Thursday 3rd March 2011 – 'Yes' (62/365)
Galt Art Equipment
Imagine The Boy's surprise and delight when he opened up the box of the above goodies from Galt Toys for us to review. He absolutely adores all types of craft activities, but painting and drawing with his crayons are the utmost all-time top two for him. He was almost beside himself when he saw some new 'draw-draws' and when his little eyes caught sight of the paint, bless him, he couldn't stop jigging with excitement.
The crayons got the first round of serious analysis: definitely a success there! He took the pot over to his desk, sat down and started to examine the colours. In the pack of goodies that Galt sent us was a pack of 25 sheets of paper. The paper is A2 size and therefore quite large, perfect for large scale painting or sticking activities, but it also means that I can halve each sheet making it go further (we also always use both sides of the paper – environmentally aware!).
The crayons are a delightful rainbow of colours, 24 in total, including various shades of the primary colours and a range of secondary and tertiary hues aswell. They are described as chunky crayons which are ideal. As a teacher I remember a training session where we were taught not to give little children jumbo writing implements because they only have small hands and small grip. However, I've tried thinner crayons and he just ends up accidentally snapping them in half as he is too young to be aware of strength of grip.
As you can see from the pictures, drawing is a very serious business in this household (definitely a left-hander).
In the pack of art resources, we were also sent these finger paints:
The Boy is an independent little creature who likes to think outside the box already (don't you love toddler thinking?) and therefore wanted his paintbrushes to use with them. These paints are great; in the pack are six 100ml pots of bright, thick and washable paint. And yes they are washable! I've had my hands stained for hours after using the Crayola washable paints (especially the blue and green ones) but not with these paints.
*There is a disclaimer on the box that it may not remove from materials and surfaces that cannot be laundered, although it does say it can wash from most machine washable clothes.
The Boy had great fun with painting, he loves exploring the colours and textures as you can see:
We were also sent a pack of face-paint sticks to use, and I tried to test these but the little monkey wouldn't keep still long enough for me to get more than the outline of a spider's body and three of his eight legs! When he's a few months older, I'm sure that he will enjoy using these a lot more but I suspect he's just a little too young at the moment. I will say though that they are encased in a plastic tubing to prevent mucky hands with a push-up sliding holder for the actual face-paint stick in order to maximise the amount of face-paint used. It strikes me as an excellent idea.
I was very impressed with both the paints and the crayons, they are a much richer hue and depth of colour than other well-known branded crayons and paints. I will be purchasing these in future, especially because of the fact that the deeper coloured paints doesn't stain skin!
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While I received these products free of charge to provide an honest review, I have not been offered any other reward for my opinion.
'I love you through and through'
Today is World Book Day. I've just read a lovely post over at The Moiderer about the favourite bedtime books she likes to read to her Little One and it has prompted me to tell you about The Boy's absolute favourite bedtime book.*
I love you through and through.
I love your top side. I love your bottom side.
I love your inside and outside.
I love your happy side, and your blue side,
your silly side, your hullabaloo side.
I love your fingers and toes, your ears and nose.
I love your hair and eyes, your giggles and cries.
I love you running and walking, silent and talking.
I love you through and though…
yesterday, today and tomorrow too.
We all adore this book, and have little actions that go with each declaration. The Boy knows it so well now that he can recite the ends of each line and complete the action; he also turns the pages and says the main word associated with it. It is such a lovely book to read at bedtime and send your little one off to the land of nod with happy thoughts of how much he is loved.
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*That's what you should do if a post inspires you, link to it and then you won't get accused of plagiarising and p*ss me off!
Wednesday 2nd March 2011 – 'Smiler' (61/365)
Movie Meme: My Fair Lady
This week’s prompt is Black and White.
Whether it be a silent film, a 40s film, a 50s film or a modern film with a black and white twist, I would love to read about the film that gets you going from this genre. It doesn’t even have to be a black and white movie. It could be a movie about something black and white (admittedly, all I can think about is a penguin, but I’m sure there’s plenty more options out there!)
The lovely Hannah over at MetalMummy has set the theme and so we have 'Black and White'. Yes I know that 'My Fair Lady' was filmed in colour, but she does say it doesn't have to be a black and white film. And I just don't love 'Roman Holiday' enough to choose it over this one. So the reason that I have chose this film comes from this:
How absolutely stunningly beautiful are these dresses? God, Cecil Beaton was a master!
Not forgetting of course, the inimitable line, "Come on, Dover, move yer bloomin' arse!"
I first watched this film when I was approximately 10 years old and I was completely and utterly captivated by the Cinderella story. Even at that young age I watched the entire thing from start to finish, all 2 hours and 50 minutes of it.
Favourite quotes:
- My Aunt died of influenza, or so they said. But it's my belief they done the old woman in.
- You impudent hussy!
- I ain't dirty! I washed my face and hands before I come, I did.
- I shall not feel alone without you, I can stand on my own without you. So go back in your shell, I can do bloody well without…
Oh the songs, the songs are fantastic! They really do complement the story so well. I was devastated that Audrey Hepburn didn't sing the musical numbers in the film: "Most of Audrey Hepburn's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, despite Hepburn's lengthy vocal preparation for the role. A dubber was required because Eliza Doolittle's songs were not transposed down to accommodate Audrey Hepburn's "low-mezzo voice". Audrey Hepburn sang most of "Just You Wait", as well as the reprise to the song, herself, showcasing her ability to sing perfectly at ease when the songs were set in a reasonable tessitura. Audrey also sang one or two lines, elsewhere in the score, such as 'Sleep, sleep, I couldn't sleep tonight!' in "I Could Have Danced All Night"."(IMDB)
Wrong, wrong, wrong! She was more than capable of singing in that film; has no-one heard her singing 'Moonriver' in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn are a phenomenal pairing, although the age difference has always concerned me slightly. Other considerations for the role of Henry Higgins: Cary Grant and Peter O'Toole. Most surprising performance? Jeremy Brett as Eliza's suitor.
I'm not going to try and sell it to you anymore, go and watch it. I defy you not to love 'I could have danced all night', and 'I've grown accustomed to her face'.
Now pop over to the linky and see which other films you can be persuaded to watch!
Simple Pleasures
The theme this week, as set by Tara over at Sticky Fingers, is Simple Pleasures. "What are yours? Walking, cuddling up on the sofa, time alone, gardening, curled up with a good book, walking the dog? Give us an insight into the simple pleasures which make your day."
Something popped into my head straight away, but I dismissed it and tried to come up with some other options. I could have chosen reading with a book and chocolate (too corny) or a picture of the laptop (too telling), but each time I kept coming back to the same image and memory in my head.
My simple pleasure is this:
Having a cwtch with my son and staring at his beautiful baby face.
I don't care how soppy or predictable it is, there is nothing I enjoy more. Every Tuesday when I take him upstairs for his nap, I fail to put him in his cot and leave him sleeping in my arms. Why Tuesdays I hear you ask? The reason is simple: on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I work so my mum puts him down for his nap. On the weekend, hubby does it. So I only get to do it on a Monday and Tuesday, and on a Tuesday I spend the entire time memorising his beautiful face and inwardly sobbing about the fact that I have to work for the next three days.
I won't be able to do this forever, I dare say he'll protest when he's 15. Until then having a little cwtch with my gorgeous child is my simple pleasure.
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Now visit the other entries by clicking on the widget on the left, <– over there, see it? No not that one, that's for 'Silent Sunday', the one above it! Yep, that's the one!
B Organic Skincare: Hand Care Set – Lavender and Chamomile
I am lucky enough to have recently been sent some rather lovely toiletries from B Organic Skincare to trial and review.
I was sent the gorgeous Lavender and Chamomile Handcare Set which was perfect as my hands have become really dry and sore, and started to crack in between my fingers. For a mum of a baby or toddler, when all you seem to be doing is washing your hands, this cold weather is torture with the biting wind chapping and drying out all your skin. I'd been using Neutrogena which was good but just wasn't having a lasting effect throughout the day.
The set consists of the following:
Lavender Hand Wash
"Our organic hand wash will clean your hands without drying out your skin with nasty chemical, our certified organic lavender essential oil will keep them soft & soothe skin irritations, cuts and scrapes. Follow up with our B Organic hand lotion to keep your hands pampered."
Lavender and Chamomile Hand Lotion
"Our organic hand lotion will nourish your hands and feed your skin whilst lavender and chamomile soothe skin irritation, cuts and scrapes."
Both products are delicately fragranced with organic lavender essential oils which are designed to keep hands soft and soothe. The wash and lotion are presented in an attractive aluminium canister with a pump dispenser.
Firstly, the handwash is great; just the right amount is dispensed and it cleans really well. I was apprehensive that the cracks between my fingers would sting during use but it is so gentle that my concerns were unfounded. Often with handwashes you can feel a soapy residue on them but not with this one. There was also a pleasant faint aroma of lavender on my hands for about 20 minutes afterwards.
Similarly the hand lotion is fragranced with organic lavender essential oil but twinned with the soothing qualities of chamomile. I'm always sceptical of many hand lotions, they can leave your hands feeling greasy or slimy with a film that taints everything you touch or eat. That's asides from whether it works or not! Again, the pump dispenser produced just the right amount to massage into my hands and wrists, soaking in well and no residue to detect. Within a few days use, the dry and cracked scaley skin between my fingers was soothed and healed with only a twice daily application.
I will definitely be using these products again and am planning to buy the giftset (gift-wrapping optional) for my sister's birthday in a month's time as she suffers with her hands as I do. I can also rest assured that she will appreciate and use them as she is incredibly particular about the types of products she uses, and I'll be able to tell her that B Organic Skincare products are:
- paraben free
- lanolin free
- Ethoxylate-free
- Propylene Glycol-free
- Silicone-free
- DEA-free
- artificial colour-free
- contain organic essential oils (lavender, chamomile and aloe-vera)
- not tested on animals, 'only on friends and family'.
Read more about B Organic's philosophy here.
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While I received these products free of charge to provide an honest review, I have not been offered any other reward for my opinion.
Tuesday 1st March 2011 – 'Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus' (60/365)
Butterflies and Scary Slides
This morning we woke up for the last time in our little cabin. I want one of my own, I'm not going to pretend I don't! They are the most gorgeous, relaxing and luxurious places to stay when self-catering. Check-out was 10am so we rushed around madly packing up. I tried to be efficient and dropped the plug for baby monitor on my big toe. I screamed, I cried, I sobbed, I wailed. There was blood, tears and swear words. Hubby tried to help by giving me an ice-pack: an 8×4 inch ice-block for my big toe. He got sworn at and returned with a cold, wet, flexible compress instead.
After we waved goodbye to the stunning Forest of Dean we headed to Butterfly World at Symonds Yat. I'd been there as an 11/12 year old and remembered it vividly. I wanted The Boy to experience it. We were the only people there and it wasn't that hot in the tropical house, so the butterflies were quite sleepy at the time. Turns out this is a good thing as it appears this is where my phobia of moths/flying things might have stemmed from. I assumed my memory of it was a happy one; apparently not. After the first butterfly flew within two feet of me, I fled back out and returned with a net and hat over my bonce. The Boy was initially disturbed as he wondered who this monster was and what she'd done with his mother. I'd post a photo but I look stupid so instead admire the prettiness of a newly hatched (1o minutes old) butterfly.
After I'd recovered from a near heart-attack (I managed 30 minutes in there, but then I had to flee whilst trying to pretend to the owners that I'd had a lovely time!), we drove back to Cardiff and stopped off in a soft-play centre that I'd wanted to go to for a while.
Jump is a fabulous play-centre and I now understand the peak prices. However, we went mid-week, mid-term so adults were free and 1yr olds (how convenient?) were only £3! A complete and utter bargain because we could easily have spent a whole afternoon there. There was the most amazing dedicated under 5s area I've ever seen in one of these places: a sensory room; a puzzle, dressing up and construction room; climbing equipment; a trampoline; a ball-pit; and ride-ons. In the main play area, there was three different climbing 'frames' with huge ceiling-floor helter-skelters (I rediscovered my 12 year old self who wasn't frightened of flying objects), bouncy castles, ball pits, bowling alleys, trampolines and air-hockey! We had a really good quality lunch served by helpful and friendly staff.
All in all a good end to our mini-holiday!

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