Baby Annabell Milly Feels Better Doll, Medical Scanner & Clothing Assortment - Review & Giveaway


AD - We were sent this product for the purpose of this review, however, all opinions are my own.


Babies and role-playing are two of Ava's favourite things - she spends most of her time role-playing. Sometimes she's a dentist, doctor, or vet, and other times she's a teacher, singer, or wrestler (that's my girl) usually with a doll or two under her arm! With this in mind, I knew the Baby Annabell Medical Scanner would be a great toy for her and I was delighted to review it for her.

Please note that the Baby Annabell Milly Feels Better Doll that's mentioned in this post was not sent to review, however, with it being the perfect doll for the scanner (with her poorly red cheeks and reacting to the medicine spoon) I thought it was worth mentioning so you can see them both in action. You can read more about the doll on the Zapf website. Other dolls can obviously be used too.


The Baby Annabell Scanner is designed to help Baby Annabell feel better, in particular, the Milly Feels Better Doll - who reacts to some of the accessories. Included is the medical scanner and 10 medical accessories, including a stethoscope, medicine spoon, thermometer, pager, and many more. There's even a handy little drawer on the side of the scanner for you to store a couple of them.


Simply roll or hold the scanner over the spot that is poorly or hurts and the display on the scanner will tell you what is wrong - it also shows you what cure is needed/ which accessory to then use next. The SOS ambulance button is a nice touch. The scanner has various light and sound functions so batteries are required - x3 AA batteries which and not included.

There are so many ways to play with the scanner and Ava has had hours of fun with it already. She likes to use the stethoscope first to examine her patient, taking the temperature with the thermometer, giving injections and medicine. The Baby Annabell Scanner is suitable for children from 3 years of age, retails at £29.99 and is available to buy online and in-store at most leading retailers. 


I was also sent two sets of clothing/accessories for Baby Annabell, one of which I have set aside for this competition. Ava had to have first dibs on the Baby Annabell Sweet Dreams Pyjamas - she squealed when she saw them. The top is so soft and fluffy, just like the ones Ava likes to wear to bed. The colours and design are so sweet, and realistic - I could actually see something like this on a real baby. I found them easy to put on the doll which will be great for when Ava starts wanting to dress the dolls herself. The set retails at £15.99 and comes with a reusable coat hanger, and teething ring.

How would you like to win two pairs of Baby Annabell tights? To enter simply use the Gleam form below and don't forget to enter my other blog and social media competitions!

2 Pairs of Baby Annabell Tights

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winners who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Winners details will be shared with the PR to arrange delivery of the prize. 
3. Competition ends 29/02/20.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only. 18 years old to enter.

Living Arrows - January 2020


It's been a minute since I last took the time to post something like this, in fact, it was last summer that I last linked up with Living Arrows - weirdly enough Ava is wearing the exact same hoodie in both posts! She hardly ever wears it too!


I'll be honest, I'm a bit disappointed in myself as somewhere in the midst of 2019 I lost direction with my blog. I was mainly focusing on brand work and forgetting what the essence of this space is; my family. I'm going to make it my mission this year to get the balance a little bit better - watch this space!

So, one of my first posts of the year (and many more to come) has got to be of Noah and Ava at their Great Grandparents house one Sunday afternoon, building train tracks. We visit them every Sunday, they are in their 80's, absolutely dote on the kids and the feeling is totally mutual. Family is so very important to us.


Living Arrows

The Benefits of Drama Classes for Children

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Drama is a fun and a welcome break for children who spend the rest of the day in a normal classroom setting. But do drama classes actually provide children with any real benefit, in terms of their overall education? Well, while drama may not seem as important of subjects like English, Science, and Maths, it’s actually great for teaching students a range of soft skills that they can transfer to other lessons and beyond. It’s also an opportunity for them to develop greater self-awareness. I have teamed up with a private school in Hampstead to explore the benefits of drama classes for children in greater detail below.

One of the main advantages of drama being part of the school curriculum is that it helps students develop confidence. Children are encouraged to perform coherently in front of their peers and potentially even a bigger audience, instantly encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and take a risk. When that risk pays off and they receive praise for their performance, they will receive a well-deserved self-esteem boost. Even constructive criticism can help with their confidence because it allows them to understand that they are forever growing and improving.

When a child feels confident in their abilities, they may feel more comfortable raising their hand in other lessons and contributing to class discussions. This is great for their overall academic performance because it will help them to feel more engaged.

As mentioned above, drama lessons can help a child learn about themselves. When embodying a character, they may find that they can relate to certain feelings and experiences. Alternatively, they might not be able to relate to the character at all, which might help them feel grateful or inspire them to make certain changes.

In addition, drama is a great for a child’s communication and social skills. When reading scripts, they may develop a more advanced vocabulary. They will also learn about how body language and facial expressions can portray a certain emotion, helping them understand how to express themselves. In drama classes, students are also encouraged to work as a team and support one another so that the performance can run smoothly. They must take turns and value one another’s thoughts and opinions. These are all vital social skills that can help students in all other areas of their lives.

The Benefits of School Trips for Children


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School trips can offer enriching educational experiences that build on classroom taught subjects in a way that inspires intrigue and develops understanding. From day trips to a local museum to residentials overseas, these opportunities offer your child a chance to expand their knowledge and build valuable life skills. A prep school in Oxfordshire has shared its thoughts on the benefits of school trips for children. Keep reading to find out more.

Reinforced Knowledge
Visiting a museum or cultural heritage site fortifies existing knowledge with hands-on experience. School trips bring topics to life and allow children to experience subjects outside of the pages of their textbooks. Interactive learning often leads to a deeper understanding as children link the memories they are making to the information they are learning, proving effective for exam season as children tend to recall this information more readily.

Confidence and Life Skills
School trips, particularly residential allow your child to experience life outside their comfort zone. If your child has the option to go on a residential trip you should encourage them to get involved. Residential visits usually feature a range of activities designed to build confidence and develop life skills, a golden opportunity they won’t want to miss out on. These trips also help children who are struggling with social skills. Taking pupils away from a classroom setting and getting them to work together in ways they've not experienced before encourages different social dynamics, leading to new friendships being forged.

Cultural Understanding
Travel gives us the opportunity to learn about other cultures and people in a way that can't be replicated in a classroom setting. Whether it be a trip to another part of the UK or somewhere overseas, exposing your child to places outside of what's familiar will allow them to experience life through the lens of other people, encouraging them to celebrate diversity and embrace other cultures.

Supporting Your Child Through Exam Period

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If your child has exams coming up and is in need of some extra support, it’s essential to provide them with the right space, tools, and guidance to help them in one of the most stressful times for children. In this guide from a nursery in Taunton, we take a look at some ways you can help your child with their exams.

Provide them with the means to study quietly
This goes beyond the essentials of having a table and chair to work with. Have a dedicated space for your child to work. If you don’t have a study area in your home then look to make a space in your living room or kitchen for your child to work in, or make a space in their bedroom to work (so long as you remove distractions!)

A quiet space means the study space should be away from loud noises, so if you have lots of children running around or the TV turned all the way up at times, then your child’s studying space should be away from these distractions so that they can focus.

Set up their space so they can get straight into studying
After dinner children probably want to jump into studying. It’s a quick and easy motivation for your child to get into the groove of when they’re meant to be revising hard for exams, and it can get them into a good routine. Ensure that all they need to do is head to their desk with their books and writing materials so that there’s minimal fuss and they can start revising straight away.

If you can, get an organiser for all of their books, or a box or drawers to place exactly where their books are by subject so that they can jump in and grab what they need before revising. This also gives them the motivation at the start of their revision session to get things done and in a timely manner.

4 Unique Polish Cities To Consider Visiting


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Poland is one of those lesser-known European destinations that people typically don’t speak about. Sure, a lot of the western European locations like Spain and France are a bit more developed and popular with tourists, but that doesn’t mean that locations such as Poland aren’t interesting or unique in their own right. So to help you out, we’ve put together a short list of four unique Polish cities that you should absolutely consider visiting when you next have a chance to go on holiday.


1. Krakow
Krakow is a city that everyone falls in love with at first sight. It’s an incredibly modern-looking city with crowded streets, fancy restaurants, unique architecture and a plethora of museums. Attractions such as the Krakow salt mines are incredibly unique and interesting places to visit because of the rich history it has. You’ll find that Krakow is full of these kinds of destinations and it’ll feel a lot like large metropolis cities that you can find all over the world. However, its architectural design and overall feel are much different, contributing to a wonderful experience that is highly recommended if you ever find yourself visiting Poland.

2. Toruń
Toruń is filled with architectural structures such as old churches, castles and towers. It’s an incredibly picturesque city that has managed to preserve its history incredibly well. We highly suggest taking a visit to Toruń if you want to see an older side of Poland away from all of the modern innovations design styles. It’s a far cry from the avant-garde styling of Krakow and creates a wonderful contrast of what Poland has to offer.

3. Zakopane
Zakopane is a famous mountain town in Poland that deserves as both a domestic and international tourist destination thanks to its snowy environment. This makes it a wonderful place to go skiing if you’re into extreme sports. You can also come here to try traditional Polish food, dance to energetic highlander music and admire the unique architecture of Zakopane.

4. Warsaw
Let’s finish our list with the capital itself; Warsaw. As the most famous and well-known city of Poland, you can expect Warsaw to be filled with unique attractions, monuments, historical sites and a lot more. Whether it’s the Royal Castle that you want to explore, exciting events to participate in or the mix of old and modern architecture, it’s certainly a city that will impress everyone that walks through it.

While travelling to Poland might be a little daunting for inexperienced travellers, it’s actually a great location to start if you want to explore more of what the continent has to offer. With vast landscapes, picturesque cities and an endless list of attractions to visit, you’ll never have a boring day when visiting Poland. If it is your first time, then we highly suggest taking a look at a Polish travel guide for more suggestions on cities to visit, highlights to take an interest in and even activities that you should absolutely try!