September 20, 2013

That? Oh, That's Just My Faux Taxidermy Inflatable Tiger Head

September 20, 2013/ Claire Spence

This is my inflatable tiger head from the eclectic gift webstore Find Me a Gift. Do you like him? There are lots of cool inflatables on their site that could make fun Christmas gifts.

Another unusual product that would make a nice stocking filler are these Shwings Shoe Wings. Available in a variety of metallic colours, they are super cool for trainers, but also can make a pair of heels into something Superwoman would wear on a night off. £9.99 for a pair of wings.

September 20, 2013

Two Useful New Products for Coughs & Cold Season

September 20, 2013/ Claire Spence

School is back & it's getting cold & damp out there. They say prevention is better than cure, so here are two fun products to hopefully help reduce the chance of sniffles and days off from education (or work!).

Disney Gummies are chewy vitamin sweets. Available in Mickey Mouse, Disney Princess or Car shaped gums, they have omega 3 and vitamins A, B, C & D. The bottle of 60 pieces is available in Boots or Amazon.co.uk and is priced around £8.99 My son thinks they are yummy, which makes me glad for the safety cap that only allows me to open the top. Another plus point is the Gummies are suitable as a multi-vitamin for everyone over the age of 3. So instead of a shelf of various different vitamins for mum, dad & kids, you can replace them all with this one-fits-all supplement. We love them.

The second new product is the Nasal Guard Cold & Flu Block gel. There is a wealth of information on their website, but the crux is the gel is applied to the nose and upper lip area and helps reduce the chance of you getting sick. I tried it out, but still caught my husband's cold, although sleeping beside someone sick is always going to be high risk. The product costs £11.99 from Boots, maybe worth a try if your child tends to pick up every little cough & runny nose that goes round their class.

September 18, 2013

DC Superfriends Magazine Launches Tomorrow

September 18, 2013/ Claire Spence

DC Superfriends Magazine hits the shelves on Thursday 19th September, and is a cool introduction for your little ones to life-long superhero pals like Batman, Superman and The Flash.

Little boys and girls will love the bright colours, fun makes and stories, not to mention the free toy with each edition. This month's freebie is a set of pretend walkie talkies with swappable face plates.

You'll find DC Supermarkets in most supermarkets, or for a decent discount you can subscribe via the website.

September 17, 2013

BEAR Alphabites Cereal is a Bowlful of Fun

September 17, 2013/ Claire Spence

There are dozens of kids' cereals these days, and there seems to be a new one every week. Unlike when we were kids and you had Frosties, Rice Krispies, or Cocopops and that was it. The choice is great, but one thing I miss is the beloved free plastic toy that cereal used to come with, that you could fight with your siblings over. I don't know why that stopped. Maybe too many children were eating them by accident.

The new BEAR Alphabites cereal may not have a toy, but it will appeal to the little collector in your family. Each packet has a bright & colourful fact file on the back, one for each letter of the alphabet. Potentially they could be cut out and framed for a bedroom wall, or alternatively, just studied between munches in the morning.

BEAR are a familiar and trusted brand for healthy kids' snacks. Their new breakfast cereal is an equally healthy choice. No salt and sugar, the sweetness comes from coconut nectar (which doesn't taste like coconuts). You can choose from multigrain or cocoa multigrain, and as you would expect from Alphabites, they are shaped like letters. It was a big thumbs up from my son.

September 17, 2013

How to get the Eighties' Look

September 17, 2013/ Claire Spence

It looks like designers have finally remembered the famous 'decade that fashion forgot', and they're insisting on dragging it back into the light. All those leggings, shoulder pads and neon palettes can only mean one thing: the 80s are back. If you've still got an attic full of treasured Dynasty-style suits and a seriously shiny ruffled prom dress, you're in luck; if not, follow these top tips for channelling this retro vibe into 2013 fashion.

Get the statement pieces

From acid-wash jeans to colourful printed leggings, there are a range of recognisable items in the shops right now that owe a lot to the '80s. For full commitment to the look, add some contrasting or clashing leg warmers, or work the gym wear as day wear trend with neonlycra crop tops. A quick look at SS13's catwalks is enough to establish that the bomber jacket is making a committed comeback, with variations available in everything from denim to oriental prints to solve all your outerwear needs. Finish the look with some fingerless lace gloves for true '80s pop star style.

Master the make up

Smudgy eyeliner, blue or purple eye shadow, bright blush and pink lipstick are a trademark look of the decade that's resurfacing on plenty of catwalks as well as on high street trend-setters. Alternatively, copy Annie Lennox's Eurythmics look circa 1983 with androgynous cropped hair, pale foundation, defined cheekbones and some dramatic heavy eye makeup. Taking inspiration from your favourite contemporary musician is the easiest way to get a suitably authentic look, adding your own twists to keep things individual.

Accessorise in style

Eighties fashion embraces bright colours and bold statements, so avoid anything tame - strictly no pastels allowed. If a wardrobe packed with neon and denim seems a little too much, you can use '80s accessories to reference the trend in a subtler way. Bright high-top trainers are a particular favourite of the decade, but chunky gold jewellery and accessories also hark back to the golden age of Tina Turner. Even bum bags have been seen back on the runway, albeit in a sleeker, leather design, giving you an easy way to nod to the decade without a complete outfit overhaul.

If you're heading out to restock your wardrobe with '80s themed gems, don't forget to apply for an Amex card. An American Express credit card offers a variety of exclusive benefits to customers, including membership rewards points with virtually every purchase, 24/7 customer service and purchase and online fraud protection.

September 16, 2013

An Early Heads Up On One of This Year's Top Christmas Toys- Get It Early!

September 16, 2013/ Claire Spence

Sometimes I think I've seen all the toys that could possibly be invented; then something so simple, but so unique as Pony Cycles come along & I wish I was seven again. I could have asked Santa for an ACTUAL pony, and if I was very well behaved, I might have just have been lucky enough to get one.

I first came across Pony Cycles in a local shopping centre. It was Easter break and a small business had rounded up a herd of ponies, unicorns & zebras for children to ride for £2 for fifteen minutes. My son instantly fell in love with the brown Pony Cycle. It looked just like his granny's horse Sox.

Pony Cycles gifted us one of their medium sized horses, much to my son's absolute delight. This is the sort of reaction you could expect on Christmas morning.

The medium size is for ages 4-9 and the small size suits age 2-4. As long as the child can reach the pedals to bounce to make the pony move, then it will work for them. It's tricky to explain how the pony is propelled along, so it's far easier to show you. Here's a video of my son riding his.

Building the cycle is very simple. It arrived assembled, apart from the head piece, which is easily screwed on. It only took me three minutes and it was ready to go.

Prices start at £150, which is reasonable as an alternative to a bike as the main Christmas present. Unlike a bike, the Pony Cycle makes a stunning feature for a child's bedroom all year round, replacing the traditional rocking horse of yesteryear.

My son has taken his out around our block a few times, and we even took it in the boot of the car to go visit Granny & Grandad's real horses.

Pony Cycles are great for exercise, and are also used widely in special needs schools for children with autism or Down's Syndrome.

The Pony Cycle company is owned locally, shipping from Derry, Northern Ireland, to locations all over the world. You can browse the collection online, and make purchases simply through their site. They also have an active Facebook account.

September 13, 2013

Gertrude Anna's Autumn/Winter Collection Includes an Ewok Print Satchel & Therefore It Wins Fashion

September 13, 2013/ Claire Spence

Gertrude Anna is the handmade work of mister Timmy White, a co-worker of mine from my Liberty Blue days, and a lover of 80s & 90s pop culture.

I had the pleasure of having a Gertrude Anna clutch bag made in He-Man fabric for my brother's wedding in June, and it got lots of compliments. Great for showing your weirdo side, if you're being 'well behaved' with the rest of your outfit.

Check out Timmy's latest pieces by staying up to date on the Gerty Facebook page. The Ewok satchel is a treat.

The Gerty site lists many different items you can order from Timmy in whichever fabrics you desire.

September 13, 2013

We're Going on the Johnny Cash Cruise

September 13, 2013/ Claire Spence

Earlier in the year you saw our super duper day cruise with Stena Line, the Pirates and Princesses' trip, which we loved. This autumn Stena are treating Northern Irish Sea lovers to a selection of evening cruises, departing and returning to Belfast. With entertainment and a meal on board, you can literally get away from your little darlings for the evening.

We are trying out the Johnny Cash cruise, with tribute band Keep It Cash. There are also cruise nights with country music, an ABBA tribute and Elvis impersonators. Each night is only £25, with food, so it's a surprisingly cheap night out. I'll maybe see you on board.