Category: Reviews

1. We are going on a Bear Hunt ..... to the Build A Bear Workshop!

   Posted on 9:05pm Thursday 13th Dec 2012

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   We all know the story about going on a Bear Hunt but we didnt have to go through any woods, or mud or caves, we were simply invited to the Build-A-Bear Workshop in Solihull to enjoy the whole "Build-A-Bear" experience.

   At Build-A-Bear Workshop^®, their mission is quite literally to bring the Teddy Bear to life and thats what we planned to do. I was originally taking my two daughters but my eldest (in her infinite wisdom) decided that the youngest was too little to enjoy it and could we take her best friend instead? How can you argue with that kind of reasoning from a 7 year old?

   Both girls were beyond excited at going to the Build-A-Bear Workshop^® and even more so when they realised that we were going to have someone "helping" them to make the very best bears. We were introducted to Olga, who told us that Evie was going to be looking after us during our visit. Evie was just brilliant with the girls and they were totally captivated by her enthusiasm as she filled the bears with their stuffings ..... and with a specially selected heart too!

   

   Once the bears were suitably cuddly enough, they had a wash in the bear wash ..... where else??

   

   Now it appears that my daughter has inherited my desire for shopping, either that or the bear really is part of our family as it "needed" a dress, a cardigan, shoes and a bag. I actually saw that you can buy a bear wardrobe to keep all of those clothes in and I suspect that Father Christmas may need to be considering one of those!!

   

    So eventually the bears needed to be "officially" brought to life by creating their very own birth certificates and I therefore proudly introduce you to ......... Super Star and Twinkle Star!

   

   The team at Build-A-Bear Workshop^® in Solihull were supportive and encouraging without being intrusive and the girls had a totally un"bear"liveable time! Its a great experience for any child and with some fantastic festive friends to be made, it would make a perfect Christmas treat for any little girl or boy!

    

   Disclaimer: We were asked to attend the Build-A-Bear Workshop^® to carry out the review. All opinions and views are both honest and true and even if we hadn't been given the bears to take home, we would still have had a fabulous time!

2. Should parents be pampered too?

   Posted on 8:38pm Monday 19th Nov 2012

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   I have a confession to make. Last weekend, we had a completely relaxing evening and a morning lie in, at a lovely hotel ..... just the two of us.

   This never happens.

   When presented with the opportunity to take advantage of a pamper package at the Village Hotel, Coventry, with an overnight stay and a 3 course evening meal (*whispers*) with wine, my initial thought was guilt. I know this sounds ridiculous but I genuinely felt guilty that we would be leaving the girls to go and indulge in some totally selfish "us" time. Obviously once I had sorted babysitters, the guilt subsided somewhat and a few butterflies of excitment fluttered in my stomach. 

   The pamper package we were offered included a 3 course dinner, accommodation for the evening in one of their 3 star rooms and full access to the Healthworks Spa and Leisure Club with a treatment included. I was delighted when I realised my gorgeous other half decided he would prefer to use the Leisure Club, so I got to have his treatment too. I will openly admit to being a bit of a spa addict and over the years have had some great spa experiences and some not so great but this weekend was perfect. I had a great therapist and we were chatting along (as much to do with me being nosey and a chatterbox) but as she worked on the knots in my shoulders, I was less chatty and more sleepy!

   

    

   David from www.future-focus.eu said: ‘A massage can be the perfect solution to stress and fatigue Whether it’s an overworked parent looking to relax, or someone simply looking to have some downtime, a massage could be the perfect solution.’

   My gorgeous man is a connoiseur of all things food related so he was really looking forward to the meal, he had already chosen his meal before we had sat down. Me, however, I was looking forward to sitting down, with someone else preparing the food, cooking it, serving it and most definately the clearing up. Add into the equation that it was delicious and you have two very contented parents.

   We enjoyed drinks in the bar, we laughed, we kissed and cuddled (sorry kids, I know you dont like it when we do that without you) and just enjoyed being us. 

   Did we have a great time? Definately.

   And should parents be pampered? Absolutely.

    

   Disclaimer: We were given the opportunity to review the pamper package by the Village Hotel but the views in this blog post are honest and our own!

3. Frankie & Benny's : The New Cocktail Menu : Warning - its delicious!

   Posted on 7:39pm Saturday 10th Nov 2012

   Everyone loves Frankie and Bennys dont they? Its a fabulous old fashioned family diner style experience so when they told us that they were launching a new cocktail menu, we were delighted at the chance to try it. Let be honest, being a mum can be a juggling act between cooking family meals, getting kids ready for school and running the house, plus often working a full time job, it’s easy to see how many mums never get any "me" time. So we were told that Frankie & Benny’s has launched its new cocktail menu to encourage mums to take time out and sip on a delicious cocktail.  Sounded almost like a challenge to me!

   The new cocktail menu has something for everyone, including non alcoholic cocktails ( which I hasten to add we didn't try as felt it would be a little insulting .... that's my excuse anyway!)

   Anyone that knows me, laughs that I love a cheeky martini, so it was almost predicatable that I would go for the French Martini. The menu tells me that it is the ultimate in chic (a little like me then - ahem), a pink and frothy concoction comprising of Eristoff vodka, Chambord black-raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. It wasnt a strong drink, it was refreshing and VERY moreish, which wasnt ideal at lunchtime!!

   

   My gorgeous other half indulged with a Long Island Iced Tea, which was a combination of Eristoff vodka, Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, Jose Cuervo tequila and triple sec shaken with fresh lemon juice and sugar, lengthened with Coca Cola. As a result of a bad experience with tequila during my mis-spent youth, I couldnt think of anything worse than a drink with tequila in it but he said it was delicious.

   The majority of the cocktails are reasonably priced around £4.95 and my only complaint about the whole experience? That I had no one to look after the children so we could spent the rest of the afternoon and evening tasting the whole cocktail menu!

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4. What do you say when your child asks ...

   Posted on 8:01am Monday 15th Oct 2012

   ... is Grandad going to die mommy?

   That was the question I faced a few weeks ago. We had been talking about Cancer and why people get Cancer and I had said that people who smoke cigarettes are at risk of getting it because smoking is bad for you. Obviously I was thinking about putting that into her head so she didnt feel the need to smoke as she gets older but it didnt occur to me that her little brain would go into overdrive and start thinking about the people we know who smoke. One of whom is my Dad.

   Dad has always smoked on and off. He tried to give up when we were children but we always knew he was a "smoker". When I told my mom about my daughters comments, she asked if I remembered telling my maternal grandparents that "their arms and legs will fall off if they carried on smoking". I dont recall saying it but I've obviously felt strongly about it from a young age.

   So when I got approached about a product called SKYCIG, I asked my dad if he wanted to try them. SKYCIG e-cigarettes are designed to simulate the act of smoking tobacco without the 4,000 harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. They contain a small dose of Nicotine, which is delivered in the form of water vapour. Here's an interesting article which explains more about what these e-juices, as they are called, contain: http://e-cigreviews.org.uk/e-liquid-uk/ . According to TV doctor, Dr Hilary,  only 3-4% of people can give up smoking with their own will power, so  these e-cigarettes can be used as a tool in helping curb or quit smoking – to wean you off it.

   I know only too well how many times my Dad has tried to give up cigarettes and his first reaction to the SKYGIG was that it is heavier than a normal cigarette but he is trying them ..... I cant ask more than that. It also lets me tell my daughter with confidence that her Grandad is doing everything he can to ensure he stays around for a very long time.

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