Loved By Lexi

Little Charley Bear - NEW Antarctic Charley DVD: OUT TODAY - 30 January 2012

2012-01-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

As I've said before, Lexi absolutely loves Little Charley Bear. Everything about the TV programme absolutely fascinates her from the wonderfully witty narration courtesy of James Corden (star of Gavin & Stacey amongst other things), Little Charley Bear's wild, wacky and fantastic imagination, his friends Bellarina, Frozo, Caramel, Rivet, Nibblit and Midge and the wonderful adventures they all star in so well; there isn't anything about the programme and the characters that she doesn't love!

So when we were asked to review Little Charley Bear's brand new DVD which was released today, 30 January 2012, Lexi was very excited!

Little Charley Bear - Antarctic Charley

Lexi had seen a few of the episodes already on CBeebies but didn't mind one little bit watching them again.... and again..... and again!! An added bonus for Lexi (and especially Mummy!!!) was that there were new episodes on there that she hadn't seen before which made her even more excited and even more eager to watch it the second it arrived in the post!

Content

The DVD consists of 6 brilliant episodes all centred around a wintery theme.

"In these latest stories we discover that Charley loves wrapping up in his winter clothes! The only problem is that it’s summer outside, so he heads out on an adventure to the Antarctic to seek out the cold weather. Playing in the snow, Charley gets scared by a penguin that keeps following him. But the Penguin just wants to play! Elsewhere Charley puts his courage to the test, climbing a mountain to save Midge and coming face to face with a shark whilst fishing!"

Episodes

Snow Place for Frozo
Mountain Rescue Midge
Charley Go Fish
Downhill Rivet
Farmer Bear
Charley's Big Match

General Information

Title: Little Charley Bear – Antarctic Charley
Release Date: 30 January 2012
RRP: £12.99
Running Time: 50 mins
Format: DVD
Certificate: U

For more information on Little Charley Bear, please visit www.littlecharleybear.com or become friends with Charley on Facebook www.facebook.com/littlecharleybear.

Antarctic Charley on DVD has an RRP of £12.99 but is currently on sale at Amazon.co.uk for the bargain price of £9.69!

Loved By Lexi?

It's snow-wonder everyone loves Little Charley Bear with these latest six episodes. Lexi absolutely loved each and every one! Lexi is already the very proud owner of a talking Charley Bear toy, a few other Charley Bear toys plus his first DVD and now this one and the collection, I'm sure, will continue to grow. At 2 years 6 months old, Lexi is now beginning to love Little Charley Bear not only for the brilliant voices, bright colours and great content of the episodes but also for the jokes, laughter and the very well written and thought out storylines which she can now understand. Little Charley Bear is fantastic for all ages and I am sure he will continue to be a firm favourite in our household for a very long time to come which is why we give Little Charley Bear's new DVD, Antarctic Charley, a huge thumbs up from Mummy and an even bigger thumbs up from Lexi!

Top That! Publishing - The Silent Owl & The Tangle Fairy Books Review

2011-12-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

As I've said before, I have always been a firm believer that reading enriches and nourishes life. I read at least an entire book every couple of days and have read books of every genre, many different authors and different lengths and levels of depth. If there is nothing left to read I will happily pick up an old classic or favourite and re-read it as I really do love to read. I also believe that reading is a very important educational tool whether at school or at home which is why I really hope to pass my love of reading on to Lexi in the hope that she too will see the wonder of being transported into not only the minds of the author but into the lives and loves of the characters in the story whilst picking up and developing her English skills.

Lexi and I read very frequently and I think it is proof in itself how much benefit reading is to children as she is only 2 years 4 months old and can already recit the entire alphabet, count to 15, knows all her shapes and colours and can recognise letters and what sounds they make easily and loves it too as she is constantly being told how clever she is! :)

We have reviewed books for Top That! Publishing before and Lexi (and Mummy!) absolutely loved them so when Top That! Publishing sent Lexi two new storybooks to review for them, I was really pleased as I honestly think that the last books we reviewed for them have had a positive effect on Lexi's enjoyment in reading and her love of books...

The Tangle Fairy

Written by Seema Barker
Illustrations by Kirsten Richards

"Why is Jaya’s hair always in such a tangle? From witches to dragons, each night The Tangle Fairy explains to Jaya why she must make her hair so tangly. Children will love to follow Jaya as she tries to get to the bottom of the mischievous Tangle Fairy’s stories!"

Lexi was instantly interested in The Tangle Fairy because the bright colours and fantastic illustrations caught her attention and she was hooked!

The story is so original and such great fun that she loves it and hasn't grown tired of it even after reading it goodness knows how many times! There are so many fun and interesting things to see and read about in the book that she is so excited to turn the page to see the magic of the story continued on the next page! The story is written in rhyme so is fun for all ages of children whether reading it themselves or having it read to them as it gives them the anticipation of what is to come and the rhyming sentences make it even more fun!

The Tangle Fairy is available to buy direct from Top That! Publishing on their website http://www.topthatpublishing.com/ with an RRP of £5.99 but they have a special offer with it being on sale for the fantastic bargain price of £5.39!

The Silent Owl

Written by Clemency Pearce
Illustrated by Sam McPhillips

"‘In the great, old hollow oak,
Lived the Owl,
Who never spoke.’

In the deep, dark forest lives an owl who never speaks. The forest animals are worried about silent Owl, but he has a few surprises up his sleeve! New and emerging readers will love this enchanting bedtime book with unique illustrations and rhythmic text, ensuring that it is guaranteed to be picked up again and again!"

Lexi loves owls so as soon as she saw the owl on the cover she fell in love and wanted me to read it to her straightaway. She wanted to turn the pages as soon as she had seen the pictures to see what the owl was going to get up to; but not before she had to take the book straight over to Nanny and Grandad's so she could show them her new owl book! She was so excited to show them the owl and all owl's friends in the book including mouse, fox and badger!

The story is written in rhyme too and Lexi loves guessing which words are coming next and reciting the story in a sing song voice. It melted my heart each and every time she read this book because of the enjoyment, fun and laughter she got from it. She absolutely loves it and keeps it beside her bed so that she can read it to her toys (show them the pictures and make up her own story as she can't read herself just yet!) to help them sleep at night once Mummy and Daddy have done story time, kisses and left the room.

The Silent Owl is Lexi's most favourite book of all books she has ever owned by a clear mile!!

The Silent Owl is also available to buy direct from Top That! Publishing on their website http://www.topthatpublishing.com/ with an RRP of £5.99 but they have a special offer with it being on sale for the fantastic bargain price of £5.39!

You can find out more about Top That! Publishing and their fantastic other books and products by visiting their website or by popping over to their Facebook page and saying hi!

Both The Silent Owl The Tangle Fairy are huge hits with Lexi and will continue to be for a long time I'm sure! Thank you yet again Top That! Publishing for introducing Lexi and I to your fantastic array of books. You will continue to be very much Loved By Lexi for a long time to come!

Ewan™ the Dream Sheep from Easidream®

2011-12-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

Even at over 2 years old, Lexi is an absolute nightmare sleeper! She has always been terrible and no matter what we have tried including controlled crying, various sleep inducing techniques and just about everything imaginable, Lexi still doesn't sleep through the night and still insists on coming into Mummy and Daddy's bed (yes we stupidly allowed her when she was ill and just can't seem to get out of the habit). Controlled crying didn't work: "she will give in eventually" we are told by Health Visitors, Doctors and friends..... 4 hours later when she is still crying where are the Health Visitors then with their facts and opinions! So every time, Mummy and Daddy give in and Lexi ends up back in our bed fidgeting and acting up. Mummy hasn't had a full night's sleep in over 2 years and it sure is taking it's toll....

So when we were asked to review Ewan the Dream Sheep from Easidream I was absolutely ecstatic! Anything was worth a try and I am at my wit's end. Please let Ewan work I thought. Please....

About Ewan and Easidream

"ewan™ the dream sheep is a simple yet effective tool for settling restless babies and toddlers into a peaceful slumber. Cute, cuddly ewan™ attaches securely to the cot bars or sit him next to your moses basket, and plays real heartbeat and womb sound combinations that mimic the noises babies hear inside the womb. These comforting sounds have been proven to be effective for settling and calming even the most restless newborns, as they make the difficult transition from womb to world.

Even better is that ewan™ has a choice of 3 further pink noise sound combinations- similar to white noise but more effective - which are suitable for older babies and toddlers, so he can go on helping with your sleep routine well on into the pre-school years!

ewan™ loves to travel, so if you’re out and about he can be attached to the buggy or car seat so your little one can be comforted ‘on the go’ and there’s no chance of leaving him behind. With his useful tail you could even securely attach a dummy or teether.

ewan™ also doubles as a nightlight, thanks to his soft pink comforting glow, so no need to buy one of these as an extra and his calming soft light simply adds to his charm!"

Features

A choice of four soothing heartbeat combinations which are proven to be effective
Soft pink comforting glow.
20 minute timer.
Volume control.

Hangs from cot/buggy/car seat with Velcro tail.
Battery operated 3 x AAA

Surface wash only

What Lexi Thought

Lexi was absolutely petrified of Ewan the first time she met him! I had turned him on so he was glowing (which I think is more red than pink)

and had the heartbeat and womb sounds coming from him. Lexi took one look at him and hid behind the wardrobe! It wasn't the reaction I was expecting as she loves anything soft, cuddly and animal shaped. I didn't press the issue and Ewan went back in his box for Lexi to meet him another day.

The next day I got the laptop out, sat Lexi on my lap and we looked through pictures of sheep on Google images until Mummy eventually (without Lexi noticing) changed the pictures we were looking at from normal sheep in fields etc to pictures of Ewan in fields and with other children. Lexi was pointing at the photos saying "Lexi want. Lexi love" so Ewan came out again.

Lexi's reaction this time was completely different. She loved him. He has such a lovely cute face and is big, cuddly and soft and she loved squeezing him and cuddling up to his soft tummy. It took a while to get her used to it, but after a while she was even pressing the legs herself to make him make the "nice sounds". I was so pleased....

Next challenge: BEDTIME!

LEXI SLEPT!!! No not right through the night..... BUT she slept from 8pm to 4am! That is the longest she has EVER slept in her own bed in over 2 years. It is a miracle!!! There is no way it could be coincidence because she honestly has NEVER slept that long in her own bed in her entire life so it's impossible for it to be a coincidence! THANK YOU EASIDREAM!!!

I wish we had discovered Ewan the Dream Sheep from Easidream a very long time ago as maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now and would never have gotten this bad with Lexi's sleeping habits! But I am eternally grateful to Easidream because they have instantly changed Lexi's sleeping habits aswell as my own so that we are getting some sleep. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I wasn't able to film Lexi asleep without her waking but here is an idea of the soothing sounds and Ewan's effect on little ones from Easidream's video:-

Price and Where to Buy

Ewan is available to buy with an RRP of £29.99 and can be bought here: http://www.easidream.co.uk/shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=easidream.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=1. Knowing how amazingly Ewan works, I would definitely 100% pay £29.99 for him as he is such great quality and really does work!! I'd pay anything for a good night's sleep though but even so, £29.99 is a great price in my opinion.

THANK YOU EASIDREAM! Not only have you allowed me some well needed sleep but Ewan is so well thought out and works so brilliantly that I really can't praise you enough! Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. Ewan the Dream Sheep from Easidream is DEFINITELY Loved By Lexi!

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WINNER ANNOUNCED: CroydeB Backpack

2011-12-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

And the winner of the CroydeB backpack from Miracle Products is.....

LIZ TUMBRIDGE!

Congratulations Liz!!

Thank you to everyone who entered! Keep watch as we will have another competition coming very soon. :)

VersArtile - Making it Personal

2011-11-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I came across an amazing looking page on Facebook belonging to VersArtile. Their photos showed an array of gorgeous canvases personalised with your child's details and photographs all cleverly arranged around your chosen theme. The second I saw them I fell in love so when I was asked by the fantastically talented guys over at VersArtile to review a canvas for them I was delighted!

The Process

The first step is to choose the canvas theme. There are lots of gorgeous themes to choose from which are suitable for boys, girls and unisex. There really are so many and they are all brilliant! After spending quite a while looking through Vintage, Enchanting, Retro, Sparkle and many more I finally chose In Bloom because it's so pretty and beautiful!

Once you have chosen your design, the second step is to email VersArtile the details for personalisation. The information they need is really easy to understand as they highlight it in blue so you know what information to send them.

Once you've emailed VersArtile with the design choice and wording, they give you a separate email address to send the required number of photos to. The reason it is sent to a separate email address is so that they don't store them, they use them for your design and then delete them for your peace of mind. I found this stage the most difficult because I am rather trigger happy when it comes to Lexi and have thousands of photos to choose from! It took me a while but eventually I emailed them the 6 photos and eagerly waited to see what they'd do with them and the wording and to see what the proof they'd email me would look like! I got an instant reply saying they had received my photos and would start creating my canvas which I thought was wonderful - no wondering or worrying that they hadn't received them - I knew straightaway and this gave me even more confidence in them and their ability!

Usually I find getting anything personalised to be a total palaver with sorting photos and emailing details then having to ask for things to be changed goodness knows how many times so was a little dubious as to how my vision for the photograph's I chose and the wording and look of the canvas in my head would translate into an email and then onto canvas but it couldn't have been easier!! The guys talked me through the process stage by stage and made sure they knew exactly what I wanted and had it looking perfect before it was sent to print. They sent me a proof to look at by email which looked fantastic but they were more than happy to make any changes if I'd have wanted any - but they had it spot on first time so there was no need. Their creative flare and great communication made it so easy for me to explain myself and get the perfect images to them first time and so easily and quickly! The proof of my canvas came only a few hours after I had placed the order which I found extremely impressive!

I replied saying that I absolutely loved it and gave them my address.....

I was expecting a 5 day wait as that's what it states in their Ts & Cs; 2 days later my canvas arrived in the post! I couldn't believe how quickly it arrived. It was boxed brilliantly so there was no damage to it (which I had been a little worried about) and even came with the fixings to attach it to the wall - Service above and beyond!!

The Canvas

"HIGH QUALITY CANVAS
VersArtile canvas prints are made using 100% cotton, 360gsm canvases. Our chunky 1.5 inch (3.8cm) frames are also slotted with wedges to keep your print taut and in good shape for years to come.

MADE TO LAST
Our canvases are printed using the very latest high resolution printers and high quality ink with 72 million colours all containing fade and water resistors.

10 YEAR GUARANTEE
And all our canvas prints come with a 10 year guarantee (terms & conditions apply)."

Lexi's Canvas

The canvas itself is fantastic quality; it is mounted on a sturdy wooden frame so it's very tough and durable. The print quality is superb too. Every little detail in the photos I had sent to Adam and Rich at VersArtile was depicted beautifully on the canvas and the warmth and strength of the colour is fantastic.

It is the little details on the canvas which are encorporated into the canvas which make it even more special.

On In Bloom, the clothes peg is personalised with Lexi's date of birth which is subtle but stunning.

The little black and white old fashioned pictures have Lexi's date of birth stamped onto them.

The daisies in the top corner spell her name which looks so cute and eye catching..

Obviously, I love the whole canvas and all the little details and magic touches which make it so special but my favourite part of the canvas is the wording...

I have read the little verse so many times I know it by heart and now, each time I glimpse the canvas and the wording, it brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye because it is so beautiful.

VersArtile

I cannot recommend VersArtile enough. They are offering a unique, beautiful and very special product which will last a lifetime and bring any room to life and be a real focal talking point in your home!

The process, communication and support offered by Adam and Rich is beyond brilliant. I am so impressed that I have been showing everybody who will listen the canvas and praising VersArtile as much as possible.

If you'd like to browse VersArtile's fantastic canvas themes which are available to personalise, you can view them:-

Facebook: www.facebook.com/versartile
Website: www.versartile.com

Special Offer for Loved By Lexi Readers

The usual price for a personalised canvas of your own is £100 which I think is well worth the money as it is superb quality. I have paid much more just for a canvas photograph or print so £100 for something so unique and special, I think is a fantastic price.

BUT; The lovely guys Adam and Rich over at VersArtile are offering all your lovely Loved By Lexi readers a special 20% off discount on their own personalised canvas!! Your very own personalised canvas featuring personal details and gorgeous photos of your little one for the extra special price of £80! Brilliant! Just mention Loved By Lexi when you place your order to benefit from this amazing special offer! What better Christmas present for a loved one than a beautiful personalised canvas of their child to treasure forever! Gift vouchers are available too if you'd like to order a canvas for someone you love but want to let them choose the design and photos themselves, gift vouchers are the perfect solution! I know I would be ecstatic to receive gift vouchers for such an amazing gift!

Thank you VersArtile; Lexi's canvas is hanging proudly on the wall in our house and we have had endless comments on how gorgeous and special it is. Not only is your service superb and the canvas amazing but you made the process so simple and painless. That is why VersArtile is highly recommended and absolutely Loved By Lexi!!

COMPETITION: Win a NEW CroydeB Backpack from Miracle Products

2011-11-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

The fantastic people over at Miracle Products Ltd are giving one lucky Loved By Lexi reader the chance to win a brilliant flashing LED backpack from their brand new CroydeB range.

"CroydeB Childrens Backpack Features:

1. Embedded LED light technology cool to the touch.
2. Reflective strips on the shoulder pads of backpacks.
3. Soft Rubber zip pulls.
4. 100hr of light usage (watch battery).
5. LED 360 degree viewing angle.
6. Made from 600D Polyester, tough and durable.
7. Removable battery packs, if you want to wash the bag
8. Red LEDs for Bags, Blue for Caps.
9. LED Effects: FAST, Slow and Always on.

Plus they look great, feel great and fit loads of stuff in!"

Competition will end on 30th November 2011 with the winner being announced on 1st December 2011 so the lucky winner will receive their flashing LED CroydeB backpack in time for Christmas!

You can find out more about the CroydeB range by visiting:-

Website: Miracle Products website
Facebook: Miracle Products Facebook page

Good luck to all our lovely Loved By Lexi readers! I know that the lucky winner will absolutely love their CroydeB backpack!!

John Crane Ltd & Sevi: The Perfect Partnership!

2011-11-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

The Loved By Lexi household have always been huge fans of John Crane Ltd and own lots of their fantastic toys. So when we heard that the wonderful John Crane Ltd had formed a partnership with the equally amazing Italian company Sevi, we were really excited!!

Sevi

The history of Sevi spans almost two centuries in its devotion to wood and the success of Sevi is down to its design, quality, commitment to professional service and hundreds of satisfied customers.

1920 – At the beginning of the 1920’s Sevi excited the local market with their small, hand made masterpieces.

1930-1940 – To keep up with a now growing market, new machinery was purchased to support the craftsman’s skills. Automation did not affect the high quality of Sevi but enhanced it.

1950-1960 – The booming economy lead to a new craze of giving children small ‘surprise’ gifts. Inspired by this Sevi continues today to producing not only toys but objects that express the warmth, wonder and friendliness of a child’s world.

1970-1980 – This was the brands boom years with new characters born – the Happy Clown is still in the line up today, reborn in the newly styled Le Cirque collection.

1990-2000 – Sevi is acquired by the Trudi Company in 1998, remaining faithful to it founding principles and values; Sevi continues in hand crafted wood, caring for detail and dynamic creativity. Stringent safety testing is applied to all products and Sevi was awarded UNI EN ISO 9001 certification in 2001.

2010 – Sevi chooses John Crane Ltd to distribute to retailers in the UK, and a strong wooden partnership is born.

Lexi and I absolutely love John Crane and from the looks of the gorgeous products available from them via Sevi - we are going to LOVE them even more!!

To look at the full range of Sevi products available from John Crane pop over and take a look at:-

Website:www.john-crane.co.uk
Facebook:www.facebook.com/johncranefanpage
Twitter:www.twitter.com/johncraneblog use #sevi-by-johncrane

You can read the other fantastic reviews of John Crane and Sevi's partnership over on the Blogmatch linky.

John Crane has always been a firm favourite of ours but I am sure them and their products will be Loved By Lexi even more now they have teamed up with Sevi!

Bebemoda: Bumkins Superbib - DISCOUNT FOR LOVED BY LEXI READERS

2011-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

The lovely people at Bebemoda were so grateful for our review of their Bumkins Waterproof Superbib that they have given the wonderful readers of Loved By Lexi the opportunity to purchase their very own Bumkins Waterproof Superbib using an amazing 15% off discount code!

Using the discount code "SUPERBIB" you can bag yourself an absolute bargain and get:-

A SuperBib for just £6.79

or

A three pack (of your choice) for just £18.33!

Discount Valid Until: 20 November 2011

Remember: SUPERBIB and you will get an absolute bargain which will make a brilliant Christmas present for that little someone special!

There are lots of designs to choose from so pop over to the Bebemoda website to choose your favourite!

You view our review of the Bebemoda Bumkins Superbib here

Thank you for being such amazing readers - I hope you enjoy your discount code!

Miracle Products Ltd: Urban Slate Spot Changing Bag

2011-11-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

Loved By Lexi recently ran a competition where the lovely Alison Turnnidge won herself a fantastic bag from Miracle Products Ltd. Alison said that she absolutely loved the Lotus Flower City Range that she was sent so when Miracle Products Ltd asked us to review a bag for them I was really excited!

After falling in love with just about all their designs and styles, we decided to go for the Urban Slate Spot changing bag because it has so many great features and I love the colour and spot design.

"The Urban Changing Bag is a twist on our very successful City Baby Changing Bag. The oiled cotton gives the bag a more rugged feel but with a sophisticated edge carried through with our soft cotton striped handles. Each bag comes with our exclusive dandilion interior fabric, matching large padded changing mat, carry, shoulder and buggy straps. Slightly smaller than our City Bag but large enough for mums who need space. Two large zipped compartments are perfect for keeping personal items one side and baby items the other."

The bag is made from oiled cotton which at first I thought looked a little plastic

BUT once I had filled it with all Lexi's changing paraphenalia it looked a lot better.

The inside is bright red with a gorgeous flower type design which was really striking against the slate of the outside of the bag.

The integrated changing mat is a really good size; it fits perfectly into the bag so I thought it would be a bit too small but it was the perfect size and is made in the same striking red as the interior of the bag and has an oiled underside to protect against moisture and dampness.

Miracle Products Ltd have obviously thought out the design and features of their changing bags really well as there are lots of great pockets and places to keep things in the bag; I absolutely love the two zip compartments on the outside of the bag. They are so convenient to just slip keys, phone or wallet into without having to open the main compartment of the bag and rifle through nappies, wipes and clothes. I love these two front pockets as they are so useful!

The bottle pocket on the side of the bag is genius too as it means you can slip a toddler cup or a bottle into the side of the bag where it is protected against spills and leakage and also easy to access.

The bag is really roomy and has plenty of space for everything you could possibly need to take along for a newborn right through to toddler. It is very well made so will last for years and years to come!

The variety of straps are a great idea aswell as you can sling it over your shoulder when you have lots to carry or can use the other handles. The best feature in my opinion are the buggy straps. These are brilliant! You can attach the changing bag to your pushchair without having it dragging along the floor or dangling in the way of the wheels - I wish I had discovered that buggy straps existed a long time ago as that has been a bain of my life ever since Lexi was born and I have tried all the usual tricks to make carrying a loaded changing bag on a pushchair easier and less dangerous as when Lexi was tiny, her changing bag was so heavy and pulling down on the handles of the pushchair with such weight that it actually tipped her pushchair up backwards with me just stopping it in time before she fell onto the pavement! So I have always been wary about hanging a changing bag on my pushchair and now that I have discovered buggy straps from Miracle Products Ltd I am very happy and would highly recommend them purely for that key feature!!

About the Urban Changing Bag

Available Colours:
Navy Spot

Red Spot

Slate Spot

Dimensions:
W:44cm D:19cm H26cm

Features:
Two large zipped central compartments.
Two external zip pockets.
1 large slip pocket.
Deep bottle pocket.
Wipe clean waterproof interiors.
Interior zip pockets for keys etc.
Large matching padded changing mat.
Pockets for mobile phone, nappies, bottles and so much more.
Carry and shoulder straps
Buggy Straps Included

Material:
100% oiled cotton with soft cotton handles

Price: £44.95

Although £44.95 might seem expensive, I have paid much more for changing bags in the past which were nowhere near as good quality or so useful and gorgeous so I think £44.95 is a great price for the Urban Slate Spot Changing Bag.

You can buy the Urban Slate Spot Changing Bag direct from the Miracle Products Ltd website where you can also view their other fantastic designs, colours and styles of bags.

You can also find out more about this fantastic company and their fantastic products by popping over to the Miracle Products Ltd Facebook page.

I have read lots of reviews of Miracle Products Ltd's products so was really pleased to get the opportunity to review for them and was not disappointed. Their products really are innovative, gorgeous and genius aswell as being reasonably priced and practical! Miracle Products Ltd's Urban Slate Spot Changing Bag is most definitely Loved By Lexi.

Guest Toyologist Review for Mummiefun: Moon Sand Candy Factory

2011-10-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

We were kindly asked to do a Guest Review for Mummiefun who are Toyologists for Toys 'R' Us.

They sent us the Moon Sand Candy Factory to see what we thought and here's our Guest Review for Mummiefun and Toys 'R' Us...

Moon Sand Candy Factory

When we received the parcel, Lexi was so excited because it was so brightly coloured and appealing that she wanted it opened instantly.

My first impression was one of slight disappointment as I felt the packaging falsely advertised the contents of the box. It shows the candy factory with lots of candy sweets made with green, pink and purple sand which look really cool. My disappointment stemmed from the fact that when we opened the box and pealed back the paper, there were only two colours included in the box (it does state this in the contents list but just shows different colours on the front). There being only two colours meant that the elaborateness of the designs we could make were severely restricted in comparison to the ones shown on the front of the box.

Lexi being just 2 didn't care how many colours were included and was insistent that we got the sand out and started creating immediately so we did...

The instructions were really easy to follow. We simply had to click the lever press together and place it in the ready made tray (bottom of the box), tip the sand out and we were away! The kit contains a candy press machine, different shaped moulds, a measuring cup, two colours of magic Moon Sand which feels slightly damp to the touch and never dries out however it doesn't stick to everything like normal wet sand does. It is really hard to describe but it feels really strange and new and sticks to itself without sticking to your hands/fingers and everything else. A genius idea!

"Moon Sand is a modelling compound with all the fun of the beach but without the mess! Squish it, shape it or mould it! Moulds like dough but it never dries out, you can reuse again and again, indoors or out. Moon Sand won't stick or stain"

The bottom of the storage box is designed to store the sand in but I thought it would be easier for Lexi to use if I put it in some Tupperware pots which I did.

The first step is to press the sand into the measuring cup to ensure you have the correct amount of sand;

Moon Sand Candy Factory says that it is suitable from 3 years and as Lexi is only 2 years old Mummy had to play with it with her and supervise as she needed some encouragement to understand what to do with it and how to play with it other than just digging in the sand!

Once I had taught Lexi how to measure out the sand and tip it into the moulds she was well away. Measure out sand, tip into different shaped moulds, pop into lever press machine and pull down the lever then Hey Presto! cool looking Candy!

Being so young Lexi's candy was just one colour and didn't look quite like the candy on the box front so Mummy had a go to see how easy or difficult it was to make the candy look funky...

Lexi helped Mummy measure out the sand whilst Mummy painstakingly pressed tiny amounts of the opposite colour sand into the mould trying to make sure it was only in the hollowed out shape rather than anywhere else in the mould, we then tipped it in the sand Lexi had measured out, popped it into the press and Lexi pulled the lever. With bated-breath we lifted up the mould to reveal...

Mummy had managed it. It took a lot of concentration and effort but Mummy had made candy look like it did on the box!! You can re-use Moon Sand simply by crumbling it apart again but Mummy was so proud of herself that she wanted to keep these candies as a memento of the fun Lexi and I had had making them and the effort that had gone into them so we simply popped them onto a baking tray covered in tin foil and put them in the oven (times are stated in the instructions dependent on oven type). When they came out they had gone completely hard but still looked just as vibrant and funky! I am still a little disappointed that the kit only came with two colours as just one more would, I feel, have made all the difference to the versatility of the fun we could've had!

You can purchase the Moon Sand Candy Factory direct from Toys ‘R’ Us website for £14.99. I think that this is a little expensive for a toy if you are going to use it with a child as young as Lexi as the amount of fun and time she spent playing with it was limited. However, I think that an older child who could play with it alone would have a lot of fun and get hours of enjoyment creating their own candies and displaying them in the storage box - especially if they purchased one or two extra colours of Moon Sand (available to buy separately for £6.99 for two colours).

All in all, Lexi and Mummy did spend a good couple of hours having lots of fun with the Moon Sand Candy Factory and although Mummy was a little disappointed; Lexi didn't mind how many colours there were or how hard it was to make the candy look amazing because she merely enjoyed playing with the sand and having fun. This means that from Lexi's point of view, the Moon Sand Candy Factory is definitely awarded the prestige of being Loved By Lexi.

Impressions to Keep: Silver Jewellery Keepsakes

2011-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

I love keepsakes - especially ones that will last a lifetime and will always hold so much love and be something you will treasure forever. So when we were asked to review a piece of personalised jewellery by Impressions to Keep I was really excited as I have always loved the idea and couldn't wait to see how it worked and how well it turned out.

I was especially pleased to review for Impressions to Keep as it is a small family owned business run by the lovely Emma who is married to a man in the RAF with 2 boys of her own she and is just a "normal" Mummy doing something she loves without adding a huge mark-up on pricing like the larger companies do.

Emma

"I originally started this business making wet clay hand & foot impressions and taking hand/foot prints onto ceramic ware. Everything is hand decorated, names & ages all painted on by me before being glazed and kilned. I started up because I am a sucker for anything to capture moment of my boys' life and often ended up paying WAY over the odds for all my keepsakes! I was leaving the RAF after 18 years of service and wanted to DO something as well as look after my boys full time. So, after paying a silly amount of money for their hand & foot impressions to be taken, I decided I could to better and cheaper.....and hopefully I have achieved that.

Silver prices have risen massively in the past year, but I am still trying to keep prices as low as possible. I have a no frills free website, you will note the finger impression kit is not in a fancy presentation box, I do not put the completed jewellery in expensive jewellery boxes & I do not supply a silver chain as most customers have a spare one and do not need the cost of another added on.

I do not charge extra just because a piece is bespoke, customers are charged on time and materials, not just because they want something ‘non standard’. I LOVE my work, I love the people I meet and I Know how much people love to have this stuff, I am so privileged to be able to make something that will hopefully be treasured."

The 'Kit'

Emma sent Lexi and I a kit which contained a sheet of magic paper, a magic wipe to take Lexi's hand and foot prints and 2 small pots containing moulding material in order to take Lexi's fingerprints.

Our mission was so simple;

1. The magic paper and wipe came with detailed instructions. All we had to do was wipe the clear dry wipe over Lexi's hand and press down on the special 'magic' paper and voila her print would appear. Sounds easy..... And was! Even Lexi and I with our fat thumbs and inability to do anything creative managed to do a pretty good job even though we had to do it a few times because Lexi kept moving her hands.

2. Repeat the process above with Lexi's foot. This proved a little more tricky as Lexi decided that once she had the wipe on her foot, it would be a brilliant idea to do a little jig on top of the paper thereby making a lot more random toe prints on the paper than were ideally required!

3. Mix the blue putty together with the white putty and ensure they are evenly kneaded together. Simple roll into a small ball and press finger/thumb firmly into the putty. Hold for 10 seconds or so and voila, a perfect fingerprint! Emma sent enough for 2 fingerprints but we had a small accident with one lot so only had one chance at it - thankfully it came out really well! The putty can be reworked for up to about 2 minutes so it gives plenty of scope for change if need be.

All Emma's instructions for using the kit to it's full potential were absolutely brilliant. Easy to understand and well written with little hints and tips of how to get the very best impressions possible. It was a very good thing she sends out such detailed instructions because Lexi and I are absolutely useless when it comes to anything regarding crafting or being creative so it would've been an absolute nightmare if they were any less detailed. They were perfect! If I was going to do anything differently I would probably have had Daddy there aswell so that one of us could control Lexi whilst the other did the prints as Lexi got so excited that we ended up with a lot more prints on the paper than were required! Our efforts did make me giggle though and Emma was amused to see how much fun we had had! I wasn't entirely sure just how Emma was going to get any semblance of a normal print out of the mess Lexi and I had created....

Silver

Emma from Impressions to Keep uses Silver clay which is an ingenious substance, as when kilned it produces stunning fine silver jewellery.

Fine Silver has a higher silver content than sterling with sterling silver being 92.5% silver whereas fine silver is 99.9% silver, So you can be assured you are purchasing the highest quality silver there is. It does mean that because it is 99.9% silver, the jewellery is slightly softer and will need a polish ever now and again but that is no big deal for me as the high shine and little hands mean it would need cleaning anyway! Being fine silver, the shine is beautiful!

Service

The kit took no time at all to arrive in the post as promised by Emma. Once we had done our prints and sent them back to her, the jewellery arrived in the post very soon after which I was really surprised at! No time at all. Fantastic service from a lovely, friendly and inspiring lady! Thank you Emma.

Pendant

Emma sent back the completed jewellery and I actually cried when I saw how beautiful it was. The bigger pendant is a flower shape which has Lexi's name on the back;

And had her hand and foot prints on the front. The prints look amazing - especially considering the mess we had sent Emma! They are both so clear and well imprinted into the silver. It looks fantastic!

The smaller top pendant is also a flower shape and has Lexi's fingerprint impressed into it. It is absolutely gorgeous. I still can't believe just how well it came out and how much detail it has in it. Every little line, crinkle and crevice is right where it should be. It really does look amazing!

Impressions to Keep

Not only do Impressions to Keep make beautiful pendants in all shapes, sizes and styles to suit all budgets but they also make lots of other fabulous items like impressions in clay, prints on ceramic, personalised gifts, Christmas ideas and now NEW impressions in copper to compliment their impressions in silver range! You can view their full product list and buy from their website: http://www.impressionstokeep.moonfruit.com/ or on the Impressions to Keep Facebook page.

Silver Jewellery Prices

Prices range from £25 for just a single charm to £50 or £60 for a double Pendant to £90 for a large hidden doodle pendant. I think these prices are amazing as I have done lots of research about pricing before and this is at least a third cheaper than a lot of the large companies and is just as good - if not better! quality than most of the larger 'get it out quick' companies!

I have fallen in love with this double pendant with Lexi's hand, foot and finger prints on it and still smile each time I glance at it hung around my neck because it is the most beautiful keepsake of Lexi's that I own and I will certainly treasure it forever. Maybe when she is older, I can pass it on to Lexi and she too can cherish it as I do. She already "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" when she points at it and was sure to show it to her Mooma and tell her about "Lexi hand and foot on Mummy necklace by nice lady" which made me smile!!

Impressions to Keep make the most beautiful, sentimental keepsakes at fantastically appealing prices so are at the top of our list of companies which are Loved By Lexi's Mummy and therefore Loved By Lexi!

Be Pretty In Pink with Bottlegreen: Breakthrough Breast Cancer

2011-10-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Bottlegreen is turning Bottlepink with a limited edition bottle launched to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. 10% of each bottle of bottlepink pomegranate and elderflower pressé will go towards Breakthrough Breast Cancer to help them with their amazing work!

If this wasn't reason enough to buy yourself a bottle of limited edition Bottlepink, then read on as I am sure you will love it just as much as I did...!

Be Pretty In Pink with Bottlegreen Turning Bottlepink

"From your party dress to your drink, pink is the only colour to be seen with this October! Ladies up and down the country will be turning all shades of pink to do their bit for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there’s no better way to show your support than with a delicious glass of bottlepink!

bottlegreen has teamed up with Breakthrough Breast Cancer to turn its gorgeous pomegranate & elderflower cordial and pomegranate & elderflower sparkling pressé pink in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The stylish new bottles will be in store for a limited time only, with 10% from each sale going to help the charity’s fantastic work.

Embodying the irresistibly fruity and distinctive taste of pomegranates combined with the delicate and fragrant taste of elderflowers, the bottlepink drinks are wonderfully light and refreshing.

Along with the exquisite taste, the beautifully designed bottles are also the perfect accessory and will add a touch of glamour to any celebration. So get your friends and family together and host your very own pink party in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and make bottlepink your special guest!

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK with 48,000 people diagnosed with the disease each year. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a pioneering charity that is saving lives and changing futures, through researching, campaigning and education."

Bottlepink Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial

Bottlepink sent Loved By Lexi a bottle of their limited edition cordial to try and I have to say, I was not disappointed; exquisite is exactly the right description for their bottlepink pomegranate & elderflower cordial. It is absolutely delicious! I absolutely loved it and Lexi decided it was her new favourite drink too and drank a lot of it herself! It is gorgeously sweet without being sickly and you can really taste the flavours of the pomegranate with a slight tang and flowery aroma from the elderflower. It is a firm favourite soft drink in our house now!

Bottlepink sent us some wonderful drink recipe ideas too which we tried out and they too were absolutely glorious - perfect for serving up either virgin or alcoholic to your friends and family at a Pink Party!

The Pomegranate Daquiri

Ingredients
• 50ml rum
• 25ml lime (whole)
• 12.5ml gomme
• 10ml bottlepink pomegranate and elderflower cordial
• 10ml water

Glass:
• Martini
Decoration:
• Pomegranate seeds if available
Method:
• Shake ingredients with ice,
• Strain into a martini glass
• Decorate with pomegranate seeds if available

Super Blush Mocktail

Serves 1

Ingredients:
• 75g fresh raspberries
• 2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• Chilled bottlegreen Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial
• Top up with soda water

Method:
• Press the raspberries through a sieve to make a puree.
• Discard the seeds.
• Add the lime juice and then pour into a large glass.
• Pour in a measure of bottlegreen Pomegranate & Elderflower cordial
• Top up with soda water and serve.

The Red Cooler

Serves 1

Ingredients
• 25ml bottlegreen Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial
• 50ml Soda Water
• 50ml Cranberry juice
• 5ml Grenadine

Method:
• Shake with ice
• Strain into a highball glass
• Add a lime whirl

All of these recipes were absolutely delicious and there are many more online on their website here so why not buy yourself a bottle and try them out! There are some fantastic dessert and main meal recipe ideas on their website too so be adventurous and give them a try! Their cocktail ideas were amazingly delicious so their food ideas are next on my list to try.

On top of all these amazing attributes; bottlepink contains no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners giving you even more reason to pop out and grab yourself a bottle now!

Where To Buy

bottlepink is available from all major supermarkets. bottlepink sparkling pressé is priced from £2.39 and bottlepink cordial from £2.99 which I think is a great price especially as 10% will be going towards Breakthrough Breast Cancer's fantastic achievements and continued work in fighting breast cancer.

To find out more about bottlegreen please visit www.bottlegreendrinks.com

To find out more about Breakthrough Breast Cancer visit www.breakthrough.org.uk

You can also pop over to the Bottlegreen Facebook page to keep up to date.

I really can't stress just how delicious this product is and can't recommend it highly enough. I think bottlegreen turning their bottlepink for this worthy cause is a fantastic idea and must raise my glass to their brilliant efforts! Bottlepink Pomegranate & Elderflower Cordial and the cause it supports are most definitely Loved By Lexi!

CHOKABLOK: New Premium Ice Cream on the 'Blok'

2011-10-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

"Calling all ice cream fanatics! A delicious new ‘premium’ ice cream is hitting shelves, that has been specially crafted by an expert team of ‘master cremeliers’ with more than 100 years of experience between them.

ChokaBlok is a luxury ice cream made from an indulgent blend of the finest ingredients including real chocolate, whole milk, double cream and free-range eggs.

Each spoonful is crammed full of rich flavours and features more chewy chunks, gooey bits and crunchy nuggets per bite than any other ice cream."

Loved By Lexi were asked to review a new range of luxury ice creams that have just hit the market and are already going down a storm in Tesco and certain members of the family were very excited as Lexi and her Daddy are ice cream crazy, they absolutely love it!

Unfortunately I am allergic to chocolate (boooo!) so this review fell to Lexi's Daddy and Lexi alone with Mummy just watching on wishing she could have a taste!

We were sent 2 pots of ice cream and three boxes of ice cream on sticks and here is Lexi and her Daddy's verdicts on each of them:-

The Chocolate Extremist

"This chocolate heaven is everything you could imagine, all wrapped up on a stick. Chocolate ice cream is swirled with our chocolate sauce, real milk chocolate covered crispies and brownie pieces, then covered in Belgian dark chocolate and studded with cookie crumble."

Lexi's Daddy is a chocoholic so he absolutely loved this one. He said that the crispies pieces and brownies pieces gave a new depth to his ice cream eating experience and helped break up the sweetness of the chocolate ice cream perfectly. The cookie crumble complimented the ice cream and the chocolate sauce beautifully and he absolutely loved it. Lexi only ate a small amount as I think that because it is so chocolatey, it became a little bit sickly for her but her Daddy definitely enjoyed it.

The Chocolate Extremist from CHOKABLOK is available in both 500ml tubs aswell as in three packs of 80ml sticks. Lexi's Daddy enjoyed eating the sticks as it is a ready made portion as oppose to him feeling the need to accidentally finish the entire tub! Whereas Lexi preferred having a scoop from the tub in a cone or bowl so there is an option for everyone.

Peanut Butter Nutter

"This cheeky combination of peanut butter ice cream is swirled with rich caramel sauce, loaded with real milk chocolate drops, and then smothered in Belgian milk chocolate and roasted peanut pieces."

Lexi's Daddy isn't the biggest fan of peanuts but he still enjoyed Peanut Butter Nutter. He didn't find the peanuts too overpowering; there were enough to give the taste but not so much that it took over the ice cream experience. He thought the rich caramel sauce was very creamy and added yet another depth to the taste and flavour and gave a new texture to the ice cream. He loved biting into the ice cream and discovering chocolate drops - as did Lexi who was waiting for Daddy to find them so she could steal them from him to eat for herself!

Peanut Butter Nutter from CHOKABLOK is also available in both 500ml tubs aswell as in three packs of 80ml sticks and we were sent both to try. Lexi's Daddy found the sticks more chocolatey than the tubs so would recommend the tubs to someone who is an avid fan of peanut butter and wants the real nutty experience whereas the sticks aren't too loaded with peanuts.

Billionaires Dynamite

"Adventure seekers look out… This is an explosive combination of creamy caramel ice cream swirled with caramel sauce, loaded with real milk chocolate covered crunchy shortcake crumble and chewy caramel fudge, and then smothered in Belgian milk chocolate and honeycomb pieces."

This was Lexi's Daddy absolute favourite of all of the ice creams! He absolutely loved the crunchy shortcake crumble and honeycomb pieces as it gave a surprising crunch as you bite into the ice cream and with the caramel ice cream and rich Belgian chocolate, it is the perfect combination. He has insisted that we add it to our next shopping list as he has been having it for dessert as a treat and has enjoyed every single mouthful!

Billionaires Dynamite from CHOKABLOK is currently only available in three packs of 80ml sticks. Although there is a similar sounding tub called Billionaires Shortcake which Lexi's Daddy can't wait to buy to try next!

The Rocky Road Of Love

"There's nothing rocky about this flavour. In every tub we use rich chocolate and marshmallow ice creams, pack them full with milk chocolate hearts, chunks of crunchy biscuit, mini marshmallows and then add a good swirl of sticky toffee sauce."

Finally, we were sent The Rocky Road of Love. This was Lexi's absolute favourite of them all (even though she loved them all and there wasn't one she wouldn't eat which makes a nice change for our very fussy toddler)! She loved picking out the chunks of crunchy biscuits and marshmallows and giggled each time she found a heart shaped piece of chocolate which was really cute. She loved absolutely everything about it. Lexi's Daddy enjoyed it too as it has "everything a luxury ice cream should have" so both him and Lexi were very happy munching their way through the entire tub!

The Rocky Road of Love from CHOKABLOK is currently only available in 500ml tubs. Lexi loved this because it meant she could have ice cream in cones, bowls with wafers - the possibilities are endless...

CHOKABLOK

There are other flavours of tub available which Lexi's Daddy has already added to the next shopping list so he can have a taste and see whether any of them can be as amazingly tasty as the ones he has reviewed!

CHOKABLOK is currently available to buy from Tesco online and instore and is priced at £3.99 per 500ml tub and £2.79 for a three pack of 80ml sticks. You can buy them from www.tesco.com where at the moment just until 25th October 2011 The Rocky Road of Love tubs and Peanut Butter Nutter tubs are on sale for just £3.00! So pop over to the Tesco website or instore and grab yourself a bargain and give CHOKABLOK a try!

For more information about CHOKABLOK products or for nutritional information and news, pop over to the CHOKABLOK website: www.chokablok.com or pop over to their brand new CHOKABLOK Facebook page and say hi!

Every single flavour was a massive hit to both Lexi and Lexi's Daddy so, even though I was unable to taste them for myself, I can safely confirm that CHOKABLOK's luxury ice creams definitely fall into the category of being Loved By Lexi!

Princess & Frog Money Box by Freya Design

2011-10-12T04:23:00.000-07:00

Freya Design are a lovely website that sell gorgeous wooden boxes for all manner of purpose including an array of cute little money boxes, keepsake boxes, sewing boxes and more! Each one is beautifully made using high quality materials and non-toxic paints.

"Nordic simplicity and the vibrant colours blending in with the natural materials used is very much the trade mark of Freya Design. Wood, textile and other natural materials are used to achieve the unusual 3D designs that are the trademark of Freya Design. The materials are carefully sourced from around the world and the environment is always the main consideration when making decisions.

All products are painted with non-toxic paints and we have decided to leave the inside of the boxes unpainted in order to retain the natural smell of wood"

Freya Design sent Lexi a beautiful Princess & Frog Money Box to review and here is what we thought....

They say a picture paints a thousand words and so you can see that Lexi was instantly attracted to the money box. The princess has a lovely dress on with a big smile on her face and a shiny gold crown and twisted fabric hair which Lexi loved twisting in her fingers. Even with Lexi's best attempt, the hair is attached so well that there is no way she was able to pull it off or yank it hard enough to break it.

The decoration on the box is done to a very high standard and looks amazing. The detailing is perfect with glitter used on the flowers and shiny gold paint on the crown with a luscious bright red heart above the Frog's head.

Above the coin slot in the top of the box is the wording "Make A Wish" which I think is really cute and fitting for our own little princesses who will love this money box!

The opening at the back of the box is ingenious as it has just a hole but is cleverly concealed with a little piece of wood on a pin so you can turn it around to show the hole and then turn it back to conceal it. Lexi had lots of fun putting the money into the box then turning the flap to get the money back out. A very clever and well thought out design by Freya Design.

The box is well made and of such high quality and workmanship that I think the price of £24 is fair as it must have taken a lot of time, effort and love to make such a beautiful box! You can buy your own Princess & Frog Money Box or any others from the range including pink fairy, train, car or boat from the Freya Design website and can personalise with your little one's name free of charge which I think is a great idea! A really special present for any child.

Why not pop over to the Freya Design website or the Freya Design Facebook page to have a browse at their gorgeous products. I would love them all myself never mind for Lexi!

As you can tell, even though it has a higher price than other money boxes available to buy, I would definitely recommend this money box if you want a beautiful forever keepsake which can be personalised for your child and will grow with them for many, many years to come. It looks fantastic in Lexi's bedroom on her shelf and we have had many people comment on how lovely it is.

Thank you Freya Design; the fun design, ease of use and sheer beauty of this box was very much Loved By Lexi!

Little Charley Bear : Ready, Teddy, Go! DVD

2011-10-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

Lexi absolutely adores Little Charley Bear®. Ever since the first time she saw him on CBeebies she was mesmerised. Our dining room Sky Plus+ box has Little Charley Bear® set to record on series link constantly so that she never misses an episode and has now seen every single one!

When we went over to visit my Mum (Lexi's Mooma) in Northern Cyprus, we bought Lexi Little Charley Bear's first DVD "Are You There Charley Bear?" to take over with us as we were worried Lexi may experience withdrawal symptoms if she didn't get her daily fix of Little Charley Bear®, Frozo™, Caramel™, Nibblet™, Midge™, Bellarina™, Rivet™ and, of course, James Corden. She loved the first DVD and, even though she had seen all the episodes goodness knows how many times before, she is still young enough that she didn't care that she had seen them all before and she insisted on watching it over and over again.

To add to her Northern Cyprus holiday experience, we bought her Little Charley Bear® fun sounds plush toy so that she had a new toy on the plane to keep her occupied. He is so much fun and has the familiar voice of James Corden saying phrases like "Are you there Charley Bear", "Hello Charley Bear how are you today?" and "ahhh Charley, you're my best friend" as well as other fun sounds which Lexi loved!

Ever since we gave it to her on the plane in June, he has never left her side - she absolutely loves Charley Bear® above any other children's TV character and now has both DVDs, fun sounds Charley Bear® and a small soft toy Charley Bear®.

She loves Little Charley Bear® so much that she takes him absolutely everywhere and his adventures in Lexi's world have been almost as much fun as the adventures he goes on in his imaginary world as Lexi has taken him everywhere with her and he has experienced everything she has experienced in the few months she has had him along with her!

Little Charley Bear® went on a plane...

Danced with a belly dancer in Northern Cyprus...

And, among other things, also accompanied Lexi on her first ever pony ride...

And those are just his adventures with Lexi! So it's definitely safe to say, Lexi absolutely adores Little Charley Bear®!!

Little Charley Bear® Ready, Teddy, Go! on DVD

Knowing how much Lexi loves watching Little Charley Bear®, you can image her reaction when we were sent their newly released DVD "Ready, Teddy, Go!" Lexi was so excited when she opened the parcel as she instantly recognised Little Charley Bear® and asked to watch it straight away (over and over again!).

"Blast off with Little Charley Bear® in 7 fun-filled stories! Charley sets off in his rocket on a journey to the moon where he meets a friendly alien who wants to play moon ball. In other adventures, Charley has a fantastic new pair of shoes with lights in the soles, becomes a detective and a race car driver - racing against Nibblit™ and Caramel™ in the Little Charley Bear Super Car Race! Countdown for blast-off… Ready Teddy Go!"

Although it is a new release on DVD, it doesn't actually have any new episodes on it as I soon realised once it was on as I had definitely seen all of the episodes at least a few times each from our Sky Plus+ recordings that Lexi watched daily. However, this didn't bother Lexi as she had a great time watching all the episodes again and again and again!

The best thing about Lexi now owning the DVD is that I can now de-Little Charley Bear® our Sky box and delete all the recordings as all we have to do now is press play on the DVD player and Little Charley Bear® and friends are instantly available which is absolutely fantastic!

Little Charley Bear® Ready, Teddy, Go! on DVD was available to buy from Monday 10 October 2011 and can be bought from Amazon for £7.99 which I think is a reasonable price for a DVD that will keep your Little Charley Bear® loving little one amused for hours and hours. Even though £7.99 is a reasonable price; you can grab even more of a bargain in ASDA stores at the moment where it is on sale for just £6! So grab it for your little one while it's at such a fabulous price!

As well as 7 fun-filled fantastic episodes, the DVD also features a bonus episode (Charley Bear Sock Detective), make & do butterfly mobile and activity time too which add to the brilliance of the DVD's entertainment value to Lexi.

There are lots of fantastic looking toys and games in the Little Charley Bear® range available to buy online and in some stores and we will definitely be buying Lexi another one from the collection for Christmas!

Little Charley Bear®'s website www.littlecharleybear.com/ has lots of fun, games, upcoming events and much more so why not pop over with your little one and take a look at all the fun to be had! Little Charley Bear and friends are on Facebook too so why not go over and say hi! :)

On top of all this, Little Charley Bear® has a great new FREE app available too which I have uploaded onto my iPhone 4 and Lexi has so much fun playing!

As you can probably tell; Little Charley Bear and all his friends are a major influence in this household with not just Lexi but also her Mummy and Daddy all thinking he is brilliant. For that reason aswell as the good price and the charm, character and sheer fun of the series', Little Charley Bear's Ready, Teddy, GO! DVD is definitely Loved By Lexi!!

COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED...... Ultimate Party Kit for 16 Guests from Party Parade

2011-10-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

All names were put into the random name generator (extra entries included for bonus actions etc) and the winner is.....

Tracy Pritchard!!

Congratulations Tracy!

Tracy said: "The fairy princess pack looks gorgeous.(as des everything else!!) My little girl keeps asking for a princess party for her birthday and this pack would be great."

So well done Tracy, the Fairy Princess Ultimate Party Kit for 16 Guests will be winging it's way to you direct from Party Parade as soon as I have your address :)

Thank you to everyone who entered. Watch this space for lots more competitions coming very soon :)

Loved By Lexi xx

John Crane's TIDLO High Tea Shape Matching from Butterflies & Dragons

2011-10-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

I want to start by telling you all about a fantastic website that I found called Butterflies and Dragons. They are a website selling the most amazingly gorgeous toys I have ever laid eyes on!

You can see for yourself just how vast an array of beautiful toys they sell on their website: www.butterfliesanddragons.co.uk
There are toys for all ages and interests from fabulous wooden toys to dressing up and children's room decorations. There is something for everyone and you will love browsing their fantastic website as much as I did!

Tidlo High Tea Shape Matching

Butterflies & Dragons sell lots of fabulous wooden toys which is fantastic in this day and age as I have always found it so difficult to find somewhere that sells high quality wooden toys at an affordable price. They sent Lexi this gorgeous High Tea Shape Matching Set from TIDLO Timeless Toys by John Crane to review.

"Tidlo High Tea Shape Matching is a brightly coloured, two-tier cake stand, featuring 15 attractively designed cakes. An educational wooden toy that supports early counting skills, and helps to develop shape matching and spatial awareness. Each cake has a number on the base to match into the correctly shaped base on the cake stand. The yummy, pretend cakes look good enough to eat! A fantastic toy for pretend play and for kitchen role play games. The High Tea Shape Sorting toy encourages a child to think about numbers and shapes whilst they are playing"

I am amazingly bad at DIY so when I saw how simple it was to put the cake together I was really pleased. The cake stand was in 4 pieces which simply screwed together using the allen key which was provided then it was ready to play!

The Set consists of a gorgeous pink cake stand along with 15 brightly coloured differently shaped and numbered cakes. The idea is that Lexi had to put the correctly numbered and shaped cake back onto it's rightful shaped hole on the cake stand.

The cake stand is very sturdy and well made and, even with Lexi being in a destructive stage, she didn't manage to damage it at all. The paint and wood is still looking just as beautiful as when I gave it to her a week ago! She manages to break just about everything else so this really does prove the quality of the toy perfectly!

The 15 individual wooden cakes are beautifully made in lots of gorgeous, bright, eye-catching colours with beautiful attention to detail and thought put into each and every cake from cherries on top, brandy snaps all chocolatey and delicious looking to mouth-watering cream details and melon slices and strawberries. Each cake looks good enough to eat!

Lexi had so much fun sorting the cakes into a line on the table then finding the correct numbers and shapes to put them back on the stand.

Height of cake stand 29.5cms, Diameter is 25cms

The stand has 2 tiers so it made it a little more challenging and Lexi absolutely loved it. She kept calling it "Mummy's Cake" because I originally played with the cake set with her with her dolly and we had afternoon tea so when we divided the cakes into Mummy's, Lexi's and dolly's; Lexi remembered which ones were Mummy's cakes and still now calls those ones Mummy's which is really cute!

After we had played at afternoon tea, Mummy and Lexi set about sorting the cakes into their correct positions on the cake stand and Lexi "Miss Independent" wasn't letting Mummy do it as she wanted to show how much of a big girl she was by being able to do it all by herself. The toy has an advisory of age 3 but Lexi has only just turned 2 and was more than capable of sorting the cakes and playing with the toy properly.

I will definitely be buying one of these as a gift for a child younger than 2 as it really does help their motor skills. Lexi's counting and recognition of numbers has improved immensely since we began playing with the High Tea Shape Matching Set! Her spatial recognition, hand eye co-ordination and communication and role play have certainly improved too. I am very, very impressed with how much fun Lexi had with the High Tea Matching Set whilst learning and developing at the same time!

Not only did Lexi absolutely love the High Tea Shape Matching Set but I have to say that the service we received from Butterflies & Dragons was superb; I can't fault their Customer Service or customer satisfaction one little bit; I spoke to one of them who was very polite, well mannered and couldn't do enough for us in the way of arranging delivery or choosing the best review item for Lexi after I told them the sorts of toys she liked best. They couldn't have chosen better - she absolutely adores the High Tea Shape Matching!

The High Tea Shape Matching set is available to buy from the Butterflies & Dragons website here http://www.butterfliesanddragons.co.uk/tidlo-high-shape-matching-p-1058.html for £24.95 which I think is a very reasonable price for a toy which will last a long time and bring years of fun and learning!

Thank you Butterflies & Dragons for superb Customer Service and for sending us such a brilliant toy for Lexi to review. Your company and most of all your toys are very much Loved By Lexi.

The Froobles by Top That! Publishing

2011-09-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Lexi loves to be read to and is starting to recognise letters herself already as I have always encouraged her to share in my passion for reading and books. So when we were sent two books from the new The Froobles series from Top That! Publishing we were both really excited!

About the Books

There are 12 books in the series which was launched in September.

Each book has 32 pages and are made from high quality thick paper so there is no worry about your little one tearing it when they are trying to read it for themselves. They are recommended for age 3+ but, even aged just 2, Lexi absolutely loved being read them at bedtime. Being 32 pages long they are the perfect bedtime length and are easy to read and fun for your little one to join in and point out their favourite characters and scenes.

The books have a page of stickers in the back for children to recreate their favourite scenes or even create their own scenes using the characters. Lexi absolutely loves stickers and making sticker pictures so had an absolute ball using these up and insisted on doing the sticking as soon as she saw the stickers for the first time (after we had read the book once). She absolutely loved them. I love the fact that Top That! Publishing have clearly thought this through perfectly for children as all children love stickers and interacting with their favourite characters in books and digitally so I love this idea and have to give The Froobles another tick in the "amazing" box for thinking over and above their fantastic stories and adding yet another concept to the Froobles brand!

The books are the perfect size for popping into a changing or hand bag which is lovely as it meant we could take them out and about with us and Lexi could show them to her friends too!

How The Froobles Were Created

I can do no better than to quote the very informative explanation I was given by Top That! Publishing themselves about the genius way that The Froobles were created and their aim:-

"The Froobles are fruit and vegetable characters that have been brought to life by the magic of children's imaginations. Scenes created by playgroup children provide the Frooble characters with an ever-changing and magical world to explore. The Froobles exist in the real world, but only conduct their adventures in the fantastical scenes created by the children"

Sienna Strawberry and the ice palace ballet

We were sent two books from the series, the first of which was Sienna Strawberry and the Ice Palace Ballet.

As with all the books, Sienna Strawberry is beautifully illustrated using brightly coloured pictures of Sienna Strawberry and her other friends.

In this book, Sienna auditions for a ballet. She gets very upset when she can't remember the whole routine and is almost at the point of giving up when her friends encourage her to practice. After practicing and practicing, she learns her routine and eventually ends up dancing the role of the Princess. It is a lovely, well-written, emotive story which children of all ages can relate to.

The moral of the story overall is that practice makes perfect which I think is a very valuable lesson for children of the age the books are aimed at as it encourages them to never give up, reach for the stars and never stop believing in yourself.

Bobby Blackberry and the treasure island

The second book we were sent was Bobby Blackberry and the Treasure Island.

In this book, Bobby Blackberry is on an island practising his spying skills when a secret message is washed onto the shore containing a treasure map. For varying reasons Bobby needs help deciphering the map and finding his way. At the end of the story, Bobby needs help opening the treasure and decides to share with all his friends who helped him along the way.

It is written in emotive yet plain language which is easy for children of all ages to understand and relate to. Lexi sometimes gets bored listening to me read long-winded, overly descriptive books but there was no worry about that with The Froobles books - she loved every second.

The moral of the story overall is that you should share with others. Yet again, I think this is a very valuable lesson for children to learn early in life as it will be beneficial to them to learn to share and to be encouraged to play with other children and socialise kindly and be caring.

Our Thoughts

I cannot wait to see whether Top That! Publishing will make more and more books in The Froobles series as I, nevermind Lexi, am excited to see what other adventures the Froobles will get up to!

Priced at just £2.69 (RRP £2.99) direct from Top That! Publishing’s website I will definitely be buying Lexi the other books in the series for Christmas as they will make fantastic stocking fillers and each includes stickers and a brilliant moral to each story including learning to help others, relying on friends rather than gadgets, to treat others as you would like to be treated, asking for help when you need to, never give up, overcome a fear, play nicely and other fantastic morals to enhance any child!

Following the launch of the books in September, the interactive Froobles apps, featuring the voices of Johnny Vaughan, Denise Van Outen, Edith Bowman and Reggie Yates, will be available to purchase from iTunes in November. I can't wait to download the App on my iPhone for Lexi to enjoy!

There are lots of games and lots of fun to be had on the The Froobles website e so pop over with your little one and have some fun with The Froobles characters! Lexi loved dressing up Sienna Strawberry and playing the memory game with Billy Banana. Lexi (and Mummy!) are excited about trying out the music game with Charlie Chilli next!

The Froobles books are available to buy now direct from Top That! Publishing’s website at the special price so pop over now and order your's in time for Christmas!

Bobby Blackberry and Sienna Strawberry were fantastic books and I cannot fault them at all. Lexi absolutely loved them and, I'm positive, will love the rest of the series too! Thank you Top That! Publishing for evoking imagination and joy in Lexi and lots of other children who I'm sure will love them The Froobles too!

Halos 'N' Horns: Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner

2011-09-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

As I've said before, I absolutely LOVE Halos N Horn's products. So when I was asked if Lexi and I would review their Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner I had very high expectations.

Halos N Horns make scrumptious smelling, chemical free products which are great for soft, delicate skin aswell as being great value for money and having an extensive range of products available.

We have previously reviewed the Halos N Horns Moisturising Lotion which was amazing and we still buy and use it today as oppose to other products we had previously used. I had really high expectations for their Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & conditioner and I was definitely not disappointed...

Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner uses natural conditioners and plant derived cleansing ingredients. The hypoallergenic, non-drying formula is so gentle that it can be used as an all-over body wash too which is an added bonus!

Lexi loves bath time and, even with her unruly curls which she inherited from Mummy, she still enjoys having her hair washed which makes life a lot easier! So when we tried out the Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner she was delighted. It smells absolutely amazing. Not too sweet or sickly just fresh and clean with a hint of mango and melon infused in the gooey green gel. Lexi couldn't wait to have her hair washed and insisted on doing it herself because the gooey gel looked like such fun! It foams into a gorgeous scented lather really easily without too much need for scrubbing or too much effort which is great as keeping her still long enough to ensure her hair is washed thoroughly can sometimes be a challenge!

The results were fantastic too; even Lexi's blonde, unruly mass of curly thick hair was left looking smooth, sleek and smelling beautiful! I cannot praise Halos N Horns' products enough as I have loved absolutely every one I have tried and tested but I would definitely say that this Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner is top of my list of favourites and we will certainly be buying this in future instead of the other brand of baby shampoo we had religiously used beforehand. Love, love, love it!!

Aswell as all these fantastic features and results from the Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Conditioner, I think it is brilliant value for money too with an RRP of just £2.69 for 200ml. I was paying about this for a much lesser quality product so am delighted with this price and think it is most definitely worth it! If you'd like more information about this shampoo or any other products then pop over to the Halos N Horns website where you can learn more about the company, their products and even join their new Parenting Panel where you will get 20% of your first order just for giving your opinion.

You can also learn more about special offers and sales on the Halos N Horns Facebook page.

Halos N Horns Parenting Panel

I have just joined, why don't you...! This is what Halos N Horns have to say about their Parenting Panel...

"Join our Parenting Panel and receive 20% off the range.

Here at Halos Towers we know that there are parents out there who are bursting with ideas and feedback on our products.

They say it's good to talk, and we agree, we love a good natter! If you join our Parenting Panel we will get in touch from time to time and ask for your feedback on our products and new launches. We will also let you know about our promotions, competitions, special events and so much more.

PLUS if you sign up we will send you a voucher code to get 20% off the range on your first online order. And of course we promise not to overwhelm you with emails."

It’s easy to join - simply fill in your details on their website: join Halos N Horns Parenting Panel and wait for your confirmation email which will include your discount voucher!

Lexi loves Halos N Horns so why not give their amazing products a try for yourself!

Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go

2011-09-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Packing up Lexi's changing bag now she's 2 is a nightmare as we need to cram in countless nappies, wipes, nappy bags, a changing mat, nappy cream, a drink, a snack etc and the list goes on..... The bag is absolutely bulging by the time I have finished packing it even just to nip out for a couple of hours. So when I was asked to review Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go dispenser I was really pleased as I didn't know such an innovative product existed!

The Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go is a compact, stylish looking little nappy bag dispenser which can be attached to a changing bag, hangbag or even pushchair handle. It looks funky and cool and isn't easily recognisable as a nappy bag dispenser which is great as I didn't feel like people were staring. A couple of people did ask me what it was and when I explained they were amazed and wanted to know straight away where I got it from as they thought it was a fantastic idea.

I haven't been impressed with the innovativeness of a product this much for a very long time. Such a simple concept but so, so fabulously useful!

The nappy wraps are anti-bacterial killing 99% of germs on contact which is great for when out and about. They are scented with lemon which is lovely as the fresh, lemony scent ensures you don't smell any of the nasties you are putting into the bag.

The design is fantastic. It has a unique flexible handle for simple attachment to just about everything aswell as quick and easy tear off ability with twisting lid to dispense or retract wraps quickly and easily. They really are easy to tear off...

"How to Use:-
1. Simply undo the soft handle by popping the flexible button through the hole.
2. Remove dispenser lid.
3. Drop new roll of wraps into dispenser taking care to locate spindle onto pin.
4. replace lid, again locating pin into the spindle.
5. Pull end of wrap through opening on the side of the dispenser.
6. Tear off each new wrap at perforation.
7. Simply wind any excess back into the dispenser using the lid.
8. When roll is empty, remove dispenser lid, take out empty spindle and replace with refill (sold separately).

What I thought was a lovely touch was that the wraps come in three funky, bright colours - lime, pink and bright blue. This makes the dispenser even more individual and unique and I really loved it!

Not only is the Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go dispenser amazingly convenient, quick and easy to use but it saves lots of valuable space in my changing bag. I even actually attached it to my handbag to go out for a stroll and just popped a nappy in my handbag and felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders... literally as I didn't need to lug around a heavy changing bag, just this stylish looking dispenser and hey presto! Any product that makes life easier as a Mummy to a 2 year old gets a huge thumbs up from me!!

The Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go is priced at £4.99 inc VAT and you get the dispenser aswell as 2 refill rolls which I think is an amazing price! You can buy the dispenser including refills online here . You can also buy refills separately here which are priced at £4.99 inc VAT for 3 brightly coloured rolls.

The Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go dispenser and refills are avaiable from Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Boots, Argos, Mothercare, Babies R Us and Kiddicare.com aswell as direct from Tommee Tippee using the links above.

If you'd like more information about this or any other Tommee Tippee products then pop over to their website here or their Facebook page here where you can take a look at all of their amazing products or find out more information or just have a general chat with other Mums and Dads!

Lexi's viewpoint of the Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go dispenser and refills isn't what was important in this instance; Mummy absolutely LOVED it! It is hygienic, funky, stylish, convenient and saves time and space..... What more can us Mummies ask for from a product! Thank you Tommee Tippee - your Tommee Tippee Sangenic® Wrap & Go Dispenser and Refills are definitely Loved By Lexi's Mummy.

ORGANIC SEPTEMBER: Green People's Organic Babies Chamomile Baby Wash and Shampoo

2011-09-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

This month is Organic September so I was asked by the lovely Green People to review another of their lovely organic products and see what Lexi and I thought...

I have reviewed other products by Green People from their Organic Babies range and really liked them so I had high hopes for their Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Sandalwood Baby Wash, Bubblebath & Shampoo in one!

All Green People products are free from SLS which is a foaming agent commonly used in many shampoos, bubble baths and body washes even though it is known to cause skin irritation. Green People have eradicated this problem by using organic, natural ingredients instead so you know your baby is in safe hands! As well as being free from SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) their products are also free from SLES, Parabens, Lanolin, phthalates, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals and colourants so you can be rest assured that your baby will still have silky soft skin without any of the harsh chemicals used in other products on the market. Their Chamomile Baby Wash & Shampoo is also suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is certified by the Organic Food Federation.

It says on the bottle that you only need a tiny squirt in order to create a great bubbly bath so I literally used just a tiny smidgen to see how much it foamed up...

Because it is concentrated, you hardly need to use any at all to get a lovely lather and gorgeous smelling bubbly bath. I did put three really tiny squirts in because I wanted to see how much difference it would make the more I added but there was no need as it foamed up beautifully after just one little bit.

This Green People product is suitable as a shampoo as it's gentle cleansing properties retain natural skin and scalp oils. Lexi has her Mummy's blonde curly hair which is rather unruly but after using this as a shampoo her hair was silky soft and manageable. I hardly needed to use any at all as it is so highly concentrated that the tiniest little amount worked into a lovely lather on her hair and left is smelling gorgeous!

Not only is a fantastic shampoo but it is suitable as a body wash and bubble bath aswell so you don't need your bath cluttered up with three separate bottles; just one bottle of this will last ages and can be used instead of all three!

As a body wash it is non-irritating and gentle enough for everyday use as well as being protective of baby's soft, delicate skin from dryness and irritation. I thought that because it lathered really well as a shampoo with rather vigorous massaging it may be difficult to get it to foam up as a body wash but I put it on her bath mitt and Lexi washed herself down and it did lather really well without needing to scrub her delicate skin. It left her skin soft, smooth, silky and smelling sweet and fresh.

Lexi absolutely loved her gorgeous smelling bubbly bath and was peeking over the side of the bath as Mummy ran the water watching the bubbles swirl and foam up and couldn't wait to climb in She was then really happy with her lovely smelling hair and soft skin and even tried to make Daddy use it when he had a shower as she wanted him to share in her experience! I must say, the bubble bath did look and smell amazing!

Although quite expensive on the face of things being £6.89 for 150ml, I actually think it works out at good value for money as you only have to buy one product as oppose to three and because you only need the tiniest amount, I think it will last as long, if not longer, than having the three cheaper products which actually add up to being more expensive. So I honestly think this is a good price for peace of mind and purity! You can purchase Green People's Organic Babies Chamomile Body Wash & Shampoo directly from them on their website here. It is also available in a trial/travel size too which is priced at £3.35 for 30ml and can be bought here on their website.

If you'd like more information about this product or any other fantastic, Organic products from Green People then pop over to their website here where they have lots of information about the company, their products and some fabulous September special offers to celebrate Organic September. They also have a Facebook page here where you can chat to them, learn more about their products and ask any questions.

I really liked this product and, from Lexi's reaction at bathtime, I think she really liked it too so I will most definitely give it the Loved By Lexi seal of approval! Thank you Green People, your Organic Babies Chamomile Baby Wash and Shampoo is a 100% success in our household and is certainly Loved By Lexi.

Dotty Bots : Birth to Potty Bamboo Nappy

2011-09-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have never really got on well with reusable nappies. When Lexi was first born Lexi's Daddy and I went to a lot of expense and bought an entire kit from a well-known reusable nappy company which were birth to potty nappies. The kit was well over £300 and had a dirty nappy bucket, washing machine bag and lots of different inserts included. After using them for a week we realised they were just rubbish! They leaked and we were told by the representative that it was because Lexi was too "slim" - when she was born 8lb 4oz which I don't think is particularly small!! Anyway, because of this catastrophe, I have never wanted to use reusable nappies again so we have always stuck to good old Pampers. So when I was asked to review a Birth to Potty Bamboo Nappy by Dotty Bots I was a little sceptical but thought I would give it a go....

They sent us the Purple Star design which I think is really stylish and cute! My first impression was that I really liked the look of it; the bamboo inserts are really soft and thick, the outer lining of the nappy is soft and shiny and comes in lots of really sweet and funky designs yet it also looks to be very practical!

There are different types and varieties of extra lining inserts you can buy for them which is great as you can add more for extra absorbency if needed. The inserts are really easy to put into the 'pocket' inside the nappy so no hassle and fuss when trying to get a nappy off and on quickly and effortlessly. They simply slip into the pocket piece of cake!

The nappy has poppers on the front so you can change the size, leg width, height etc of the nappy so it will fit all little ones from tiny babies right up to potty age and beyond. Lexi is 2 and is very slim for her age so we were able to have the height at full size but simply pop the poppers in further so it fit well round her waist and didn't leave any gaps for leakage. The possibilities for size and adjustment are endless as Dotty Bots have obviously thought out the design of their nappies really well and included exactly the right amount of poppers so that the nappy really will fit everyone!

The elastic around the leg area is great too. It isn't too tight that it pinches yet isn't too loose so there is possibility for leakage. The fabric has been gathered in such a way over the elastic that there is no way any wee wee or poo can escape!

The nappies are washable so I just popped it into the machine with Lexi's other washing and, as it was raining, was really impressed that it is also suitable for tumble drying which meant that you wouldn't have to have nappies lying around all over the house drying on those rainy days! However, to be as environmentally friendly as possible - the second time I washed it, it wasn't raining so I popped it on the line and left it to dry. Because the nappy is made from Bamboo, as are the inserts, it did take a while to dry but Dotty Bots had already told me this. After 6 hours on the line in the sunshine, they were dry as a bone and ready to use again!

Mostly importantly when using any type of nappy is absorbency: Lexi usually needs her bum changed once a night because it is full of wee wee when I go in to check on her but, after 8 hours in her Purple Star Bamboo Nappy from Dotty Bots, Lexi was still fine and her nappy only then needed changing because she had had a poo. I did use both bamboo inserts too for maximum absorbency but even so, I think the fact that the nappy was able to soak up an entire night's worth of wee from a 2 year old toddler is amazing!

When I used reusable nappies before Lexi was only a tiny baby so I think they maybe seemed larger and more bulky than they actually were but, even so, I really didn't like how bulky and bottom heavy they made her look. This was not true of the nappy from Dotty Bots. Lexi looked completely in proportion and didn't look bottom heavy at all. She didn't seem hindered by wearing it either and was her usual hyper-active self running around and jumping everywhere.

I was actually quite surprised at the price of Dotty Bots' nappies. As I said before, we paid over £300 for a complete set with another well-known company for which we received 20 nappies, a bucket and a wash bag making those nappies £15 each (which at the time we thought was a bargain)! We also had to buy all inserts separately too! So when I looked at Dotty Bots' website and saw that their Bamboo Nappies not only come with 2 bamboo inserts included in the price, but they are only £12 each!! What an absolute bargain!

Dotty Bots have lots of fantastic colours, styles and designs available on their website Here. You can view all their designs and styles and order your own life enhancing reusable nappies for your little one!!

Their original nappies are priced at just £8.50 and you can take a look at the full range Here,

Their Bamboo nappies are just £12.00 and can be viewed and purchased Here

Their gorgeous Couture nappies are just £9.50 and can be seen in all their glory Here

Dotty Bots' website also has fantastic other reusable products including wet bags, wipes (coming soon) and much more! So pop over and take a peek! You can also pop over and say hi to them on Facebook: Dotty Bots Cloth Nappies Facebook Page

I wish I had discovered Dotty Bots' Bamboo Nappies years ago because I would definitely have used them instead of disposables! Sadly, Lexi is coming up to being ready for potty training so it would be wasteful for me to buy any more now; I will definitely be using Dotty Bots in the future though should Lexi's Daddy and I decide we'd like any more children. We haven't decided yet but I will 100% be investing in a complete set of Dotty Bots' if we do! High quality, high absorbency and low price!

Thank you Dotty Bots for changing my views and perspective of reusable nappies and proving that they can be highly absorbent, high quality, stylish, less bulky and great value for money! Your Purple Bamboo Nappy was definitely loved by Lexi's Mummy and, being drier for longer is definitely Loved By Lexi!

Bandai: Up, Down And All Around Monkey from Tinga Tinga Tales

2011-09-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

Lexi absolutely loves Tinga Tinga Tales on CBeebies so when we were sent Up, Down And All Around Monkey by Bandai she was delighted!

For those of you in the minority who don't know what Tinga Tinga Tales is:-

"
"You may think you know why Elephant has a long trunk, why Tortoise has a broken shell, why Giraffe has a long neck, or why Leopard has spots, but actually, the reason for each is a whole other story!

Tinga Tinga Tales brings to life tall tales of how your favourite animals came to be the way they are today.

Based upon animal creation stories from all over the African continent, Tinga Tinga Tales brings to life fantastical tales, through stories and music, of how your child's favourite animals came to be the way they are today. Ever wonder why Flamingo stands on one leg, or why Lion roars? Tinga Tinga Tales may just have the answer.

Our hero Monkey and his friends Elephant, Tortoise, Tickbird, Hippo and Lion will take your child on a unique safari of adventure and story-telling.

The animation in Tinga Tinga Tales was made in Kenya, based on Tingatinga art from Tanzania, and draws upon the inspiring talent of East African artists and musicians."

You can watch a video here.

Up, Down And All Around Monkey looks exactly like Monkey does on TV. He has the same gorgeous bright red colour, same striking African style markings, same cheeky Monkey grin and sounds exactly like Monkey from Tinga Tinga Tales.

We had a small wrestle with the packaging to set him free; but once we had set him free there were so many features and so much fun to be had by Lexi that she didn't know where to start!

Up, Down And All Around Monkey talks corresponding to what you are doing and how you are holding him. When he is lying on his front he says "Pick me up and make it snappy" and "I'm over here", when upright he says "Can you turn me upside down" and "I'm swinging, look at me", when you lie him on his back he retorts with "Are you going to pick me up straight away now or straight away next year?" and the sayings that Lexi enjoyed most of all were said when she was swinging him by his tail and he laughed saying "Whoosh I'm upside down" and "Ssssh I'm hiding from crocodile". He also laughs whilst you are playing with him which Lexi found highly amusing. All his sayings are said in his African accented cheeky voice which Lexi instantly recognised from being from her TV programme.

Monkey can hang from his tail or his arm because both have, what I can only describe as, a joint in the middle of them which twists and bends so he can tell when he is swinging or hanging or being carried which is a really fun and unique feature to any character based toys Lexi has ever owned.

Lexi loves monkeys anyway and Up, Down And All Around Monkey fast became her favourite:-

Mission One: Dancing
Lexi knew that Monkey would love dancing and he proved it when she was swinging him around wildly by laughing and giggling as she did it.

Because of the innovative way that he can tell exactly how you are holding and what you are doing with him, he was saying exactly the right things at the right time which Lexi was delighted about.

Mission Two: Sliding
Lexi instinctively knew that Monkey would love to go down the slide too. Not only because he matched the slide in colour but also because she was carrying him around the garden by his tail which meant he was already 'excited' and laughing so she just knew that he would like to "weeeeee" down the slide - which he did! No other toy has ever invoked quite such excitement in Lexi purely by going down her slide and laughing as they did it.

Lexi spent a good hour putting Monkey down the slide again and again and again!

Mission Three: Riding Pillion
After seeing how much Monkey 'enjoyed' their fun on the slide, Lexi thought that Monkey would like to go for a ride in her trike. She started off with him in the seat and her riding along behind but soon realised that it was Mummy pushing as oppose to Monkey peddling so she changed her tactics and decided she would ride and Monkey could ride pillion.

Apparently, according to Lexi, Monkey absolutely loves going round and round and round the patio hundreds of times as he was making so much noise and saying "Are you going to pick me up now...." etc which she thought was so much fun! I'm not sure who looked like they were enjoying themselves more; Lexi or Monkey! ;)

Mission Four: Swinging
Lexi decided she wanted to see just how fast she could spin round whilst swinging Monkey. It almost ended in tears as she was getting very dizzy but wouldn't give up trying because she was getting so much enjoyment from Monkey speaking to her and enjoying the swinging from his tail. She spun him around so many times I'm surprised Monkey didn't get dizzy!

As you can see, Lexi absolutely loved having fun with Monkey and is still discovering more and more of his fun features.

Up, Down And All Around Monkey is just one of the fantastic products in Bandai's Tinga Tinga Tales range. All of them look fantastic! You can view Bandai's full range of Tinga Tinga Tales toys on their website here and can even pop over and say hi on their Facebook page here too.

Up, Down And All Around Monkey is on sale on Bandai's website for £25.00 which I think is a bargain price for such a fantastic toy which provides hours and hours of fun for little ones. Suitable from 18 months.

Charity

Not only do Bandai make amazing Tinga Tinga Tales products, but, to make the products even more desirable, Tinga Tinga Tales brand works with a charity called We Give Books, where for every Tinga book bought, a child in Africa gets a book.

I think this is an amazing thing to do and, having read some information about the charity, I think it is a very worthy and worthwhile cause. So well done Bandai, it's so refreshing for a large, well-known company to give back in such a selfless, generous way!

If you'd like more information about the Charity visit the Tinga Tinga Tales website : here or you can take a look at the Charity's website direct here:
We Give Books

As you can tell from all I've said; not only do I love Bandai for their Charity work and great quality products, but Up, Down And All Around Monkey is absolutely adored and genuinely Loved By Lexi.

Theraline : Animal Neck Pillow - SUN

2011-09-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

We were asked to review Theraline's Animal Neck Pillows and were sent the very brightly coloured, eye catching yellow and orange Sun design.

Sun is just one of the gorgeous designs that are available from Theraline....

Lexi really liked the design of the Sun neck pillow as it is so brightly coloured and immediately captured her imagination. So much so that she was adamant to begin with that it was a toy as oppose to a practical item and insisted that it wanted to play with her dolls house with her.

I think she was a little confused as to what "animal" her Sun neck pillow was supposed to be as she was insistent that it made a "Rooooaaarrr" noise and was carrying it around roaring at it and making it roar at Daddy!

She wasn't too keen initially on having it around her neck but I did eventually prove to her just how comfortable it was to have it around her neck in the car in her car seat and she learned to love it!

Theraline's Animal Neck Pillows are made from a really soft velvety material which is lovely and silky on your skin. The filling is made from sand-like micro beads which are really fine so when you rest your head on it you aren't being jabbed by large, hard beads. The pillow is really comfortable and soft so is great for babies and children alike! It fits well around Lexi's neck and sits snuggly without falling off or crushing her which is great!

Theraline Animal Neck Pillows are available in two sizes - big which are perfect for bigger kids and older toddlers and are priced at £19.90 and small which are priced at £18.90. Both sizes and all designs can be bought direct from Theraline's online shop here.

Theraline don't just make Animal Neck Pillows; they sell all sorts of innovative, brilliant products for nursing, babies, toddlers and Mummies. So why not pop over to their website shop here, their website (not shop) here where there is lots of information about all their products or you could pop over to their Facebook page and say hi and keep up to date with any product information, promotions and news!

This fun children's neck pillow would've been an absolutely perfect addition to our consort when we travelled to see my Mum in Northern Cyprus in June as Lexi could've been a lot more comfortable in the 7 hour car journey to the airport aswell as the 6 hour wait at the airport AND the 7 hour flight where, because of her age, she didn't have her own seat and had to spend the entire time perched on Mummy's lap. It would've supported her neck when she fell asleep, supported her back and neck when sitting up for such long periods of time and made her so much more comfortable on our very long journey overall! I wish I had heard of Theraline Animal Neck Pillows sooner as I would definitely have invested in one if only for this holiday! Thankfully, we will have our gorgeous, brightly coloured Sun pillow for use next year when we go over to visit my Mum again as it would not only have provided a great sleep and travel pillow but Lexi would've had some practical yet fun to enjoy on the flight to keep her occupied!

The Theraline Animal Neck Pillow Sun will be a huge asset to our next holiday and, even though she used it as a toy more than as a neck pillow, once she had worked out what it was for, what it was and how to use it effectively, it was definitely Loved By Lexi.

If I Could Have Any Job In The World...

2011-08-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by the lovely My Mummies Pennies to share with you what job I would have if I could have any in the world.

It would be cliche to say I love being a Stay at Home Mum but it's true. I really do love it! It's certainly very rewarding and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Before giving up work to stay at home with Lexi, I was a Legal Secretary which I did love as no day was the same and I got to interact with people on a daily basis but the things I had to deal with weren't of the nicest nature in the world so I used to spend a lot of time hating the world for being so cruel and deceitful and evil and would spend many a night at home crying over a certain subject or case that we had been working on. It didn't stop me enjoying my job, if anything it made me more determined that we would work even harder to make the world a better place! I mainly loved this job because it was taking me in the right direction in a field which I have always had a passion for.... Law. One of my A Levels was in Law and I have always loved every aspect of legal work whether a Bobby on the beat, a Solicitor or a Judge; it has always fascinated me.

Saying that though, when I was little I always dreamed of being a Police Officer. Unfortunately when I was 16 my lovely, darling Mum decided that she was bored of hairdressing and Counselling Young People and decided she was going to take the exams to become a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer). As we live in the Police force area of Devon & Cornwall which is renowned for being the most difficult task force to join as it has so few openings, I thought she had no chance..... She passed with flying colours and went on to be the best PCSO in Cornwall (I may be a little bias!). She continued to do this job until she moved to Northern Cyprus 5 years ago.

So, in the warped head of a 15 year old, my dream job was taken and my life was ruined! Lol.

I soon changed course and, after spending time at College studying for my Law A Level, reading many many crime books by Authors like James Patterson, watching endless episodes of Criminal Minds, CSI, SVU, Spooks and actually working on the Set of Spooks with my stepdad dealing with the cars, and my love of watching all manner of crime related TV programs; I would have to say that if I could have absolutely any job in the entire world I would LOVE to be a Spy for MI5!

I'd be happy being a member of the FBI ;) or an undercover Police Officer too but it does say dream job and that's mine... a Spook!

That's if my singing career doesn't suddenly take off which I doubt very much!! You never know though, I may get famous one day so watch this space!! ;) Heeheehee.

Thank you to My Mummies Pennies for asking me to write this. I am tagging the wonderful; The Family Express, The Hart of the Munchkin Patch and Loren’s Little Lovely’s Blog Page to share what job they would have if they could have any in the world and link back to Ramblings of a Suburban Mummy and Loved by Lexi of course :)