November 07, 2013

We Test Out the Go MINI Crew-zers HQ Garage Play Set

November 07, 2013/ Claire Spence

The first car my son started 'spotting' when we were driving about was the Mini. It's classic design is unmistakable. It's no surprise that when Go MINI Crew launched he loved them too.

This Christmas the range has expanded to include a three level Go Mini Crew-zers HQ play set that costs around £34.99

There are also a new selection of Stunt Racers, each with their own unique stunt. Our Minis did donuts and wheelies.

The HQ play set comes in pieces, which is something to bear in mind if Santa is planning on bringing this as a gift. Although saying that, I had it put together in under five minutes.

So what's the verdict? It's a good garage play set to opt for if your child is just a little too old for Fisher Price Little People now. The spinning turntable with lights and sound is entertaining, as well as the trapdoor which drops your Mini through a tunnel past a barking bulldog. My son gives it a thumbs up. Another plus is it comes pre-loaded with batteries, and the single cars are all pull back, with no batteries needed.

He has been playing with it for over an hour solidly now, so it's a positive review from me too.

November 06, 2013

Christmas 2013 at Ikea

November 06, 2013/ Claire Spence

A peak at what Ikea has in store.

Don't forget Ikea as a destination for well designed, nicely priced toy presents too. Click to enlarge thumbnails below for detail.

November 06, 2013

Turn Your Lovable Scruffy Scamp into a Ship Shape Sailor

November 06, 2013/ Claire Spence

Lucas Frank is a boys' designer clothing range for Sunday best outfits that feel comfy & cool too. They also have a Bonga Club where you can download & print fun PDFs for creativity and games.

I've chosen my favourite items that I would dress my son in. I love anything nautical, it always looks smart and classic. Lucas Frank says their site is a girl free zone, which is the only negative factor. Gender shouldn't come into it, and how cool does a little girl look I'm a rugby shirt? Change it, Lucas!

Some items are on sale at the moment too, like these t-shirts down to £10.49 - £11.89 and shipping, gift wrap and returns are all free.

Squirrel  Point down to £24.99 — Squirrel Point down to £24.99

Carmanah Rugby Shirt £40 — Carmanah Rugby Shirt £40

November 05, 2013

Mind Blowing Taxidermy Sculptures Made from Louis Vuitton Bags

November 05, 2013/ Claire Spence

Louis Vuitton commissioned Billie Achilleos to scuplt a menagerie of beasts from their luggage, handbags, wallets and bags. The results are stunning.

May I take this opportunity to also say happy birthday to Jen Dent, one of my Vine app pals. She's 40 today and often makes 6 second videos with her taxidermy pet, Nigel. Have a lovely wine-box filled day.

November 04, 2013

The Super Duper Heroes Birthday Party- The Aquabats

November 04, 2013/ Claire Spence

Thank heavens for Birthday Express! The UK doesn't stock Aquabats merch yet, as the first series has only been shown on CITV so far. I was able to source everything for my son's Aquabats Party in one place, and I think you'll agree, for a hired room in a leisure centre it looked really cool.

A word to the wise though- if you are having 24 kids in one room, all eating Haribo and feeding off each other's hyperness, keep the matching blowouts for the party bags. Do not put them on the tables. 24 excited children blowing 24 Aquabats party blowers is very, very loud. Still, the reviews from his friends were that it was the 'best party ever', so thank you Birthday Express for helping make it look so groovy.

birthday boy, very sweaty after the soft play area beforehand!

costume $24.99 click photo to link to buying page, also available in adult sizes on costumeexpress.com I was tempted, I'll admit

click here to explore BirthdayExpress.com's extensive range of birthday party themes that you just won't find in the UK

November 04, 2013

Let Ralph the Dog Tape Dispenser Be Man's Best Friend This Parcelling Season.

November 04, 2013/ Claire Spence

My usual Christmas wrapping routine involves dozens of precut pieces of cellotape all over the legs of my coffee table. Ralph the Dog, the cute tape dispenser is available for £8.99 through 3M Direct, pre-loaded with Scotch tape, which is refillable. He's bound to make the chore of present wrapping a little easier.

November 03, 2013

Nifty Christmas Jewellery Gift Idea, Name Personalised for Your Loved Ones

November 03, 2013/ Claire Spence

Name Jewellery Designs is an American Etsy store which personalises rings & bracelets with names, or short phrases of your choice. It's a straight forward, but unique and thoughtful gift idea. They are stackable, decently priced (under £17 for my Michael ring) and professionally engraved, 204 five out of five star customer reviews can't be wrong.

They have just launched their international shipping service, which is why they reached out to TheWorldofKitsch.com to spread the word. Although turn around and shipping is very fast, I would recommend getting your Christmas present requests in early, as come December I'm sure they'll have a backlog of gifts to engrave.

NameJewelryDesigns also let me choose this personalised bracelet for my Mum.

November 02, 2013

We Literally Just Had a Caturday

November 02, 2013/ Claire Spence

Mrs Meow has lived with us for three years now. Where she came from, I do not know. She turned up three summers ago and spent day and night, rain or shine, under the same bush in our back garden. My husband is allergic to cats, so bringing her inside wasn't an option (ahem). She was happy enough to take food, once we had gone back indoors, and slowly, she would eat with me sitting a few feet away. By the end of the summer she surprised me by jumping up on the garden bench beside me.

As autumn came around that year, we made a shelter box for her inside our boiler shed. It had a duvet and she could crawl under the door and keep warm. By that winter I had started letting her into the kitchen ("just the kitchen, I promise!") and at night she slept on an old coat, inside from the cold. My husband resigned himself to taking anti-histamine.

By spring, Mrs Meow had extended her kingdom to include the whole house ("but definitely not the bedroom, and she goes in the kitchen when you get home, I promise!"). By summer 2013, Mrs Meow now sleeps beside me on our bed during the day (I sleep a lot due to M.E.) and is in the house all day, even when my husband is there.

He had a love/hate relationship with her. He hates cats, he hates her fur everywhere, he hates when she poos in the corner of the kitchen instead of the litter tray. Secretly though, I think he does love her. He witnessed her catch a mouse that ran under the washing machine one weekend morning, and their relationship changed from there. No longer just a sleep machine, she now was a cruel, mouse teasing beast. Plus I've caught him sneaking her chicken in the kitchen.

Mrs Meow is here to stay. I love her to pieces. So I decided it was about time I looked after her completely and made sure she was getting her yearly vaccinations. To get her to her first vet trip (with us anyway) I had this super duper fancy deluxe cat carrier from Swell Pets.

It opens at the front, like any carrier, but also the top swings open, which makes it so much easier to pick up your cat, set it down into the box, rather than trying to push it in the front door. Mrs Meow was in it before she knew what was happening! There's a removable double dish at the front which can be accessed without the cat escaping. This would be more for long travel, or air travel. There's lots of room and ventilation too. We were able to put a seat cushion that Mrs Meow likes to sleep on inside with lots of room left for her to turn around.

here is Michael demonstrating the flip top access!

quite blurry, but I didn't want to hang around once she was in

Mrs Meow seemed happy enough travelling in her carrier. She miaowed her annoyance, but she wasn't stressed, or scared. At the vets she poked her head out the door when we opened it, then sat back down on her little cushion. I was expecting her to make a dash for it. Altogether a very successful trip.

We found our she is about six years old, which means she was three when she turned up as a stray with us.

Caturday continue with a trip to Bangor's Cat Show. Easily a hundred cats of all breeds to admire. My son and I had a fabulous time. My husband didn't attend, one cat is enough for him.