prints so it it something I can cherish for ever.
I was so pleased to see this post in the top 10 as I loved writing it. I can remember how excited I was about planning our Disney World trip. Ironically, I didn't manage to do a lot of the things on it. Hopefully we can return to Disney again soon and get them ticked off.
This year i've been trying to practice mindfulness to help combat my postnatal depression. I started a blog series of Disney quotes for mindfulness and this was the very first one I wrote. I've always enjoyed reading Winnie the Pooh and the quotes included in this post are lovely.
This was one of the first posts I wrote in 2017. At the end of 2016 I embarked on a health and exercise regime which worked incredibly well for me and I ended up dropping 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks. Unfortunately, postnatal depression (PND) has kicked my arse a lot since then and I fell out of love with doing anything. I need to re-read this post myself and hopefully have a healthy, motivated 2018.
I am so happy this post was one of the most read. I joined the PTA at my daughter's school and it quickly became apparent that people have the wrong idea about the people on it and what it is. There are lots of misconceptions so I decided to write a comical post to clear them up.
Another one from my Disney Mindfulness series. Moana quickly became one of mine and my daughter's favourite Disney films. It features lots of strong, powerful quotes to encourage you to remember who you are.
Going for Afternoon Tea is one of my favourite things to do and we are very fortunate in South Wales as there are plenty of places to try. I wrote a post featuring some of our preferred places. I think i'll update this for 2018 as there has been quite a few new offerings in 2017.
This was one of my personal favourite posts. I wrote it when I was in quite a dark place with PND but I decided I wanted to try and raise awareness of mental health issues so I began to discuss it on the blog. I wrote this poem to try and make other sufferers aware that they aren't alone and they should speak out. I received lots of messages from parents after writing it which was encouraging.
I knew this post had been well received but I didn't realise it was enjoyed so much that it was my second most read post of the year. Both the girls loved the party and the range available from The Disney Store is perfect.
I am so pleased that this was the most read post of 2017. I loved writing it. I laughed so much whilst putting the ideas together. Even though it was written in a comical manner, every tip is truth.
Which posts in my top 10 did you enjoy reading? What would you like to see me write more of in 2018?
A while ago the lovely people at Diono sent me their first ever travel system to put through its paces. The Quantum travel system is designed to be #adventureready and with us being a family that can't keep still, we couldn't wait to try it.
When I say I was sent this a while ago, I mean it. It has made its way comfortably into our lives and it feels like we've always had it. We've been using it everyday. It goes on the school run, to the beach, on dog walks, mountain adventures, to the zoo, on caravan holiday's and more. The only place we haven't tried taking it, is abroad.
The Quantum comes in 4 different colours, Black, Navy, Teal and Red. It costs £500 and comes with everything you would need such as raincover, seat-liner etc. The only thing it doesn't come with is a car seat but it is compatible with lots of different brands of car seats such as Cybex and Maxi Cosi. I've also heard that Diono may be making their own car seat which will be compatible with this system very soon.
This travel system is like none we've ever used before, you can tell it has been designed with parents in mind. The first thing that makes it stand out from other travel systems is the fact that it comes with so few parts. Previous systems we've used have come with at least 3 or 4 separate components making them the stuff of nightmares to store. The Quantum comes with a very clever convertible 3 in 1 smart seat. The carriage can be transformed to a seat by connecting 4 clips. It's easy to do and is a great space saver. This makes the travel system ideal for people who lack storage space and those with small boots on their cars.
The carriage can be laid completely flat. This means it can be used from birth. With Ophelia being the age she is, we've hardly used it as a carriage and therefore haven't tried it with her in the lie flat position but if we ever have a baby number 3, we'll definitely utilise that feature. It can also be tilted in lie flat mode and this makes the travel system perfect for babies that suffer with reflux.
My favourite feature by a mile is the brake. That is a phrase you would never here me say about any other travel system or pushchair. The brake is amazing. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have stubbed my toe or scuffed my feet and nails on our older pushchairs. This genius design has been a lifesaver or toe saver for me shall we say.
The brake is large and centralised in the middle of the bar so no hunting around on corners trying to find it. It's a simple one step movement to activate it. All you have to do is step on it to lock and step again to unlock. It's as easy as that. You can do it in any shoes. It's been amazing to use in the summer as my toes have been saved from injury when wearing flip flops and sandals.
The huge hood is also one of my favourite features. It extends far enough to give good coverage. It has a UV extender attached to it. It keeps the sun out of Ophelia's eyes (when it finally makes an appearance that is). It has a mesh section on the canopy which allows airflow. There's also a magnetic viewing flap so you can have a peek at your little ones without disturbing them.
The Quantum Travel System has the perfect sized storage basket. You can fit plenty under there so it's great for using on shopping trips. It's wide and easily accessible. I think the only down side to the amount of space (and the travel system in general) is that it makes the pram quite large and bulky.
It has a one hand fold system. Hoorah!! This is great for us busy parents that never have enough hands free. It also has a handy shoulder strap for carrying once it's down which is fab for when you're trying to juggle holding bags and children's hands etc.
For almost a year Ophelia has wanted to be parent facing but since we've had the Quantum she has wanted to face the world to absorb her adventures. This travel system allows for both parent and world facing.
The Quantum is great on all terrains and provides and incredibly smooth ride even on grass and rough surfaces. It has large wheels which means hardly any punctures! Wahoo. It has great manoeuvrability I am able to push the Quantum with one hand whilst walking the dog in the other. The only thing I notice (and this may be due to my lack of muscle) is that I struggle going up a curb.
I would definitely recommend the Quantum travel system to parents. It has made my school run like a dream. It's great for all weather conditions and all surfaces meaning it is ready for any adventure.
*We were kindly sent the Diono Quantum Travel System in exchange for this blog post. As always may opinions are my own and honest and truthful*
When I say I was sent this a while ago, I mean it. It has made its way comfortably into our lives and it feels like we've always had it. We've been using it everyday. It goes on the school run, to the beach, on dog walks, mountain adventures, to the zoo, on caravan holiday's and more. The only place we haven't tried taking it, is abroad.
The Quantum comes in 4 different colours, Black, Navy, Teal and Red. It costs £500 and comes with everything you would need such as raincover, seat-liner etc. The only thing it doesn't come with is a car seat but it is compatible with lots of different brands of car seats such as Cybex and Maxi Cosi. I've also heard that Diono may be making their own car seat which will be compatible with this system very soon.
This travel system is like none we've ever used before, you can tell it has been designed with parents in mind. The first thing that makes it stand out from other travel systems is the fact that it comes with so few parts. Previous systems we've used have come with at least 3 or 4 separate components making them the stuff of nightmares to store. The Quantum comes with a very clever convertible 3 in 1 smart seat. The carriage can be transformed to a seat by connecting 4 clips. It's easy to do and is a great space saver. This makes the travel system ideal for people who lack storage space and those with small boots on their cars.
Image from https://uk.diono.com
The carriage can be laid completely flat. This means it can be used from birth. With Ophelia being the age she is, we've hardly used it as a carriage and therefore haven't tried it with her in the lie flat position but if we ever have a baby number 3, we'll definitely utilise that feature. It can also be tilted in lie flat mode and this makes the travel system perfect for babies that suffer with reflux.
My favourite feature by a mile is the brake. That is a phrase you would never here me say about any other travel system or pushchair. The brake is amazing. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have stubbed my toe or scuffed my feet and nails on our older pushchairs. This genius design has been a lifesaver or toe saver for me shall we say.
The brake is large and centralised in the middle of the bar so no hunting around on corners trying to find it. It's a simple one step movement to activate it. All you have to do is step on it to lock and step again to unlock. It's as easy as that. You can do it in any shoes. It's been amazing to use in the summer as my toes have been saved from injury when wearing flip flops and sandals.
The huge hood is also one of my favourite features. It extends far enough to give good coverage. It has a UV extender attached to it. It keeps the sun out of Ophelia's eyes (when it finally makes an appearance that is). It has a mesh section on the canopy which allows airflow. There's also a magnetic viewing flap so you can have a peek at your little ones without disturbing them.
The Quantum Travel System has the perfect sized storage basket. You can fit plenty under there so it's great for using on shopping trips. It's wide and easily accessible. I think the only down side to the amount of space (and the travel system in general) is that it makes the pram quite large and bulky.
It has a one hand fold system. Hoorah!! This is great for us busy parents that never have enough hands free. It also has a handy shoulder strap for carrying once it's down which is fab for when you're trying to juggle holding bags and children's hands etc.
For almost a year Ophelia has wanted to be parent facing but since we've had the Quantum she has wanted to face the world to absorb her adventures. This travel system allows for both parent and world facing.
The Quantum is great on all terrains and provides and incredibly smooth ride even on grass and rough surfaces. It has large wheels which means hardly any punctures! Wahoo. It has great manoeuvrability I am able to push the Quantum with one hand whilst walking the dog in the other. The only thing I notice (and this may be due to my lack of muscle) is that I struggle going up a curb.
I would definitely recommend the Quantum travel system to parents. It has made my school run like a dream. It's great for all weather conditions and all surfaces meaning it is ready for any adventure.
*We were kindly sent the Diono Quantum Travel System in exchange for this blog post. As always may opinions are my own and honest and truthful*
The Charlotte Tilbury brand is one which I lust after. From Charlotte's own reputation as an amazing make up artist to the products' beautiful packaging, you know the brand oozes quality. I recently received the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Icons set which makes the perfect gift.
The set contains 5 of Charlotte Tilbury's most iconic and award winning products from her make up and skin care range and therefore makes it ideal for first timers of the brand or simply someone that can't get enough of the range. There are 3 make up products and 2 face creams. All are travel sized except a full sized lip liner.
Here's what's inside:
Lip Cheat Lip Liner - Pillow Talk
I've heard fab things about this lip liner so I couldn't wait to try it. It's safe to say it does not disappoint. The lip liner is designed to re-size and re-shape your lips and it does just that. It's the perfect nude colour for all skin types. I'll admit, when I first saw the colour, I didn't think it would suit my skin tone but it is a match made in heaven.
It glides on easily and I can definitely see a difference in my lips when I use it. It makes them look fuller and more defined. I've actually been using it with just lip balm and gloss alone and it looks great. I really need to try the Pillow Talk lipstick now.
Full Fat Lashes Mascara
This award winning mascara comes in a mini size and is designed to give you curl, separation, volume, length and drama. It has fine tipped bristles to catch every lash on application.
I've been using it as a day mascara. It makes my lashes long and is great for separating them. I can't stand clumpy eyelashes and this mascara doesn't create that effect. It is as buildable as you like so you can make your lashes as thick and long as you wish which I will try for an evening look.
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick - Penelope Pink
I must confess I was very disappointed with the size of this mini lipstick. It is tiny which is such a shame. The colour is a lovely nude with a slight pink undertone. It's very creamy and leaves may lips feeling hydrated and moisturised.
Wonderglow Face Primer
I've loved using this primer. It certainly does give you a wonder glow. It leaves my skin more radiant and creates a dewy look. I have a couple of small wrinkles now (damn my age) and this is helping to smooth them out. I find when I use some primers and foundations they make my wrinkles stand out more which I am mortified with but this makes my skin look more youthful. I will definitely be buying this in the full size.
Charlotte's Magic Cream
Believe it or not, I'd first heard of this product from my nan. She swears by it and hasn't got a bad word to say about it. I couldn't wait to try it. It's one of Charlotte Tilbury's most coveted products and is adored backstage by celebrities and models.
It contains an anti-age BioNymph Peptide complex which stimulates collagen production whilst flighting free radicals.
This cream really is what it says on the tin. It's magical. It feels luxurious when you're applying it and I can hear my skin screaming thank you. I do suffer with dry skin in certain areas but this cream is incredibly moisturising. I will be purchasing a full sized one once this is finished.
This set comes in at £55 which may be off putting to some people. However, you can't put a price on quality and all of these products are great. It's been the ideal way for me to try the most loved Charlotte Tilbury items to decide whether I want to purchase the full sized ones. I am obsessed with the Lip Liner so i'll definitely be looking at the other colours avaiable and I can't wait to try some other shades in the lipstick.
Have you used Charlotte Tilbury make up? Which products are your favourite?
The set contains 5 of Charlotte Tilbury's most iconic and award winning products from her make up and skin care range and therefore makes it ideal for first timers of the brand or simply someone that can't get enough of the range. There are 3 make up products and 2 face creams. All are travel sized except a full sized lip liner.
Here's what's inside:
Lip Cheat Lip Liner - Pillow Talk
I've heard fab things about this lip liner so I couldn't wait to try it. It's safe to say it does not disappoint. The lip liner is designed to re-size and re-shape your lips and it does just that. It's the perfect nude colour for all skin types. I'll admit, when I first saw the colour, I didn't think it would suit my skin tone but it is a match made in heaven.
It glides on easily and I can definitely see a difference in my lips when I use it. It makes them look fuller and more defined. I've actually been using it with just lip balm and gloss alone and it looks great. I really need to try the Pillow Talk lipstick now.
Full Fat Lashes Mascara
This award winning mascara comes in a mini size and is designed to give you curl, separation, volume, length and drama. It has fine tipped bristles to catch every lash on application.
I've been using it as a day mascara. It makes my lashes long and is great for separating them. I can't stand clumpy eyelashes and this mascara doesn't create that effect. It is as buildable as you like so you can make your lashes as thick and long as you wish which I will try for an evening look.
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick - Penelope Pink
I must confess I was very disappointed with the size of this mini lipstick. It is tiny which is such a shame. The colour is a lovely nude with a slight pink undertone. It's very creamy and leaves may lips feeling hydrated and moisturised.
Wonderglow Face Primer
I've loved using this primer. It certainly does give you a wonder glow. It leaves my skin more radiant and creates a dewy look. I have a couple of small wrinkles now (damn my age) and this is helping to smooth them out. I find when I use some primers and foundations they make my wrinkles stand out more which I am mortified with but this makes my skin look more youthful. I will definitely be buying this in the full size.
Charlotte's Magic Cream
Believe it or not, I'd first heard of this product from my nan. She swears by it and hasn't got a bad word to say about it. I couldn't wait to try it. It's one of Charlotte Tilbury's most coveted products and is adored backstage by celebrities and models.
It contains an anti-age BioNymph Peptide complex which stimulates collagen production whilst flighting free radicals.
This cream really is what it says on the tin. It's magical. It feels luxurious when you're applying it and I can hear my skin screaming thank you. I do suffer with dry skin in certain areas but this cream is incredibly moisturising. I will be purchasing a full sized one once this is finished.
This set comes in at £55 which may be off putting to some people. However, you can't put a price on quality and all of these products are great. It's been the ideal way for me to try the most loved Charlotte Tilbury items to decide whether I want to purchase the full sized ones. I am obsessed with the Lip Liner so i'll definitely be looking at the other colours avaiable and I can't wait to try some other shades in the lipstick.
Have you used Charlotte Tilbury make up? Which products are your favourite?
Visiting Santa at Pugh's Garden Centre has become a family tradition of ours since we first took Eva there in 2014. The theme that year was Frozen which Eva adores. I wrote a blog post about our visit which you can read here, Pugh's 2014. We were lucky enough to be invited this year to experience 'Santa's Magical Candyland'. We knew it would be magical but we didn't know whether they'd be able to make it better than previous years.
Tickets cost £14 per child and £5 per adult. I must admit as a parent, I find that price quite off putting. However, the cost can certainly be justified by the experience. The price includes a 30 minute journey through Santa's Candyland (5 different rooms in total) to eventually meet Santa. It also includes a surprise tasty treat to take home, a toy and a discounted hot drink.
It's advised to book online before visiting to ensure you get a spot. Once you arrive you can wait in the waiting area where you can write a letter to Santa. An elf then calls you in to start your journey to Santa.
You then go through to a room to board a train. This was my favourite part of the experience. It's very realistic and certainly unique. The video is also quite comical for the adults which is always a bonus.
Next up you head to the gingerbread factory where you have to help power things along by throwing balls through holes. Both my girls loved this part.
Then you head to Mrs Claus' kitchen which is beautifully decorated. It looks incredibly festive and cosy.
You then wait in a forest before visiting Santa. Your group visits Santa together but your child has individual time with him for a chat and photo opportunities.
Once the journey ends your child gets to pick their own toy from a wide selection. I think this is a great idea as you know your child will like their gift. I can't tell you how many times we've been to visit Santa in other places and the gift has not been up to scratch.
Overall, the experience was wonderful. The kids thought it was amazing and so did we. There are so many special touches that make Santa's Candyland truly magical and stand out from any other experience in South Wales. I can't recommend it enough.
My only negative comment was the parking. We went on a weekend and the car park was utter chaos which was incredibly stressful. It took us over 45 minutes to park the car. If you are going to visit on a weekend please keep this in mind.
Have you visited Santa this year? Where are your favourite places to visit him?
*We were invited to experience Santa's magical Candyland in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own*
Tickets cost £14 per child and £5 per adult. I must admit as a parent, I find that price quite off putting. However, the cost can certainly be justified by the experience. The price includes a 30 minute journey through Santa's Candyland (5 different rooms in total) to eventually meet Santa. It also includes a surprise tasty treat to take home, a toy and a discounted hot drink.
It's advised to book online before visiting to ensure you get a spot. Once you arrive you can wait in the waiting area where you can write a letter to Santa. An elf then calls you in to start your journey to Santa.
You then go through to a room to board a train. This was my favourite part of the experience. It's very realistic and certainly unique. The video is also quite comical for the adults which is always a bonus.
Next up you head to the gingerbread factory where you have to help power things along by throwing balls through holes. Both my girls loved this part.
Then you head to Mrs Claus' kitchen which is beautifully decorated. It looks incredibly festive and cosy.
You then wait in a forest before visiting Santa. Your group visits Santa together but your child has individual time with him for a chat and photo opportunities.
Once the journey ends your child gets to pick their own toy from a wide selection. I think this is a great idea as you know your child will like their gift. I can't tell you how many times we've been to visit Santa in other places and the gift has not been up to scratch.
Overall, the experience was wonderful. The kids thought it was amazing and so did we. There are so many special touches that make Santa's Candyland truly magical and stand out from any other experience in South Wales. I can't recommend it enough.
My only negative comment was the parking. We went on a weekend and the car park was utter chaos which was incredibly stressful. It took us over 45 minutes to park the car. If you are going to visit on a weekend please keep this in mind.
Have you visited Santa this year? Where are your favourite places to visit him?
*We were invited to experience Santa's magical Candyland in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own*
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