FurReal: Cookie-Pie

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The Boy has a little problem with dogs, as I'm sure many toddlers do: they scare him. It's perfectly understandable as they are pretty much the same size and are unpredictable.

When we were sent the FurReal Cookie Pie (£69.99 RRP) to review for Toys R Us Toyologist programme I had a little 'eek' moment with anxiety. Cookie Pie is an electronic dog that responds to your voice and touch by moving her head, blinking and barking. She responds to your voice, touch and will even look around to you if you call from the left or right. The only moving part is her head and facial features, her legs can be posed so she either sits up or lies down. She 'eats' her bone and if 'tickled' on certain parts of her face then she responds.

Things seemed to be going well as The Boy was perfectly happy for Cookie to yap away inside the box. He actually thought it was quite funny and kept saying "huwwo doggy, how are you?".

That was until I got him out of the box. The Boy looked at him, said "huwwo doggy" (to which Cookie Pie barked at) and then promptly started shaking. The Boy, not the dog. Then the bottom lip came out and he started edging towards me and away from the very cute little dog panting and barking at him. He then climbed into my lap and buried his head in my shoulder. So Cookie Pie unfortunately went back into the box.

However, there are a couple of lessons that I have learnt from this situation.

  • The Boy is frightened of dogs and this is something that needs remedying carefully in order to prevent future issues. Hopefully Cookie Pie will help with this situation in the future. Maybe I'll leave the batteries out for a while.
  • Cookie Pie is realistic. 

This is good. This means that FurReal have got it right and have created an electronic barking and moving dog that persuades children into thinking it's a real one. Parents all over the nation can breathe a sigh of relief as they have a 'can-we-have-a-puppy?' solution that is easy and cheap. No need to take him for a walk, no little presents or puzzles on the carpet, no fleas, no pet insurance, no danger of it biting your child, etc. An easy solution that will pacify your children's desire for a pet for a few years!

It does molt though.

We were provided with this toy free for review purposes as part of the Toyologist scheme. My opinions are my own and honest.

Get Snap-Happy with VTech at the V&A

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Did you know that the Victoria & Albert Museum had a Museum of Childhood? No, me neither. But they do, and they have a wide-range of exhibits and workshops running over the summer. One of these is running in conjunction with VTech, one of the best brands of children’s electronic learning toys. They are offering a series of workshops which aim to introduce children to the exciting possibilities of the digital word in a fun and engaging way.

This is the type of thing that I would love to take The Boy to as he is really beginning to explore the photographic capabilities of the iPod Touch, but unfortunately at two years old he is too young for the workshops. The hour-long sessions are ideal for children aged 4-9 years old and are running every Saturday over the school summer holidays at 2pm from the 23rd July to the 27th August. What's even better about these Digi-Fun workshops, providing children with the opportunity to explore, invent and create with the very latest kid-friendly technology, is that are that they are free!

So if your little Annie Liebovitzs and David Baileys are eager to learn how to take pictures, film and edit their own footage then pop over to the V&A museum to book a session. You'll need to hurry though because the next two Saturdays are fully booked, but they are still taking bookings for 13th, 20th and 27th August!

This is not a sponsored post and I have not been asked to blog about this. I just thought you'd like to know about it!

Luminarium: A Wonderous Kaleidoscope

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When I broke up for Summer last Friday, I vowed that The Boy and I would do a lot of fun things this summer and so far, I don't think I've done too badly. Last weekend we went to Cadbury's World and West Midlands Safari Park (where we had a little tweet-up), earlier in the week we met up with friends and had a fantastic picnic in a beautiful park in Cardiff, we had friends over and have visited others. Today, we were lucky enough to be invited to attend the Luminarium at Taurus Crafts, Lydney.

Taurus Crafts, in the Forest of Dean is not only a craft centre, but also a social enterprise. Elizabeth, the lovely manager, explained to us that this meant they worked along local businesses and artisans to provide products and crafts that were locally sourced. In addition to this, Taurus also work with local care agencies and schools to provide real-life and relevant work experience developing life-skills for people with learning difficulties whose needs are not well met through mainstream education and training. To support this brilliant and worthwhile enterprise, there are 15 craft businesses, a cafe, gift shop and local food shop and deli, which all supply amazing products and unique crafts that are out of the ordinary.

The Boy and me (ha, see what I did there?) arrived a little after the agreed meeting time of 11am (sorry Mummy Mishaps and Would Like to be a Yummy Mummy). Mainly because when I sat down in my car and programmed in the GPS I had a little fit that a journey that was only 40 miles was going to take an hour and a half. It was 10.20! That combined with the oh-so-convenient fire in the Brynglas tunnel in Newport meant that I was late. No surprise there, I'm always 10 (or so) minutes late. I think of time, like Dr. Who (DT not MS) says, as more of a wiggly-wavy thing meant to be bent.

And so to the Luminarium. What is it?

The best explanation that I have seen so far of a Luminarium is in this video, where it is explained that the original creator started designing them over twenty years ago and came up with the idea of "inverting a bouncy castle." See! I wasn't so far off the mark when I said about being inside a bouncy castle! Incidentally, I spoke to a member of Architects of Air afterwards who told me that the first one was designed as a stage for a play performed by children with special educational needs. That is completely understandable because the whole experience is visual, auditory and kinaesthetic.

With something this difficult to explain, you just need to be in it. And if you can't be in it, then here's a video to show you what it's like.

We received free entry into the Luminarium. I was not asked to blog about this but have chosen to, because I think it's a fabulous thing to experience.

Earth Friendly Baby & Kids

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Back in February of this year, I had the pleasure of reviewing Earth Friendly Baby products. Since then I have tried a few other baby toiletry ranges but this is the only range that I continue to use, day in and day out. It is soft, mild, kind and is still the only shampoo to have cleared and kept away The Boy's cradle cap and eczema due to the key ingredients of chamomile and lavender.

When I was asked if I wanted to test out some more products alongside my favourites, I didn't hesitate to answer a resounding 'yes'. I was sent the EFB Organic Lavender Shampoo & Bodywash (my favourite product), EFB Organic Lavender Bubblebath (used every bath-time), Earth Friendly Kids Minty Lavender Shampoo & Bodywash, and Earth Friendly Kids Minty Lavender Handwash.

I hadn't tried the Earth Friendly Kids range before but was equally as impressed as with the baby range. The minty lavender products are fresh and cooling; perfect to bathe in after a long day's play in the garden in the summer heat. The handwash is used by all of us and leaves your hands smelling and feeling smooth and clean.

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Summer Picnics

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I was recently asked if I would like to sample new Persil 2in1 with Comfort Passionflower and as I had just despaired over another chocolate-stained and mud-infested pair of shorts (how does he do it to every pair of shorts?!) I was only too happy to oblige!

Persil have combined their well-known tough cleansing power with the softness of Comfort to produce this washing liquid, and in order to demonstrate how soft, yet tough it is they are asking people all over the nation to hold Pass on the Love picnics with their children.

These teddy-bear picnics will enable the children to bring a teddy along and either swap him with another child or donate them to Oxfam (Persil's chosen charity) in order to provide other children with love and happiness synonymous with teddy bears. Of course, before you can donate or swap you really need to give teddy a good clean (as you don't know what he's been sharing with little Betty or Billy recently) and this is where Persil 2in1 comes in. They leave teddies feeling soft and clean with a delicate summer fragrance.

To launch the campaign, Jo Whiley will be holding the first ever 'Persil Pass on the Love Picnic’ at Camp Bestival on Saturday 30th July, providing a fun activity to keep the kids happy before the music gets started! At the festival children will be able to swap their newly-washed soft toys and join in on the first of this summer’s picnics. Alongside the picnic  area there will be snacks, games, puppet shows and more. Take the opportunity of the entertainment to relax and unwind on giant bean bags, talk to Persil's laundry experts over a cup of tea, and even pick up a free bottle of new Persil 2in1 with Comfort for the post-festival laundry!

If you can't make it to Camp Bestival then you can hold your own Pass on the Love picnic and there are some fabulous picnic packs available through Netmums.

I was sent a free sample of Persil 2in1 with Comfort to test out. The Boy received a free bunny. Neither of us were asked to blog about this (which is just as well as The Boy's spelling is shocking) but I wanted to share this lovely summer activity with you!

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