Back To School: Paul Frank Lunchboxes

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In the search for the perfect lunchbox for The Boy, we've been trying out a funky, green lunchbox and bottle by Paul Frank, available from Room Copenhagen.

Paul Frank lunchboxes

The brightly coloured, BPA-free, plastic lunchbox measures approximately 15cmx13cmx6cm and is the perfect size for an infant child's lunch, with an easily removable lid that fits back on securely. The two tone water bottle has a cup in the bottom which unscrews easily to provide a drinking cup. The screw top lid would be great to use with a carabiner on a school rucksack. Both the box and the drinking bottle are available in bright green, blue or pink, with the cheeky Julius monkey adorning them.

They're a great fun set which help to make lunchtime bright and attractive.

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Back To School: Tesco School Uniform

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Over the course of the Summer I've been asked to review several different brands of supermarket school uniforms. It's been a really interesting review process for me as I've been able to examine the difference between the quality, range, fit and price of the uniforms available in four of the main supermarkets.

In this review, I'm looking at the Fred & Florence school uniform range available from Tesco. I have bought quite a bit of clothing from Tesco in the past for The Boy and have always found it to be well made and hard wearing. Essentially I did feel that a polo shirt, trousers and sweatshirt made in Bangladesh or Kenya would surely be much the same as any other on the high street, and wasn't expecting anything outstanding or different to the other uniforms I've reviewed.

The website for the boys' uniform is very easy to navigate and allows for selection under type of clothing, size, colour or price. As a first-time uniform buyer, I was slightly bamboozled by the selection of trousers available, as they all seemed the same quality and style to me, sold singularly or in pairs. I ordered a few different styles of trousers, both pleat and flat fronted, and a two-pack of flat fronted shorts (which The Boy is wearing in the left picture below). The shorts (£5.00 for two pairs) are actually a 3-4yrs size, I was optimistic in hoping they'd fit him but very pleasantly surprised to discover that they did. With an adjustable waist which has been tightened, and a good length in the leg, these shorts are seeing him through the warmer days of Autumn and hopefully last into Spring. The material is soft and not scratchy, but strong and durable.

Tesco School Uniform

I was impressed with the polo shirts (£2.00 for two) as they actually 'hung' well on The Boy and were a good length. I am quite hopeful that they don't end up with twisting hems as I suspect one or two other brands may, and the colour is a nice bright tone. The unisex sweatshirt is amazing quality for £3.00 with ribbed cuffs and hems, and has a soft inside.

The trousers are well cut, a thick material and soft, and with a Teflon® fabric protector which "repels spills and releases ground in stains easily with laundering". The Boy hasn't come home yet with any in-ground dirt, so I can't comment on the repelling properties of the fabric, but they do wash and iron very well. And from £6.00 for two pairs, they are a competitive price.

However, while it would be easy to promote the wonders of the repellant fabric, and paint a picture of droplets of mud and paint flying off at all directions with the forcefield of the mighty Teflon® fabric protector, there is a more important feature that makes the Tesco school uniform stand out above any other material feature.

The 'Buy One Give One' trousers cost between £3.00-£6.00 for one pair. Slightly more expensive than the two-pair packs, but let's face it they are still cheaper than a frappuccino! However, the major selling point of these (and what I think Tesco should be promoting more than stain repellant fabric) is that for every item of uniform bought from this 'Buy One Give One' range, a complete school uniform will be donated to a child in Kenya, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.

Tesco launched the scheme in 2009 and provided 12,000 children in Kenya with a brand new school uniform to attend school with. In 2010, they expanded the scheme to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and have given away over 100,000 uniforms to children in these three countries. 100,000 children in some of the world's poorest countries had a new uniform because parents in Britain spent £1 more on their child's trousers.

Surely that is the most appealing factor in the Tesco school uniform?

I was provided with a voucher to purchase items from the school uniform range for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Tesco's Ethical Policy can be found here.

Orchard Toys: Who's In Space? (Review & Giveaway)

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'Who's In Space?' is without a doubt one of my favourite Orchard Toys products produced in the last year or so. And I am a big fan and we have a lot of their games and puzzles, so that statement is not made lightly.

The 25 piece jigsaw puzzle is aimed at children aged 3+, and depicts a scene of three astronauts (mixed gender and race, as with all Orchard Toys illustrations) on the moon completing some research. In the background are five of the planets in our solar system, the International Space Station, a comet, and a small green alien in a purple spaceship. Because after all this is a puzzle for children!

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Walkers Mighty Lites

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We don't very often have crisps in this house, mainly because we eat them far too quickly and then I get upset at being unable to have cheese and onion crisp sandwiches.

Being realistic, it's because they are high in saturated fat and while great as a treat, they're not particularly good for you.

I was recently sent a multipack of each one of the three flavours from the new Walkers Mighty Lites range; lightly salted, cheese and onion, and roast chicken.

Walkers Mighty Lites 1

The first thing I noted was that they are ridged crisps which made me very happy as I'm quite fond of another well-known packet of ridged crisps; they're great at locking in the flavour and make the crisp eating experience far more fun. And let's face it, who hasn't bitten the ridges off one by one?

Walkers Mighty Lites main selling point is that they have 30% less fat than standard crisps on average, and this is what makes them a better crisp for the consumer. With only 114 calories per 25g bag and 0.5g of saturated fat (4.7g of fat originally), then they are a far healthier and sensible option for both children and dieters. In fact, why should they get all the fun, they're healthier all round.

And the added bonus, and why they are good for children in particular, is because they contain no MSG (Monosodium glutamate, an additive which can cause nausea, headaches and more serious illnesses in some cases) and combined with no artificial colours or preservatives, it's a fairly safe option for children. All three flavours are also suitable for vegetarians, even the roast chicken!

Often healthier snacks, particularly crisps, can be seriously lacking in taste or the essential crisp texture. They frequently feel more like dried out polystyrene or lack any serious flavour, especially the ready salted flavours. The Walkers Mighty Lites are neither dried out or lacking in taste; they feel exactly like other crisps do but with the added benefit of no oiliness or residual film left on fingers.

I have been giving them to The Boy in preparation for him starting school, usually in a packed lunchbox but he did have some for dinner last night. He was over the moon to be having crisps, as he knows they are usually an occasional treat.

Walkers Mighty Lites

He devoured them, and in actual fact I had to tell him to leave the crisps alone and to eat his sandwiches and fruit or he wouldn't have any left for later in the meal (I'm trying to teach him not to eat his favourite things all in one go, a harder task than you'd think!). They are a fun and enticing addition to any lunch, and will definitely be featuring in his school lunchbox over the forthcoming weeks.

Would I buy these independently? Not for a crisp sandwich, but I definitely will for picnics and lunchboxes.

I was sent the aforementioned products for the purpose of this review, and will receive a fee for my time. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

Harumika Party (Or How To Be The Best Aunty Ever)

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I have a ten year old niece and I know the way to her heart…

Harumika party 1

I know! Enough mini mannequins and material to make the toughest ten year old girl melt!

At the beginning of the Summer holidays I was provided with a Harumika party package for twelve children. The package included two dress forms with stylus per guest, a pack of materials and stickers per guest, a selection of additional materials, creative tips, and one Petite Harumika per guest as a party bag giveaway.

BEST. AUNTY. EVER!

My niece arranged for eleven of her friends to come over and spend a very pleasant hour and a half exploring the world of Harumika. For those not in the know, Harumika is a world of fashion design involving small mannequins and no sewing, no scissors and no glue. Each mannequin has a slot on the back which allows for the end of the fabric or ribbon to be tucked in securely using the stylus provided. It's simple and ingenious.

My niece and I introduced the concept of Harumika to her friends; most already knew about it but there were three girls who'd never come across it before. They all quickly picked up the idea and I challenged them to make a simple dress for the Summer from the available fabrics; lots of collaborative work and discussion later and we had a great selection on the table.

Next I showed the girls some of the tips of using the belts as straps, wrapping the fabric squares diagonally around the mannequin, twisting the fabric and pleating, and they came up with a great range of ball dresses.

Harumika party

I like Harumika for one big reason; it allows girls to continue playing with dolls in a cool way. And in an age when they are supposed to have moved on from dolls at the tender age of around seven, to see ten, eleven and even a thirteen year old still playing with what is essentially a doll, made me smile. Of course my niece and her friends didn't see their activity as that, for children who play with it they are being allowed to explore the world of fashion, able to make decisions and test out what works and what doesn't.

Harumika sets come in a variety of designs and themes, the guests at my niece's party each received (what seemed to be) the Surfer Style Starter Set which comes in at £11.00. I think that's a good price to get a budding fashion designer started, there are various add on sets for fabrics or dress forms, and investing in one or two of them from pocket money is a good idea to further the Harumika play potential.

I was sent the above party package for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Thomas & Friends: 'King Of The Railway' DVD (Review & Giveaway)

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Last year we took The Boy to the cinema for the first time to see the Thomas & Friends film 'Blue Mountain Mystery', which was a complete delight. He was enchanted and, as we were then lucky enough to receive a copy of the film on DVD to review, we have been able to enjoy the film plenty of times during the past year.

Well Thomas & Friends have done it again with another cracking feature-length CG film, currently in VUE cinemas until Sunday 1st September, the day before the DVD is released in shops.

'King Of The Railways' is an even more captivating film introducing several new characters with plenty of personality. The main new engine is Stephen, an ancient steamie brought to the island by the Earl of Sodor who is rebuilding the ruined castle. Stephen was one of the first steam engines, aptly nicknamed The Rocket at the time (a lovely reference to George Stephenson's Rocket, Stephen is even the same design and colour) because of his speed. Rather than being grumpy at not being needed anymore, Stephen endears himself to Thomas and his friends with his good-natured humour and journey to find a purpose on the island, and to help the Earl with his project. Unfortunately, the day before the opening of the castle, Stephen goes missing mysteriously; can Thomas be a really useful engine and save the day?

We took The Boy to see the film in the cinema on Sunday, and despite having seen it several times via our review copy last week, he was wowed by the big screen and spotted new aspects to the story. At only £4.50 a ticket for adults, it was well worth the trip and I'd recomment it before it comes out on DVD. This is definitely a classic Thomas & Friends film, really enjoyable for both adults and children.

King Of The Railways

'King Of The Railways' is out on DVD on Monday 2nd September with an RRP of £12.99, and is currently showing at VUE cinemas daily until Sunday 1st September.

However, I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader. Simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below to be in with a chance of winning 'King of the Railway' on DVD.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this DVD for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

Back To School: Sainsbury's School Uniform (Review)

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As we race towards the beginning of the Autumn Term, I seem to be like King Canute in that I cannot hold back the ebbing tide of my little boy growing up!

The endless list of things that I need to make sure he has for school grows (lunchboxes, P.E. kits, shoes, daps, labels or stamps to claim everything as his, etc.), and so it was fortunate that Sainsbury's sent me a full school uniform outfit to test out.

Sainsbury's school uniform

We received:

I'm impressed with the quality of the cotton in the polo shirt, and it feels loose and comfortable for The Boy. The sweatshirt is soft and thick, with an elasticated hem which helps keep him looking smart and will stop the Winter draughts from blowing up his back. The teflon-coated trousers are pull on and have an elasticated waist, with an adjustable inside to ensure they won't fall down. We were sent the 4-5 years trousers and as you can see from the photos above, they are actually a little long. The Boy is 110cm tall so these are definitely on the larger side.

I'm quite impressed with the quality of the uniform and the value for money is definitely comparable with all the other supermarket uniforms.

I am very aware of how important it is to some parents that the uniform which they buy is sourced ethically, and that the damning newspaper reports from a few years ago are a thing of the past. Sainsbury's ethical trading policy shows how important it is to them as well.

I just wanted to share this cute little video as well, showing that school uniform definitely needs to be hard-wearing nowadays!

I was sent these products for the purpose of this post, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Duplo Number Train (Review)

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It was only a few months ago that we first went to Legoland and since then The Boy has become completely captivated with the Creative Cars and My First Build sets that we bought him at the time.

He was recently sent the Duplo Number Train to review, and he was enthralled with it. The great thing about Duplo boxes are that they feature a large photograph showing what the completed product is meant to look like, and this is easy for children to follow. The Boy referred to the 'map' (as he calls instructions) several times throughout, but quickly worked out which piece should go where.

Duplo Number Train

The train comes with four brightly coloured chassis to create an engine and three carriages. There are also parts to create an engine (with a driver) and ten numbered blocks, fitting three to each carriage if placed in a row (with one spare), a dog and a few spare piece of Duplo to create a basic station or a bridge.

On the first sitting, The Boy happily played with this for half an hour; laying the numbers out in a line and touch counting the blocks, creating the intended train, and then making different versions of it. He has come back to this a number of times, and actually has incorporated it into his normal Duplo sets and made a train station adapting the My First Build set for this purpose.

The Duplo Number Train is a really reasonably priced set of Duplo at £12.99 and comes with enough blocks to provide creativity with the way that the train is made or to allow children to go off a tangent, as they are want to do! Until we had a set of Duplo, I didn't fully appreciate the difference between it and other cheaper building blocks; it's hugely different due to the materials and accurate moulding. Moreover it has engaged The Boy with the idea of constuction for the first time ever!

Duplo Number Train 1

We were sent this product for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

Back To School: Asda School Uniform (Review)

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I can't quite believe that in two and half weeks, my little baby will be starting school.

It seems like only yesterday that I was blogging about his vocabulary; all twenty words! And now? Now he's telling me about how, "Luckily mummy, I had put the code in correctly on the iPad!"

However, I've entered into a world that is second nature to me; the education system, albeit as a parent this time, not as a teacher. As one of those teachers who barks at children to wear the correct school uniform, it is important to me that The Boy is kitted out according to the rules of the school. And as a busy working mum, I also don't want to be washing uniform throughout the week, so want a fresh polo-shirt (at least) and (probably) trousers and sweatshirt for each day. I'm fortunate that he doesn't have to wear emblemmed polo-shirts and sweatshirts, therefore saving quite a few pounds as the only supplier in the town charges £8.00 for a polo shirt alone!

I had been looking at the uniform in Asda, especially as they sell red polo-shirts and sweatshirts, the colour that The Boy needs, when I received an e-mail asking me if I'd like to review some of the range. I was consequently sent vouchers and called into Asda in Cwmbran to pick up The Boy's new uniform.

Asda school uniform

As you can see, I bought a fair amount for the money!

  • shoes = £12.50
  • daps/plimsolls = £2.50
  • teflon-coated trousers = £3.00 (x2)
  • teflon-coated shorts = £2.50 (x3)
  • sports shorts (two pack) = £3.00
  • sports (swim) shorts = £3.00
  • tracksuit bottoms = £4.00
  • polo shirts (two pack) = £2.50 (x2)
  • sweatshirts = £2.00 (x3)
  • shower-resistant fleece-lined coat = £5.00
  • shower-resistant pac-a-mac = £4.00
  • socks (7 pairs) = £4.00 (x2)
    • Total = £66.50

I'm wowed. Actually wowed that I have bought an entire week's worth of school uniform for less than a month's worth of child benefit. I have been dreading buying his uniform for various reasons, not least of all because of the financial impact. However, these clothes appear to be hard wearing, especially as the trousers and shorts are teflon-coated.

The Boy tried his uniform on earlier, he is a fussy clothes-wearer as he likes soft clothes, and he actually commented that the shorts and trousers were very soft on his legs. He also had a big smile on his face when he pulled the sweatshirt on, due to the soft lining. And you can't ask for more than a child who is comfortable in his uniform, it means he'll be ready to learn.

Asda school uniform

When did my little baby become such a big boy?

—

I received vouchers to purchase this uniform for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

I am sure that some people reading this will query how a uniform can be produced so cheaply and ethically, especially when the label indicates that the clothing has been made in a developing country. Here is the link to Asda/George's Corporate Ethical Responsibility Policy, and here is the ASDA Wal-Mart Policy on Ethical Trading.

Robot Costume (Review)

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At Christmas time, The Boy announced that he would like to give daddy a robot costume.

When I say at Christmas time, I am actually referring to Christmas Eve.

Quite. No sense of timing my son.

I managed to stall him until Mr. TBaM's birthday when the lovely people over at Jokers' Masquerade stepped forward and sent us this fabulous costume to make one little boy, and one daddy, very happy.

robot costume

The robot costume that Mr. TBaM unwrapped is a good one. There are many slightly alarming robot costumes on the market and this isn't one of them. Many look like an intergalactic superhero (skin-tight lycra would not be a good look for my husband) or a very scary looking Terminator wannabe; neither of which are really a robot. A robot costume should have dials and buttons, it should be silver and shiny, there shouldn't be a human face to it and it shouldn't be frightening.

Especially not frightening!

Made from soft 100% polyester silver and black fabrics with metallic trims on the 'joints' of the knees and elbows, and a large panel on the chest to 'program' the robot, this all-in-one jumpsuit went down a treat. The costume comes in a standard size to fit  38"-44" chest and as Mr. TBaM is six foot tall and well within that range, it fitted him with no problem (he would probably like me to point out that he is wearing a t-shirt and jogging pants underneath, hence the bulky tummy). The separate helmet is made of the same soft polyester with a good size black mesh over the wearer's eyes and mouth. There is also a detachable belt.

I like Jokers' Masquerade for the very simple reason that they sell such a huge range of costumes to suit all purposes and events, and the products are well made and good value. I have reviewed for them before and The Boy still uses The Gruffalo and George Pig costumes for dressing up, parties and general mayhem. They were also more than happy to oblige the whims of a four year old child, and for that reason they get a thumbs up from me.

We were sent this product for the purpose of making my son happy, and I said I'd review it too. Only polite really! My opinion is honest and unbiased.

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