Project 365 - Week 12/52
18th March 2018
19th March 2018
20th March 2018
21st March 2018
22nd March 2018
23rd March 2018
24th March 2018
I cannot believe how fast this year is going! We are almost at the end of March and it's nearly Easter. We've had a lovely week, starting with my Mum's 50th on Sunday. We decided to invite and cook her a meal to celebrate. We let Noah choose her birthday cake too and he chose a pug cake for her, ha ha. Noah was back at Nursery this week, after a week off at Center Parcs. He was so happy to go back to see all his friends. Everyone wanted to know what he'd got up to and apparently he was telling everyone that his lodge was called 20 Badger Wood! Nursery had Easter themed activities all week and on Wednesday he came home with a chocolate crispy cake they'd all made together. On Thursday is was time for Ava's session at Hartbeeps, the best baby group we've ever been to. This was also Easter themed, with shaky eggs, egg baskets, rabbits, bunny ears, songs, bubble machines, foam machines, puppets and so much more! Ava enjoyed herself so much and is such a social butterfly. We then enjoyed the afternoon at the park before heading to pick up Noah from nursery. Then we all played in the garden together, it was great. It's made me excited for lazy afternoons in the garden once the sun returns. The rest of the week was spent visiting family and shopping!
What have you been up to this week?
What have you been up to this week?
Teletubbies Twist n Chime Figures & Dipsy Talking Soft Toy - Review
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it delights me that Teletubbies are still around for my children to enjoy. I adored them back when I was a kid and I have so many fond memories of watching the Teletubbies with my younger siblings. It's lovely to be able to relive that with my own children.
We've reviewed Teletubbies toys in the past, the last one being the Shuffle n Giggle Ping so I was very happy to accept some of their latest toys to try out. We were sent the full range of the new Twist n Chime toys and a Talking Soft Toy for the purpose of this review. I couldn't wait to see what Ava thought of them.
First we have the Talking 8" Soft Toy. We didn't know which would arrive and on opening we discovered that we had Dipsy! He's so adorable and just the right size for Ava to carry around. Simply press his tummy and he speaks all the Teletubbies phrases and noises that we all know and love. Not only is he great for chatting with but he's also great for cuddling as he's so soft and squishy! At just £9.99 each these talking soft toys won't break the bank either, the perfect excuse to buy them all.
Next we have the Twist n Chime figure's which are just a delight to look at and are such great quality too. They look like their going to withstand some rough and tumble which is great because the kids can be a little heavy handed at times. They fit nicely in the palm of your hand, they are the perfect shape and size for little hands to grasp and explore.
They are great little figures on their own accord but they have a lovely feature where you twist them and they make a chime noise. I only had to show Ava a couple of times before she figured out how to do it herself. She beams from ear to ear when she hears that little jingle! She's taken such a shine to them and I often see her role play with them which is very endearing to see at her age. The Twist n Chime toys retail at just £4.99 each which I think is fantastic value for money.
We love our new Teletubbies toys and we can't wait to see what they'll release next. These toys are suitable from 18 months through to 3 years and are available now online and at Argos.
We love our new Teletubbies toys and we can't wait to see what they'll release next. These toys are suitable from 18 months through to 3 years and are available now online and at Argos.
- We were sent these products for the purpose of this review however all opinions are my own.
Combatting Exhaustion - Here's How To Do It
This is a PR collaboration
Tired. We all feel it and we all feel it in different ways. Whether you are getting exhausted from staring at a screen all day or you're tired out from your kids, you need to figure out what you can do to combat this exhaustion as much as possible. Getting fatigued is extremely common, but the unwritten rule is that we don't talk about getting too tired. You're supposed to wear it like a horrible badge of honor, and yet you don't have to be as tired as you currently are. So, with this in mind, we've got a few suggestions for combating exhaustion. You can stop rubbing your eyes so hard for a change! Let's dive in.
Keep Eating.
You may have been conditioned to eat three big meals a day, but really you don't have to. You can eat smaller, more filling meals throughout the day and keep your energy levels up this way. Food gives us all the energy we need, and it contains all of the nutrients that our bodies need to remain awake and moving throughout the day. Frequent eating - for some - leads to weight gain, which is something to avoid. However, if you have a distinct lack of food throughout the day, your energy levels will dip. So, focus on keeping up with meals of fruit, veggies, and protein, and don't fill up on processed sugars. You could also look into supplements, such as Energy Renew, to help you maintain good energy levels so that you can go about your days as normal.
Prevention.
Exhaustion often is a result of overwork and undersleeping. Your eyes will feel dry and scratchy throughout the day as a result, but if you have Viscotears for dry eyes on hand, you can prevent this from happening. Eyes getting too tired can interrupt your day, and you can prevent that from happening with the feelings of fatigue far easier to combat - especially at work. Preventing your feelings of exhaustion with eye drops, cool wipes on the skin, and a moment to breathe away from your computer.
Keep Moving.
You may think you're too tired to manage some exercise, but even something as simple as a walk will make a huge difference to your exhaustion levels. The body shouldn't stay still for too long, so if you feel yourself dragging, it's time to get up and stretch, jog on the spot or have a walk around the block. When you try to do any physical activity next time, you will get too tired if you do too much after a period of sitting for too long. So, make sure that you keep moving at least once an hour.
Lower Your Weight.
If you are currently heavier than you are comfortable with, then you need to think about losing some of the weight. your body is under a lot of strain when it's carrying extra weight, and it's one of the biggest reasons you are feeling fatigued if you are overweight. When the body carries all of that around, it's exhausting for your limbs and your organs. Your heart, especially, feels the extra burden and cannot beat as effectively.
Sleep. Every single night, you should be getting at least six hours of sleep. Even if you have children and you have to wake up through the night, you need to consider trying your best to keep your sleeping routine up as much as possible. Ideally, you need at least eight hours, so if it's a possibility, sleep isn't something that you should be compromising on. Life is exhausting, and you should do all that you can to make it easier on yourself. Avoid Stress. In a world where you are trying to balance work, social life, parenting, and more, stress comes with the territory and you need to try to minimize it as much as possible. Try your best to avoid situations that leave you feeling burnt out and stressed, and you will be able to feel more alive rather than exhausted all the time. Your brain needs to be able to shut off from time to time, and reducing your stress is important to enabling that to happen. Ditch The Coffee. Your coffee habit could be causing your exhaustion and if you are drinking too much of it you should cut it right back. You get the caffeine high, but the drop is just as exhausting as anything else. You need to relax sometimes but if caffeine is firing your body up, you're going to find that you are easily fatigued as a result. Working overtime is not easy and you shouldn't have to do it any more than is necessary.
Sleep. Every single night, you should be getting at least six hours of sleep. Even if you have children and you have to wake up through the night, you need to consider trying your best to keep your sleeping routine up as much as possible. Ideally, you need at least eight hours, so if it's a possibility, sleep isn't something that you should be compromising on. Life is exhausting, and you should do all that you can to make it easier on yourself. Avoid Stress. In a world where you are trying to balance work, social life, parenting, and more, stress comes with the territory and you need to try to minimize it as much as possible. Try your best to avoid situations that leave you feeling burnt out and stressed, and you will be able to feel more alive rather than exhausted all the time. Your brain needs to be able to shut off from time to time, and reducing your stress is important to enabling that to happen. Ditch The Coffee. Your coffee habit could be causing your exhaustion and if you are drinking too much of it you should cut it right back. You get the caffeine high, but the drop is just as exhausting as anything else. You need to relax sometimes but if caffeine is firing your body up, you're going to find that you are easily fatigued as a result. Working overtime is not easy and you shouldn't have to do it any more than is necessary.
PJ Masks Series 2 & Our Exclusive Viewing Party
There's a couple of children's shows that I don't just grit my teeth and tolerate but enjoy just as much as my kids! PJ Masks is one of them, my favourite actually. I'll happily cuddle up on the sofa with Noah and watch an episode with him. We've watched the first series so many times, so much so that we know the words in some places!
You can imagine my delight when I was told that the action packed adventures of Cat Boy, Gekko and Owelette are back on the 28th of March, for series 2! Not only that but I was invited to host my own exclusive home viewing party for the kids. During the party we would be able to watch the first two episodes of series 2 before they air, and we received a box full of PJ Masks goodies too.
We were sent a big box of branded products; a Gekko character 3d mask, an art and creativity set, a glow in the dark puzzle, an inflatable chair, a Cat Boy bedding set, a stamp and colour set, PJ Masks blind bag, and party wear (banner, plates, cups, balloons, invites, table cover and napkins!) All of which are available on Amazon. You should have seen Noah's face when we opened the box! It was priceless and the Gekko mask (RRP: £9.99) went on straight away and he's dropping hints that we need the other two too.
The PJ Masks glow in the dark puzzle (RRP: £7.99) was out the box in minutes as Noah insisted on doing it right away. With it being a 60 piece puzzle it took us quite some time and once it was complete he was so proud of himself! He actually asked to put it on his wall, not sure how we can do that without sticking it all together though, ha ha.
Another firm favourite has got to be the inflatable chair (RRP: £9.99) which I bribed my better half to blow up, as it took quite some effort. It's the perfect chair to sit and relax in ready for the new series and i ideal for every PJ Masks fan out there. The Cat Boy bedding set (RRP: £25.93) is also a must have and is now Noah's favourite bedding!
The Carry Along Art Case (RRP: £7.99) and the Sticker Set (RRP: 4.99) were thoroughly enjoyed during our PJ Masks screening party and Noah may have gotten a little stamp happy as he decided to decorate his hand with them. I know these will be a god send during half term too, they'll keep him very busy that's for sure.
After we had played and done some crafting it was time to sit down with some snacks and enjoy the screening. The first two episodes of series 2 are called Moonfizzle Balls and Soccer Ninjalinos and both had us glued to the screen! We cannot wait to watch more of the series and we just know it'll be as popular as the first.
The eagerly anticipated new series launches on Disney Junior at 4.30pm on Wednesday 28th March. Tune in every following Wednesday at 4.45pm to see the brand-new episodes.
- We were sent these products for the purpose of this post however all opinions are my own.
My First Baby Annabell & My First Baby Annabell Brother - Review
Baby Annabell are one of the most popular dolls here in the UK, and have been for the past 15 years. This doesn't surprise me at all as they are a favourite of ours too, for numerous reasons. These lifelike baby dolls enable realistic nurturing role play, building a bridge to the real baby world and allowing children to be like their own parents. This creates a social emotional bond and encourages key social skills from an early age and why they are important for both girls and boys alike.
Zapf keep their catalogue fresh and exciting by regularly introducing new products to their already extensive range of toys. A few weeks ago we were given a sneak peak of their SS18 collection and I was asked if we'd like to choose a couple of toys to review.
After a quick browse I decided to go for the My First Baby Annabell and the My First Baby Annabell Brother dolls. We already have a few of the regular Baby Annabell's but they are a bit big for Ava at the moment. I knew that these would be the perfect first baby dolls for her being smaller and lighter.
I think that baby dolls can be hit and miss when it comes to how they look, sometimes they can look quite creepy, but as you can see these dolls are so adorable! They have the sweetest faces, a cute button nose, rosebud lips and big round eyes. They are similar in appearance but Annabell has big blue eyes and wears a pink sleep suit and matching hat where as Alexander has big brown eyes and wears blue. Both dolls come with a bottle and a removable hat. They compliment one another so well, they are the perfect set of twins!
The My First Baby Annabell and My First Baby Annabell Brother are classed as the beginner’s version Baby Annabell as they are slightly smaller at 36 cm long. They have sleeping eyes which close when led down and open again once sitting. They are a great way to gently encourages young children to engage in role play and provides initial stimuli for developing a sense of empathy and responsibility.
Ava has been quite taken with the pair of them and is always offering a bottle to them both, though I'm surprised she hasn't tried to breastfeed them yet! She tries to undress them and has even tried to put her shoes on them. I often find her cuddling them, their soft bodies make for great hugs. I think she'll grow to love them more and more as she gets older.
My First Baby Annabell and My First Baby Annabell Brother are suitable for children from 1 year old, are available online and at most good toy stores at just £19.99 each.
- I was sent these products for the purpose of this review however all opinions are my own.