Posts by jo

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15/05/201326/01/2014 by jo

My Morphy Richards Soup Maker Six Months On

My most popular post on here is easily my gushing about my soup maker. It was bought last October/November time and has been used a minimum of two times a week since. We love our soup! Especially when it’s so easy.

There’s been a few things that I thought were worth mentioning as a follow-up.

I’ve had times when the blade of the soup maker hasn’t gone down all the way – and at the first whizz about fifteen minutes in, it’ll make the lid of the soup maker open, breaking the cycle. My solution? Before you start the cycle give your veg a quick blend on that setting for about five seconds, while holding the lid firmly – then if anything is likely to block it, it’ll be a bit mashed up. So far every time I’ve done that it hasn’t popped open.

The soup is hot. Very hot – though I’ve found pouring H’s portion when it has finished, then ours at the time we’ll eat means it’s just right. I’ve also come to my portion an hour and a half later and it has still been warm (as long as the lid is kept on!).

One of the stands on the bottom came off – I’m not sure how, and they’re not the easiest to get back in! With one missing it hasn’t made things noisier, though I’m keeping a close eye – it looks like the kind of thing that would go back in with the help of a narrow screwdriver.

I’ve not been very adventurous with recipes recently – we’re tired and it’s always a random concoction of vegetables. I need some inspiration! Having just passed the Cinco de Mayo maybe we should have had a mexican twist to our soup tonight (butternut squash, carrot and broccoli) – so I’m going to have a think – I’m thinking tomato, coriander, chili and some lime… mmm!

So, six months in was it worth the money? Definitely. It is used as much as our breadmaker (a minimum of two times a week) and makes meals after work so much easier as we always cook from fresh. I love the extra time I have with H, and the soup is almost always tasty (I had one disaster when I added an orange).

In summary, it still gets the thumbs up here – though I’ll be working on a gazpacho recipe – which will need to be prepared the night before I guess, to get it properly chilled!

13/05/201328/01/2014 by jo

Film Review – Playing For Keeps

This one for me has quite a mixed review. At first I quite liked the film – I’ve never seen anything with Gerard Butler in it and had to google him as I wasn’t sure if he really is scottish or if he was trying to do the accent (he is), but a film which is based on football is always a good thing in my book. The football matches with him edited in kind of amused me and I thought it was all set to go in a good way. He’s retired from the game and wants to be a sports presenter on tv.

BUT THEN

Enter three women, one of which you have had some respect for as an actress, playing dim, WAG-esque ladies throwing themselves at the footballers feet, and suddenly things aren’t so enjoyable any more.

The football takes a back seat. Catherine Zeta Jones was particularly annoying. Sorry Catherine. Uma Thurman I was disappointed in… Uma, you were fabulous in Pulp Fiction and all those other films around then – what are you doing?! Dennis Quaid is the husband who throws around cash to make sure his daughter is included and sweeps Gerard Butler off his feet with flash cars and more. As Shaun put it, “Dennis Quaid is going to be a moral quandary in this film” (which he was).

BUT

The football element of the film gets quite lovely at times – a former player who becomes coach for kids and shows them how to play. I wish it had been a bigger focus rather than one for the women – oh, and the three annoying women are married too, of course. Apart from the one who isn’t any more. Anyway, Gerard Butler was married and he’s trying to win his wife back (played by Jessica Biel who was quite good) who is about to marry someone else anyway.

Oh, and they have a child, who is in the football team of course.

There were funny moments, and I have to admit, were it not for the annoying women I would have enjoyed this much more – they were pointless, irritating and annoying and the story would have worked just fine without Gerard Butler having all the women throwing themselves at him.

So yes, a bit disappointing, not my kind of film. If you forget the bits with the married women are in there, it’s quite enjoyable!

Sorry.

Playing For Keeps is released on DVD on the 20th May 2013.

11/05/201328/01/2014 by jo

We Love Books – The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me by Oliver Jeffers

There isn’t an Oliver Jeffers book we don’t like, and his newest ‘The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me’ arrived and filled us full of happy as we loved ‘The New Jumper’ the previous book.

We met The Hueys for the first time last year – Gillespie wore a jumper and was different – and this year we’re coming across some arguments. What I love the most about this is how the arguments are illustrated – it made me smile.

See?

Genius.

Anyway, the book is wonderfully simple and gets a good message across – The Hueys end up forgetting what they’re actually arguing about and in the end are distracted…

I did end up having a little giggle. The book has already been read several times and at a time when H does love to argue and does indeed forget why, this feels like the perfect addition.

The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me is out now, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books

10/05/201328/01/2014 by jo

Monski Mouse – Coming to a Dancefloor Near You – and Soon!

Monski Mouse is the alter-ego of Monica Corduff Gonzalez who does discos for under 5’s around the world. She comes from Australia, and currently lives in the UK. She’s bringing her dance event to the London Wonderground this summer with Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall. We’re interviewing Monica, so we can find out loads more about the events – as well as reviewing it (and quite frankly I may be the most excited of all of us about this).

Two sold out Adelaide Fringe seasons (2012 & 2013), an Edinburgh Fringe and bookings at festivals such as Norfolk and Norwich Festival (Sold Out) and the Freedom Festival, Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall has been getting heads, shoulders, knees and toes bopping along since its launch in February 2012.

Monski Mouse has made a career from DJ-ing quirky retro tracks, while dressed as a glamour-girl-mouse, for the last ten years, at arts festivals and clubs including Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe. Since becoming a Mum in 2010, Monski Mouse expanded her focus to the morning audience, of bubs, toddlers and parents/carers, in a career move that fits in with her current role as a working Mum.

“I count myself really lucky to able to adapt my performance career to make work my daughter can enjoy, and I am totally blown away by how much she absolutely loves the Baby Disco Dance Hall.” says Monski Mouse,”Plus its so much fun to have dance before tea time, what an absolutely wonderful way to spend your day!”

The event features Monski Mouse hosting and DJing, two experienced early childhood performers as ‘dancers’, who work with the audience, and a ‘baby area’ where the non walkers can roll around to the music.

“I feel extremely privileged to be performing this disco, the delight I get to see in young children’s eyes and their parents faces is incredibly special, I am a very, very lucky mouse.” says Monski Mouse.

Designed for children under 5 and their parents and carers, to dance and have fun together, Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall runs every second Sunday from 26 May through to 15 September, tickets are available through londonwonderground.co.uk

“Children were dancing, parents were singing and EVERYONE was smiling” Radelaide Rover

“Monski Mouse is the best DJ in the world” James Campbell – Comedy for Kids
“Creates a unique atmosphere and allows friends, parents, carers, grandparents (you name it) to join together by dancing ” ★★★★ Three Weeks
“This quirky event was clearly a hit.” ★★★ Broadway Baby

Web: monskimouse.com Twitter: @MonskiMouse Facebook: @MonskiMouse

LISTING INFORMATION
Venue: London Wonderground Spiegeltent
Time: 15:00 Running Time: 45 minutes
Dates: 26 May, 9 &23 June, 7 & 21 July, 4 & 18 August, 1 & 15 September 2013
Tickets: £8 – bubs under six months free!
Bookings: londonwonderground.co.uk or call 0844 545 8282

Do you fancy an idea of what Monski Mouse plays? Here you go…

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/91526697″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

10/05/2013 by jo

Ecover – Message In Our Bottle

Ecover have started a campaign, as our drinking water in this country, from plastic bottles is getting out of hand. I know as a family we’re constantly trying to find ways to be more ecologically better (my love letter to Method will appear in the near future), and one huge think I need to look at right now is my use of plastic bottles. I drink a lot of water every day, and tend to fill it up using the water cooler at work – which isn’t a bad usage, but I could be better.

This infographic spells it out much better than I ever could. Ecover are developing a new plastic which is to be fully sustainable and recyclable and minimises the use of raw materials.

Cleaning the seas, one bottle at a time. Visit The-Splash for more information and to read our pledge.As for me? I need to find myself a nice new bottle for my water. Something that will last, is mine (so it doesn’t go walkabouts when I’m away from work) and means I’ll no longer be buying bottled water. I’m starting from tomorrow – will you?

09/05/201328/01/2014 by jo

App Time – Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper

Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper is a new app from Gazoob to complement early learning at school.

I jumped at the chance to review the Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper app – H is starting in reception this September and I know they’ll be reading their books, I’d been looking at buying the books or picking some up at Car Boot Sales. Shaun regularly points out we have too many books (I know, that sounds bad but once she’s reading we can box away a lot – I bought lots of ‘That’s Not My…’ books when she was a baby and they take up space) so having all of them within an iPad app is possibly the perfect solution. Plus H enjoys reading books on there – we’ve had the Mog app for a while now and she often reads it without me, doing it in her own time.

I was keen to see the books as things have changed since I was little, I learnt using ITA – these days it’s far more sensible and uses phonics. Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper comes in six levels –

Level 1: Getting ready to read. Age 4-5 years
Level 2: Starting to read. Age 4-5 years
Level 3: Becoming a reader. Age 4-5 years
Level 4: Developing as a reader. Age 5-6 years
Level 5: Building confidence as a reader. Age 5-6 years
Level 6: Reading with confidence. Age 5-6 years

There are 48 books in total. I spotted on the Gazoob website that the books go to a higher level – their response to the question is as follows : There are two parallel Biff, Chip & Kipper series from Oxford University Press.
Ours is a home reading series and is designed to complement the 9 level Classic series which is used in schools.
The classic series is not currently available as apps.

Each book has some Tips for Reading Together – which has helpful hints of things to do when reading. I know I rush when I read books and it’s teaching me to slow down a bit, and spend more time talking about the pictures as well as pointing out each word. Most of this is about repetition and encouraging your child to join in – as well as having an activity to do on each picture – the first book you need to find a shell in each picture, and so on.

The phonics option is brilliant – so far we’ve barely gone into any depth, but having an I-spy game so the child has to work out which object starts (or ends!) with a letter is genius – and one H puzzled over for a good twenty minutes today – and tracing over the letters is always fun and good practice – I’m looking forward to more on the phonics side of things and how we’ll progress as you can almost feel it clicking somewhere with it being done properly.

Within the story side you have three options – Read by myself, Read to me and Auto play. Right now we’re doing the second stage quite a lot, though H does read it herself – you can press each word and it tells you what it is. At the end of each book are questions about the story and a puzzle.

Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper comes from a new company called Gazoob who aim to develop, publish and recommend educational materials, be it Apps, Games, Videos or Teaching materials. They already have a few titles under their belt, and will be adding a lot more as the year goes on.

How have we found it? I’ve been impressed. H’s word recognition has definitely improved and she’s much more confident – they don’t use these books at her nursery preschool but will in her school from September. Phonics-wise I think this is where she’s made the biggest jump and can now spell words and work them out much easier than two or three months ago.

I think Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper is an excellent app – it’s free to download with the 48 books being an additional purchase at £149.99 – which is a lot of money, although you can buy individual books at £3.99 each (so it works out cheaper overall to buy the books in one lot – a lot would depend on the stage your child is at). I love how H asks to play apps on the iPad and sees these books as fun, to me that’s half the battle with learning. It’s also something we’ll get a lot of use from, and isn’t going to be something that’s ignored in six months time – potentially taking H up to her sixth birthday which is still two and a half years away. The design of Read With Biff, Chip and Kipper is nice and clean, the fonts are good (and yes, comic sans is present, grrrrr!) and instructions are clear.

It is Mac and Windows compatible – for more information head to their website.
There’s a giveaway on their site to win the full app – you need to head to their Facebook page, and quick – the giveaway ends on the 31st May 2013!

We were sent a code to review the full app with all books – all opinions are our own.

08/05/201326/03/2018 by jo

A Special K ‘Pinch More Than An Inch’ Special

BritMums have a competition with Special K and this is my entry. We were sent a box to try (H “this is SPECIAL – it belongs to Mummy!”) and to see how much we have changed in the last thirty years, since Special K was first launched.

I remember 1983 well. ‘Can you pinch more than an inch?’ was Special K’s catchphrase and it stuck with me through the years. At school we’d often try to pinch more than an inch, almost nipping and pulling our skin to make sure we could. These days I almost certainly could but that’s part of having had a baby, stretchy skin, you know?

Memories of 1983 have several key things – music, football and television programmes. Back in 1983 Grange Hill was easily my obsession – it was the Roland, Jonah and Zammo years – see here :

These days I get my keys cut at our local key cutting shop… recognise that chap? The one on the left that is. The other is me a couple of years ago…

Zammo Mentor

Okay, let’s try music. From 1981 until 1987-ish (when I got sick of Stock, Aitken and Waterman taking over the charts) I wrote down the Top 40 every week. Here’s the chart from this week in 1983, complete with handy colour code that only a thirteen year old could possibly do. It’s a bloody good chart in 1983 too, I’d say I like at least 50% of the Top 40 which is 50% more than I like of the current one. (click to enlarge, it’s worth it – and Spandau Ballet’s ‘True’ was number one!)

These days I get my Top 200 on a spreadsheet… and it isn’t colour coded.

Musically, the albums I received for Christmas were New Order’s ‘Power, Corruption and Lies’, Aztec Camera’s ‘High Land Hard Rain’ and the Cocteau Twins ‘Head Over Heels’. I still have and love them all, but these days I own them on CD…

Football – I was a Tottenham supporter (still am), and 30 years ago we finished fourth in the league. There’s still two games before we know for sure (we’re playing Chelsea right now and are 1-1) but I’m keeping everything crossed we’ll also finish fourth this year…. Sadly Tottenham haven’t had an opportunity to make a record these last few years, nor any of their players. (the world will now breathe a collective sigh of relief as Glenn and Chris recorded in 1987)

Okay, school. I’m obviously no longer at school, and here’s our class photo from 1983, what a lovely lot we are!

I do actually have a different hairstyle. This time last year it was the same as 1983 though. I’m sensing a theme here. Special K may have changed, but have I? There’s only one set of people I can ask for their honest opinion – some of the ladies on the picture above that I’m still in touch with.

Lisa: Still passionate about music – no change there! (”,) x
Nicky: When you stayed last year it took me back to being 12… Not changed a bit xx
Lisa : You don’t look that different either!
Lynn : You still look like Jo Indie Pop with your stripey shirts!
Sheena : There are one or two of my school friends who quite honestly barely have changed at all. And you Jo are one of those! You look the same you are listen to the same music (and share it which is lovely) and no one would be surprised at your life! You have not changed!
Debbie : Presumably you still write the Top 40 down each week?
Mel : Bet you havent done a home perm again though?
Lisa : you are lucky miss peter pan. I don’t think you are any different. bar fringe x
Catherine : You haven’t changed a bit! And you’ve turned your passion for music into a career and the writing is still going too.

I can confirm I will never have a home perm in my life ever again. I blame my mum. At LAST! I have changed!!!!

So, Special K, how much have you changed? Gone are the ‘pinch more than an inch’ days, and the new recipe now contains three grains – rice, wheat and barley. Wholegrains are in now too which are a source of fibre and there’s eight vitamins and minerals – and it’s a box of cereal I’m finding myself sharing with H on a morning – and I like the new variety – I just wish I had more for myself!

At least something has changed in here….

specialk30

We received a box of Special K to take part in this challenge.

06/05/201329/01/2014 by jo

Walkers Hoops and Crosses – a review

Today we had a trip to Nymans – it’s only 45 minutes from our house so one of the places I’d class as local to us – plus it was a gloriously sunny day (though I had my doubts when I saw black clouds and no blue sky until we arrived in the Gatwick area) – and it proved to be popular with us waiting to park for at least fifteen minutes!

Armed with a picnic we headed out to the largest grassy area to find space to play and more importantly, eat. It was hot so you don’t want things which are heavy on the stomach, you want light things such as tasty pittas stuffed with salad and for crisps we tried a pack of Walkers new Hoops and Crosses which I’ve been sent to review.

Actually, we were sent just the one packet, along with a toy monkey called Monty who H has formally adopted and allowed to enter the hallowed turf of her toy collection which is always a good sign! Yesterday we were buying picnic supplies so bought a multipack in salt and vinegar flavour so we could all try.

I’m reminded of crisps I’ve tasted of H when she was little – you know those corn rings that Organix do? Sort of crumbly? Now imagine those for older people – you know, when you don’t want to look silly eating kids crisps – and let’s face it, since I’ve done WeightWatchers I’ve found there’s plenty of crisps out there which are lower calories – and this one qualifies coming in at two points. There’s 30% less fat in them (compared to everyday crisps), they’re made from 56% wholegrain and have no artificial colours or preservatives.

My main criticisms are the flavours on offer – I’d love a cheesy one (the ones on offer are prawn cocktail, roast beef and salt & vinegar) plus actually knowing if they’re vegetarian or not, I couldn’t tell (edited to add – it has since been confirmed they are suitable for vegetarians), Walkers didn’t put it on either variety we tried and checking the ingredients nothing jumped out so it looks like they are (there was plenty of dietary information telling you what it does contain which is good), but it would be nice to know for sure. The flavours we tried were nice – just not necessarily ones I’d buy for my lunch.

Walkers Hoops and Crosses sharing

Having a healthy range of snacks and them being Walkers ones is going to help with supermarket and meal deal choices as well – so many times there’s only one healthy option available, so with this being a big brand hopefully they’ll be everywhere…

Would we buy again? We already have… they’re handy to keep in the cupboard, and hopefully more flavours will come soon.

We were sent a pack of crisps for the purpose of this sponsored review, all opinions are that of us and H.

05/05/201329/01/2014 by jo

My Naughty Little Sister Audiobooks from AudioGO

We’ve reviewed a Magic Roundabout audiobook from AudioGO a few months ago, one which Shaun and I loved, but H fell asleep. Since then we haven’t done any long journeys in the car until yesterday when we introduced the ‘My Naughty Little Sister’ books into her world. I’d completely forgotten about these books – and it was only from chatting to the manager of the band Stornoway (who reads them to his four-year old) I realised these audiobooks existed – and even better AudioGO have them!

They’re of an era, these books – and utterly brilliant! These days the word ‘naughty’ is starting to get edited out of H’s life, with words like ‘pickle’ and so on being used (mainly due to nursery and their rules), so introducing ‘Naughty’ this way felt quite nice. Let’s face it, had these books been written recently, My Naughty Little Sister’s misdemeanours wouldn’t have the kind of innocence they do, I’m sure.

Each book is around ten minutes long, read by Jan Francis who does some great voices. H was asking for more – it was the first time in the car she demanded another story, and from my passenger seat I could see her giggling away at My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Harry’s adventures. While I know these won’t replace physical books, she’s enjoying new, longer stories coming into her life (and I’m enjoying someone else reading them so I can drift off in the car).

At £1.99 for the audiobooks you get a lot of stories; we switched to the Camberwick Green album (the story about the postman having an adventure) and H fell asleep (whereas I sung along to the songs, memories flooding back, words returning to me possibly helped by Half Man Half Biscuit). Now I have a cunning plan – when we want her to stay awake Dorothy Edwards’ wonderful stories will be played, and when we think she needs a nap Brian Cant will soothe her! Next stop, Pingu!

We were provided with free downloads for the purpose of review, all opinions are our own.

04/05/201329/01/2014 by jo

Forest Holidays – a Blackwood Forest Event

Earlier today Blackwood Forest, a new Forest Holidays site based near Winchester, had a blogger event. We were invited and I was pretty excited. We first heard of Forest Holidays after seeing an ad on tv recently – I googled and saw this one was opening soon and funnily enough H had been telling me how much she’d like to go on holiday in a treehouse… what appeals to me the most is the eco side of this place. The Forestry Commission are partners in the company, and the sites are built very much with the environment in mind.

Blackwood Forest has taken six years to complete – from the planning permission stages to where they are now. At the moment the treehouse cabins aren’t built (sob!), so we didn’t get to see them, but we did get to have a wander around the site – considering we were told it was a bit like a building site last week, it looks pretty good now! They’re two weeks from opening and there is one VERY important thing you need to know.

Don’t write the directions there while trying to entertain your child. You may miss the crucial sentence ‘leave the M3 at Junction 8’. Had I done this correctly we’d have turned up on time – and on turning around and looking for Junction 8, it doesn’t exist!! Northbound has a Junction 9 though (which I don’t think southbound does).

We found the site easily enough once we got on the A303 – if you view Larkwhistle Farm Road in Google Maps then the site is just off there.

We headed to the Forest Retreat (large restaurant and shop area) to settle in and get ready to go to one of the cabins for a nosey around. We had a look in a three bedroom Silver Birch cabin, and were impressed by how warm they are – they have under-floor heating. The hot tub wasn’t installed but is in a good place and it felt private – most of the cabins back onto woodland. Next to the hot tub in the entrance from the kitchen is an outdoor dining area which seats up to 8 people, so plenty of space.

The kitchen was a good size, the lounge and tv area again spacious, and there’s good storage too. Our cabin also had two bathrooms – handy if there’s six of you staying there (one double room, two twin rooms).

Outside the ground was still quite new, and hadn’t turned back into the natural undergrowth you’d expect in a forest, though the trees were very green and leafy – it’s a beech forest (with one pine tree which we didn’t find!) – though they expect this to change by the time the site opens.

In each cabin you can preorder food for when you arrive, as well as booking treatments while you’re there (like a massage!), or even just someone to come and cook your evening meal. They’re also keen for you to get away from the site and discover local places – Winchester isn’t far away, and even Peppa Pig World isn’t that far if you were thinking of going there.

Bike hire is available and there are loads of tracks and trails you can take – there’s a park ranger or two who can take you on guided tours as well. After a quick lunch of some fabulous home-made pizza we headed out with the other preschoolers for a bug hunt. They’ve built a bug hotel so the kids were encouraged to pick up things they could add to it. On the tour they got to see some baby mice in a nest, as well as various bugs. Our ranger had a couple of bug inspector tubs where H got to have a look at a millipede (we bought one in the shop afterwards and she’s already been hard at work since we got home) – before putting it onto the hotel.

Then there’s the play area – just the right size for smaller kids, it has a slide, two swings (not baby ones), and a climbing frame area, plus sliding pole. H loved this the most, although loved so many different things that when quizzed she had at least fifteen favourite things she’s done today! The play area is well fenced in, with a secure gate. There’s going to be an older kids play area built soon, and they have a deal in place with a local GoApe site as well as a few other places. There were older kids climbing trees with ropes and sliding down which looked like LOADS of fun – we didn’t get to try it obviously!

“How buggy-friendly is it?” I bet you’re wondering – we spotted a few buggies but most mums carried their babies – the roads are stones and might not be suitable for some buggies, though overall I can’t see it being a problem if you needed to use one.

Any bad points? Nothing I could see or think of, other than it’s quite pricey – but even then there are deals and I’m patient enough to save up and wait for a good deal, plus the cabins will be really warm in winter – obviously we didn’t stay over (now that would be nice!) but it felt like a lovely quiet area – and it really creeps up on you – as we drove up the road we wondered where on earth the forest was, until it kind of sprung up.

Our total journey time back was just under an hour and a half, and that’s to the Croydon/Sutton area. It’s the kind of place I could see us going to for a weekend family break to get away from London and have a bit of a rest.

Eventually it was time to leave – a fun day with loads of activities, the staff were really nice and friendly – you could tell the people who worked there were really enjoying what they do and where they were. Everyone on site was really friendly and eventually I couldn’t work out if they were staff or just regular customers like us! They went out of their way to help – it really is the kind of place you’d go back to because of how nice people are.

So yes – we’ll definitely be back – it’s great we have something like this which is so easy to get to, now to start saving!

We were invited to a blogger event, we paid all costs ourselves, all opinions are our own.

Mum Friendly

the things we do, the things we like

Author / jo