Chic Geek Diary

Appy Kids Drinks - Review & Competition

I've never had an issue with Noah when it comes to food and drink. He's always ate whatever has been put in front of him and he also doesn't have a problem drinking water, he's really good that way. That being said every now and again I like to treat him to a juice carton which he always finds exciting and really enjoys. Appy Kids are a juice brand that I'd heard around the blogging community but hadn't tried them before so when I was asked if Noah would like sample some of their drinks I happily obliged.

We were sent a couple of packs of the Orange & Pineapple/Spongebob, Tropical/Dora the Explorer and Apple & Blackcurrant/Turtles cartons to try out. When they arrived I noted how attractive they look and I love how they incorporate such beloved characters onto their drinks. I made the mistake of opening the box in front of Noah just as he was having his breakfast so I couldn't refuse letting him try one straight away. All three flavours were liked by Noah but his favourite by far was the orange and pineapple. So much so that every time I opened the fridge he would shout bob bob at the top of his voice!

Appy Kids don't just get a thumbs up from Noah though as they also get one from me too. What I love about Appy Kids drinks is that they are made from natural ingredients, are low calorie, low in sugar and contain no artificial flavourings or colours. Appy Kids drinks are perfect for a treat every now and again and are ideal for trips out and for picnics. I would definitely buy them again and you can too at stockists such as Tesco, Ocado and Whole Foods.

I've teamed up with Appy Kids to give away a hamper of their fabulous drinks, see the photo below. If you'd like to win make sure to enter using the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

Terms & Conditions.
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize supplied directly from the PR.
3. Competition ends 15/08/16
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.

A walk in the park

Yesterday was one of those days were I felt sheer and utter contentment and I just had to write all about it. Back when my maternity leave ended almost two years ago I was faced with a big dilemma which you can read all about here and in the end chose to not return back to work. I can safely say that it was one of the best decisions I ever made and there hasn't been a fraction of a second where I've regretted it. Perhaps if it was a job in which I enjoyed or a job in which I was valued but it wasn't.

Being a stay at home mum can sometimes be harder than going to a full time job because there are no breaks, especially when they drop a nap. You also get zero adult conversation so sometimes I miss that but I wouldn't trade my position for the world. By staying at home with Noah I've seen every milestone, heard every new word, wiped every snotty nose and kissed every grazed knee. I wouldn't of had it any other way.

As I said in my opening paragraph yesterday was one of those days were I appreciated every moment. The sun was shining and after lunch we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Towneley Park. This is just a 15 minute walk from our house and surrounded my dense woods, ponds, parks, cafe's and even has it's own museum and art gallery.

Once we got there our first stop was to the park, Noah's favourite place. He hogged the swings for a little while before heading over to the giant sand pit where he ended up falling bum first into a moat of water some children had built. So he had a sandy and wet bum for the rest of the day but he didn't seem to mind! We then walked up to the cafe where Noah enjoyed an ice cream and I drank a diet coke in the sun. He then decided to show off in front of everyone there and ended up making friends with half a dozen old ladies.

We then headed for Towneley Hall which is the heart of Burnley. It's a beautiful historical building which has now been converted into a museum and art gallery. We've been bringing Noah here ever since he was born but he's recently started to really appreciate it and is eager to learn and explore. His favourite things to view are the Egyptian Mummies, the puzzles and the animal and wildlife room. I like the art gallery on the top floor where there's a painting of the behind of a greek god and Noah shouted "Daddy's bum!" on the top of his voice! Toddlers are a laugh a minute aren't they?

We spent a good hour walking around the huge building, up and down many flights of stairs, even took a few rides in the lift. It was lovely to have that one on one time with no distractions. I'm already thinking of taking him back at the weekend because he seems to enjoy it so much!

By the time we had our fill of the hall we had an hour to burn before Nick met us after he finished work so we took to the fields. Like all toddlers Noah loves running round and burning off some steam and at one point he was running so fast that his pants and undies fell down and he just stood there laughing his head off. Thankfully there wasn't anyone around to witness that part, ha ha.

Once Nick arrived we spent another half an hour running about and playing catch before we headed home for the night. We had such a great day and I can't wait to repeat it again soon.

Have you had a day lately where you get in bed at night and think "today was a good day!?" I'd love to hear about it!

aden + anais Disney Collection - Competition

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, aden + anais has collaborated with Disney Baby for its first-ever Disney-inspired collection. Combining the magic of soft, breathable muslin with the wonder of Disney, the aden + anais x Disney Baby collection includes a range of the lifestyle baby brand’s most popular styles in 100% cotton muslin, featuring illustrations of iconic Disney characters. Launching across Europe in June 2016, these hand-sketched, nostalgic designs are sure to delight everyone, from little ones to the young at heart.

Commenting on the partnership, aden + anais’ co-founder Raegan Moya-Jones shares her longtime love of all things Disney: “I, like everyone else in the world, grew up with the magic of Disney around me. My four girls love Disney as much as I did, and it’s a dream come true for aden + anais to have created a range in partnership with them. Disney is such an innovative brand, always looking to push its creativity to the next level and strive to create something beyond the ordinary. It is wonderful that their vision has extended to aden + anais.”

Both Disney and aden + anais are known for designing products with parents and babies in mind and share a commitment to reaching the highest possible standards in terms of quality and innovation. The aden + anais and Disney Baby collaboration is no exception. aden + anais’ signature muslin will feature iconic prints depicting three of Disney’s most popular stories: Winnie the Pooh (bottom right), Bambi (bottom left) and The Jungle Book (centre). The products will be sold through aden + anais retailers throughout Europe and through the aden + anais website: www.adenandanais.co.uk

Bambi
This muslin collection’s ornate patterns and intricate details capture the enchanting world of Bambi. aden + anais’ vibrant hand-drawn designs feature original Disney art that has been water-painted for a beautiful vintage feel. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys, dream blanket and burpy bibs.

Winnie the Pooh
Drawing inspiration from the original storybook, this muslin collection features classic vignettes from Winnie the Pooh’s whimsical adventures. aden + anais enhanced the original black and white illustrations with splashes of colour for an authentic, storybook look. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys, dream blanket and burpy bibs.

The Jungle Book
Colourful and fun, this muslin collection features graphic prints that are a playful celebration of The Jungle Book. aden + anais depicted Mowgli and his friends in bright colours and energetic postures to capture the spirit of this classic tale. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys and burpy bibs.

As a fan of both aden + anais and Disney I'm naturally a huge fan of this collaboration! To celebrate the launch of this exciting new range I've teamed up to give away a Dream Blanket worth £44.95 in either the Bambi or Winnie the Pooh print, winners choice! To enter all you need to do is use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

Terms & Conditions.
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize supplied directly from the PR.
3. Competition ends 12/08/16
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.

My Sunday Photo - 27/52

Project 365 - Week 26

26th June - 2nd July

26/06/16

27/06/16

28/06/16

29/06/16

30/06/16

01/07/16

02/07/16

This week hasn't be a good one if I'm being totally honest. I've had the flu and I've not been that ill for years. On top of that the weather has been miserable out so we've not been able to get out in the fresh air as much as we usually do. On the plus side Noah has been good as gold, like he usually is and he's understood that Mummy has been poorly and he's made the week as stress free as it possibly could be. It's now Saturday and I'm feeling loads better and we've spent the morning building towers and having a dance off! Things are picking up, that's for sure! Here's to a better week next week!

What have you been up to this week?

Bathing Bunnies - Review & Competition

Bath time is a key part in every parenting routine. No matter what age your little one is and whether you bath them every night, every other night, in the morning or at bedtime. With every bath time comes lots of bubbles and lots of fun and our favourite part are the cuddles afterwards when Noah is all wrapped up nice and clean in a warm towel.

I was recently asked if we would like to review a towel or robe from a company that was brand new to us. Bathing Bunnies is a small UK business who pride themselves on creating the highest quality and luxury towelling gifts for babies and toddlers. Their range stretches from baby bath towels through to toddler towels and even baby bibs and mitts too! Bathing Bunnies claim that their baby towels are unlike any others as they are superior quality and supreme comfort. They only use the best heavy weight 100% cotton terry towelling and their towels and robes are just as soft wash after wash.

The Bathing Bunnies collection come in a range of different colours, pink, blue, lemon, green and earth tones too in their designs of both baby towels through to toddler robes. I love the wide range of different animal and themed designs and chose the Lion toddler robe for Noah to review after a few minutes of deliberation.

As mentioned previously I chose the Lion toddler robe as I love Noah in yellow and also think it's lovely and gender neutral too. When the robe arrived it was presented really neatly with a bow and a Bathing Bunnies label, it would make the most perfect gift. I also noticed straight away how soft it was and it was just as soft after a couple of pre washes.

I adore everything about the robe from how soft it is through to the lion detailing on the hood. I also think it's generously sized as although it's designed to fit 1-3 year olds Noah is two and half and there's still so much room to grow into. The toddler robes cost £24.99 which I think is quite reasonable for the quality and for how many years this will last for too.

How would you like to win your own toddler robe from Bathing Bunnies? To enter all you need to do is use the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

Terms & Conditions.
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize supplied directly from the PR.
3. Competition ends 07/08/16
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.