Diamonds - More Than Just A Girl's Best Friend

What's the first thing that comes into your head when you think of diamonds? Engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, a girl's best friend and all that jazz? It is for me. Beautiful and extravagant jewelry is what I associate diamonds with, but I have to say, now that I've read the Diversity of Diamonds by Element Six, I'm totally enlightened and amazed by the way in which they can be used. Here are some of the alternative ways that synthetic diamonds can be used.

Healthcare

Synthetic diamonds are invaluable in the healthcare industry and you may have reaped the benefits from them without even knowing. They are currently used when someone needs Radiotherapy or has to undergo minor operations. The use of this unique compound makes operations faster, which makes procedures easier for the patient. Hopefully, the use of synthetic diamonds will continue to grow in the healthcare industry as the benefits are astounding.

Automotive
Synthetic diamonds on cars? No, the diamonds aren't used for bling on the dashboard or for a bit of glamour on the upholstery, instead, they are vital components for various parts when it comes to automobiles. They are used for such tasks as building the engine, fixing up the gearbox and for the windows and body panels too.

Consumer Goods
You may not know this but many of the gadgets that we use on a day to day basis have been touched by the wonder that is synthetic diamonds. Speakers, tablets, and computers, to name a few! This component increases sound quality, provides more precision and faster speeds, just what everyone wants and needs when it comes to our electronics.

There are so many ways other ways in which synthetic diamonds can be used, it's such an invaluable component, one which I think will be used more frequently in upcoming years.

- This is a PR Collaboration.

My Sunday Photo - 37/52

Learning Resources Beaker Creatures - Review

It's no secret that we are huge fans of Learning Resources, they are firm favourites of ours. They are a company that we've followed for years and have worked with from time to time. They continue to push boundaries when it comes to educational toys and we are always excited to see what they'll release next. Beaker Creatures are one of their newest ranges and something that I thought would really interest Noah! Was I right?

We received three products for the purpose of this review; the Beaker Creatures 2-Pack with Bio Home, Beaker Creatures Magnification Chamber, and the Beaker Creatures Liquid Reactor Super Lab. Noah was delighted with this haul, as he knew it'd give him a great head start when it came to starting his Beaker Creatures collection! I let Noah choose which to open first and he decided to go for the Beaker Creatures 2-Pack with Bio Home, which I thought was a good choice because it looked quite straightforward to do. The Bio-Home is a great little starter pack which retails at just £10.00. It includes 7 pieces; a Beaker Creature Reactor Pod, Plastic Bio-Home, Two Classification Cards, Two mini posters, and a bonus Beaker Creature.

I had a bowl of water ready for Noah to start his experiment, in which he placed the Reactor Pod and watched it fizz away! The water turned bright green and left behind was a Beaker Creature, encased in a plastic pod, ready to be identified. You can do this either in or out of the Bio-Home but it features a built-in magnifier in the top for close-up viewing. It's also a great way to display a Beaker Creatures collection as they can be stacked on top of one another to save on space.

Next, we have the Beaker Creatures Magnification Chamber which retails at £15.00. Included in the set is a three piece Magnification Chamber, two Beaker Creature Reactor Pods, two Classification Cards, two double sided mini posters and an experiment guide.

Noah filled the chamber with water and poured onto the Reactor Pods. He did this in the same water, so the colours mixed and changed to a murky brown colour, which he loved! Yuck! The magnifying glass is a great addition, perfect for getting up close to those little Beaker Creatures.

Last, but not least is the Beaker Creatures Liquid Reactor Super Lab which retails at £25.00. This set certainly has the wow factor and includes so many items and accessories; the Liquid Reactor Super Lab Base, two beakers, two hydroplungers, tongs, a stirring rod, two Beaker Creature Reactor pods, two Classification Cards, two double sided mini posted, a full sized poster and an experiment guide.

I assembled this quickly and filled the syringes with water, then it was ready to go! Noah carefully lowered the Reactor Pod into the champer, pushed down the syringes and watched it fizz and pour everywhere! (Make sure to have towels ready!) This is another exciting way to discover and identify Beaker Creatures and a must have for every collection!

Well, what can I say? Learning Resources have gone and done it again! Beaker Creatures are collectibles with a difference, they are a fun way to learn through play. With over 35 different Beaker Creatures to collect I know what will be on Noah's Christmas list this year!

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

A Guide To The Ultimate City Break

Are you heading off to your favourite city in a few weeks’ time? Are you planning to switch off from making plans and simply wait for the first day of your break? Do you realise there are savings you could be making that will mean you’ve got more to spend on your holiday? Wherever you’ve decided to travel there are things you can do that will mean you get to have more fun. From saving on travel insurance to planning how you’re going to get around. Let’s look at some of the ways you can make savings before and while you’re enjoying your holiday.

Travel Insurance

You might not have bought yours yet so now’s the time to shop around for the best deal. There are a number of different comparison websites that will help you find the right level of cover at the best price. Don’t be tempted to skimp on buying it as you can never predict falling ill or being involved in an accident. The best travel insurance should also cover you for flight cancellations, loss of luggage and any special activities you’ll be taking part in.

Organise Your Currency

If you leave the exchanging of your currency until the last minute, you will be restricting your options. Changing currency at the airport can work out to be very expensive. It’s quick and easy to order a range of different currencies at your local bank, and it will mean you don’t get stung by high airport exchange charges. Unless you’re traveling somewhere very remote, you won’t need to carry much of the local currency anyway. A pre-paid currency card is one option worth looking in to, or you can use your regular credit or debit card for purchases.

Will You Need Airport Transfer?

Most city airports, including those in London, are not located in the middle of the city. To get into the city centre, for example, to take advantage of a London attractions offers, you’ll need to get a train or bus. However, if you need to travel somewhere a little more out of the way and airport transfer service may be the better option. It is also something you can organise well in advance. There’s nothing worse than arriving in a city and having no idea how you’re going to get to your hotel.

How Are You Going to Get Around When You Arrive?

The answer to this question will depend on the city you’ve decided to visit. The very nature of a city should mean there are a variety of transport methods to choose from. Before you travel, spend some time researching your options. You need to find a way that’s convenient, flexible, cheap and the best. Many cities offer cheaper options for travel if you book for a few days in advance. Barcelona offers a two-day card that includes unlimited public transport. An Oyster card that can be bought for traveling around London is 50% cheaper than a regular travel card.

Whether you’re going away for a short city break of planning a trip for much longer, don’t sit on your laurels and wait for the first day of your holiday. Spend the time looking for deals and special offers. You’ll be glad you did when you get there because you’ll have more money to spend.

- This is a PR collaboration.

Count With Peppa Interactive Money Box - Review & Giveaway

Peppa is a very popular pig in our house, just like most homes across the UK. Noah's been a fan ever since he was a baby and Ava has also followed suit! I'm so happy that I get to relive it all over again, yay for me! In all seriousness, it's great that they both like it because it means that there's at least one cartoon that they'll both happily sit and watch together. With the kids being such big fans, I was happy to have the chance to review one of the latest Peppa Pig toys from Trends UK.

We received the Count With Me Peppa Interactive Money Box for the purpose of this review, which I was delighted about as it looked like something both children would enjoy. As soon as Ava saw the box she started screaming "Peppa!" in the highest pitched voice you could ever imagine! She couldn't wait to play with it!

The money box is made from brightly coloured plastic and shaped just like Peppa Pig. It comes with 10 interactive plastic coins which display different characters, colours, and numbers. They are quite large, just the right size for little hands to grab.

I think this toy is pretty self-explanatory, you put the coins into the money box, which is entertaining enough for little ones but there's so much more to it than that. Batteries aren't supplied but once they've been added, the fun turns up a notch! There are two different modes of play and a total of eight different activities. Depending on which mode it's set to, Peppa will ask for different coins to be inserted. This is a great way for little ones to learn through play, whilst keeping them busy and entertained. Peppa recognises which coins have been inserted and will respond to the action.

Ava adores the Count With Peppa Interactive Money Box, I'd go as far as saying it's her new favourite toy! She spends so much time placing the different coins into the money box and then fishes them back out again. She also enjoys singing and dancing to the three songs that it plays. The three songs are hits from the TV show; The Rainbow Song, The Counting Song and Head, Shoulders, Knee's and Toes. I was so relieved that The Bing Bong song wasn't included! Speaking of relief, you can also change the volume which I'm sure that my fellow parents would be pleased to know! All fun aside, this is going to be a great resource to use over the next couple of years when it comes to teaching Ava her colours and numbers.

The Count With Peppa Interactive Money Box is suitable from 18 months to 4 years, and retails at £19.99. Now, how would you like to win a Count With Peppa Interactive Money Box? It would make a great Christmas present! To enter, simply use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

Count With Peppa Interactive Money Box Toy

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who will choose one of the prizes mentioned above.
2. Winners details sent to the PR to arrange the prize. 
3. Competition ends 14/10/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only

Living Arrows #7 - Starting School

Noah started school last week and it's been such an emotional rollercoaster, for both of us. I'm still struggling to comprehend how four and a half years can fly by so quickly? It doesn't feel that long ago that I was writing his birth story or his nursery updates and now he's at school! It's crazy to think that he'll graduate high school in 2030!

He's been at school for a week now, starting with two half days but now in full time. He's taken the transition pretty well but he cries when I drop him off. He tries so much to hold back the tears but it's something he's always struggled with, that initial goodbye. I'm sure he'll overcome it in his own time, just like he did when he was at nursery. 

Crying aside, he's really enjoying it! More than half his class are from nursery, so he's surrounded by lots of friends. His older cousin is also at the same school so he makes sure to give Noah a big cuddle every lunch time. I'm so proud of him and can't wait to see him flourish whilst at school.