This week we were fortunate to be invited to spend the day at Thomas Land at Drayton Manor to see the latest Thomas & Friends film – Tale of The Brave. My children loved our day at Thomas Land. When we arrived at the cinema we were greeted by The Fat Controller and were able to play with some of the latest Thomas & Friends toys before sitting down to watch the film. Tracks are trembling on the Island of Sodor as Thomas & Friends embark on their boldest adventure yet! Available from Monday 1st September, Tale of the Brave…
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During the Summer holidays (ok they’re not over but it feels like it!) we were invited to the launch of the Go Create Eco Craft kits at Drink Shop & Do. I remember the weather was really hot and we were so happy to find a little crafting oasis had been set up in the beautiful surroundings of the old Turkish Baths in the heart of Kings Cross. The place was amazing and we were shown into a room which used to be the 2nd Cooling Room – sorry for the geeky facts but the building was so lovely! The…
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GoldieBlox, the award-winning toy range from the US, has landed in the UK! Created by engineer and entrepreneur Debbie Sterling, GoldieBlox aims to introduce engineering concepts to girls at an early age, providing them with more options and spawning a movement to disrupt pink toy aisles everywhere. I love this idea so was delighted to be sent a few sets to review with my children. Each of the three sets (Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machine, Goldie Blox and the Dunk Tank and Goldie Blox and the Parade Float) features an interactive toy, containing a book series and construction set,…
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As regular readers will know we are fortunate to be Playmobil Playologists. This means we get to share news with you about the latest Playmobil toys and events and also receive lovely Playmobil toys to review and play with. We were recently sent the new Official Playmobil Annual 2015 to review. I’ve mentioned before that 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of Playmobil, a firm family favourite which is amongst the top 5 brands in the European toy industry, and distributed in more than 80 countries worldwide. To coincide with this, Buster books have published The Official Playmobil Annual 2015, featuring…
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Miffy, Dick Bruna’s classic children’s character and style icon, has had some of her classic story books republished this year, and there are even some brand new sticker books. Some, such as miffy at the zoo, miffy’s play date and miffy dress up have already been republished. Others, including miffy’s first day, draw with miffy and miffy outdoors, will be available on 14th August in Waterstones and all good bookshops. We were sent a copy of the miffy outdoors sticker scene book to tell you about. Little Sis adores sticker books and I always pack a few when we go…
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Last week I told you about the exciting new set from Lego Duplo – the Batcave Adventure. My children have been having fun with this and I thought I would tell you more about it, as well as give you the chance to get your hands on one. Catch Catwoman before she discovers Batman’s secrets in the Batcave! Enter the Batcave and get ready for some exciting adventures! Park the Batwing and get to work with all of the amazing Batman gadgets, but watch out – Catwoman is sneaking about! Help Batman quickly down the slide to capture her. Your…
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Yay it’s the weekend and I have a lovely giveaway for you all today! Betty & Walter, launched in Spring 2013, is a brilliant lifestyle brand created by Lisa Levis (nee Stickley) creating stylish and practical accessories and homewares all adorned in Lisa’s unique illustrative prints. The brand, named after Lisa’s Uncle Walter and Aunty Betty, takes inspiration from mid-century design and celebrates print, colour and creativity. You can explore the beautiful collection online at bettyandwalter.com There are some lovely products for the kitchen, as well as bags and gorgeous stationery. I’m in love with the range of contemporary pretty…
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For a long time Little Sis has been obsessed with Peppa Pig. Thankfully she’s recently become interested in other toys and has been building up a little collection of Sylvanian Families, or ‘Families’ as she calls them. I remember them from my own childhood so I’m pleased to see they’re still going strong. Created in Japan in 1985, Sylvanian Families is made up of woodland creatures, dolls houses and furniture sets. The Bramble Hedgehog Family were recently introduced and Little Sis was sent a set to review. With their soft bark-brown spines, wide eyes, and button noses, the Bramble Hedgehog…
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You know how much I love to sew. I’ve been making lots of doll quilts for my daughter as the size means I never get bored! I was recently sent an amazing fabric bundle of 6 Truly British Fat Quarters from The Bead and Button Company to craft with. The Truly British fabric selection contained 6 different fabrics, each measuring 45cm x 55cm and 100% cotton. The selection was really good and I decided to use five of the pieces to make a maverick star doll quilt from my favourite craft book Doll Quilts. It was surprisingly easy to put…